Key Takeaways
- Soft foods can make eating more comfortable when your teeth feel sore after getting braces or an adjustment.
- Aim for a balanced mix of soft carbohydrates, proteins, dairy, fruits and vegetables to meet your nutritional needs.
- Avoid hard, crunchy and chewy foods that may put unnecessary pressure on your braces.
- Foods can often be made more braces-friendly by cooking them until soft or cutting them into smaller, bite-sized pieces.
- Braces-related tenderness is usually temporary, so you can gradually reintroduce firmer foods as chewing becomes more comfortable.
After certain procedures like tooth extraction, braces, wisdom tooth extraction/surgery or dental implants, your dentist may recommend a soft food diet.
Eating food that can be easily swallowed with minimal-to-no chewing is a great idea when your mouth is sore. It keeps pain and inflammation in check while allowing the wound (if any) to heal faster.
While soft foods offer your teeth the tender loving care they need, they do not have to bore the foodie in you, not with our curated list of 118 recipes!
Foods to Eat For Braces or After Wisdom Teeth Extraction
As a rule of thumb, soft foods should be easily mashed with a fork. Even on a soft food diet, you should still eat a variety of foods to ensure that you are getting all the nutrition you need.
Here are some suggestions by food group:
- Carbohydrates for energy: rice or oat porridge, mashed potatoes, whole-grain biscuits soaked in milk
- Protein for growth and repair: soft-boiled or scrambled eggs, tofu, baked beans, steamed salmon
- Dairy for calcium: smoothies, milkshakes, yoghurt, pudding, cottage cheese
- Fruits and vegetables for vitamins and minerals: mashed carrots, avocado, banana, poached pear
Foods to Avoid With Braces or After Wisdom Teeth Extraction
Since your primary objective is to avoid pressure on your achy teeth (for braces) or healing wound (for extraction cases), it is best to avoid anything hard, chewy or crunchy.
Here are some types of food to avoid:
- Hard food: Nuts, muesli, corn on the cob, hard candy, French loaf, popcorn
- Crunchy food: Raw carrots and broccoli, granola bars, cookies, chips
- Chewy food: Dried fruits, gummy candy, pizza crusts, fibrous meats
List of Recipes for Soft Food Diet
Soups
From creamy soups to hearty options with soft, well-cooked ingredients, here are some braces-friendly soup recipes to try.
Sides
Soft side dishes can add variety to your meals without requiring too much chewing. Try these recipes for easy additions to your everyday meals.
Mains
Soft foods do not have to mean boring meals. From tender proteins to comforting dishes, try these easy-to-chew recipes for your next meal.
Desserts
Craving something sweet? Softer desserts make it easier to enjoy something sweet without hard, crunchy or sticky ingredients.
Weekly Soft Food Meal Ideas for Braces
A soft food diet helps your body focus on recovering post-treatment.
After braces tightening, you may experience soreness for 1 to 2 days. For wisdom tooth extraction and surgery, this may range from 5 days to 2 weeks.
However, it is always best to listen to your body. As you start to feel more comfortable, you can transition from no-chew to easy-chew foods. Download our weekly soft food meal plan as a guide!
5 Tips for Eating with Braces
Instead of biting directly into foods such as sandwiches, fruits or meat, cut them into smaller pieces first. This reduces the amount of force placed on your brackets and wires while making food easier to chew.
Where possible, chew food gently with your back teeth rather than biting down with your front teeth. Taking smaller bites and chewing slowly can also help if your teeth feel sore after your adjustment appointments.
You do not necessarily have to avoid every firm food. Some foods can be made more braces-friendly by steaming, boiling or cooking them until soft. For example, boiling raw carrots can soften them and make them easier to eat with braces.
Food particles can become trapped around your brackets and wires after eating. Rinsing your mouth thoroughly with water after meals can help dislodge loose food debris and keep your braces clean.
Keep an interdental brush in your bag when you are eating out. It is convenient to carry around and allows you to clean between your teeth and brackets when a toothbrush may not be readily available.
Adopting a Soft Food Diet
Adjusting what you eat with braces may take some getting used to, especially during the first few days or after an adjustment. However, there are plenty of soft foods and recipes that can help you maintain a balanced diet when your teeth feel sore or sensitive.
For some inspiration, download our weekly soft food meal ideas for simple recipes you can try at home.
Getting used to eating with braces takes time, but a few simple adjustments can make mealtimes more enjoyable during your treatment.
FAQs About Soft Foods for Braces
During the first week with braces, choose soft foods that require minimal chewing, such as porridge, yoghurt, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, soups, soft noodles and steamed vegetables.
Your teeth may feel tender during this period, so avoid hard, crunchy or sticky foods that may be uncomfortable to eat or damage your braces.
You may find it more comfortable to eat soft foods for around 3 to 7 days after getting braces, and for 1 to 2 days after each tightening or adjustment.
The exact duration varies from person to person. You can start introducing firmer foods as the tenderness eases and chewing feels more comfortable.
When your teeth feel sore, cold foods and drinks may help temporarily soothe the discomfort. Foods that require minimal chewing can also reduce pressure on sensitive teeth.
Discomfort when eating is usually most noticeable during the first few days after your braces are fitted and should gradually improve as your teeth adjust. You may also experience some temporary tenderness after adjustment appointments.
If you experience severe or persistent pain, contact your dentist for advice.
