The sumptuous summer treat can be picked with family or bought by the punnet, enjoyed with cream, covered in chocolate, or simply plucked from the stem. But now that your treatment has started, can you eat strawberries with braces?
Can You Eat Strawberries With Braces?
Yes, you can eat strawberries with braces! In fact, they’re almost the perfect fruit to eat with braces. This is because they are soft and easy to chew, bite-sized, and can be cut up and popped straight into the back of your mouth to chew.
Try not to bite the strawberries with the front teeth, or any teeth with braces on. Strawberries are full of sugar and the chunks can quite easily get stuck in your teeth and braces, as can the little seeds from the outside of the fruit. However, you can pop the whole thing to the back of your mouth and chew safely.
If you’re eating strawberries with braces – or any fruit – you should always rinse your mouth out with water and then brush your teeth 30 to 60 minutes later. If you tend to find bits of food stuck in your teeth, using a water flosser can be really good to remove them quickly.
Can You Eat Chocolate Covered Strawberries With Braces?
Yes! The romantic classic chocolate-covered strawberries can still be eaten with braces on. Just eat them with the back teeth and floss/brush as we advise above and you’ll be totally safe. Chocolate-covered strawberries also make a great treat for your loved one with braces on valentine’s day.
Can You Eat Strawberries and Cream With Braces?
Strawberries and cream is an indulgent treat that doubles up on the sugar! While we generally recommend avoiding sugary foods, you can eat strawberries and cream with braces as long as your rinse with water and brush later on like we’d always advise.
Strawberry ice cream falls under this same category as it’s lots of cream and sugar. Read our full article – Can You Eat Ice Cream With Braces?
Can You Drink Strawberry Smoothies With Braces?
Yes, strawberry smoothies are OK to drink while you are wearing braces. Smoothies are easy to drink and you can use a straw to try and avoid getting the smoothie on your teeth as much as possible.
However, once you’ve drunk your smoothie you should rinse your mouth with water as soon as possible. This will help remove any fruit bits from the crevices in your teeth and braces and get as much sugar as possible out of your mouth. This goes for all sugary and sweet food and drinks while you are wearing braces.
You should also aim to brush your teeth 30-60 minutes after (not straight after) drinking sugary drinks and food. In a pinch, you could always use a mouth wash if you are at work or school.
Can You Eat Dried Strawberries With Braces?
Unfortunately, you shouldn’t eat dried strawberries, or any type of dried fruit, while you are wearing braces. Dried fruit becomes really sticky and chewy after drying. That makes it dangerous for braces because it can loosen brackets and lead to extra visits to your orthodontist if one breaks off.
Dried strawberries also get stuck easily in between braces. That sticky sugary mess can be hard to remove and lead to cavities. Sticky, chewy, and sugary foods are all on our list of food to avoid with braces so dried strawberries are a definite no-no.
Can You Eat Soft Fruit With Braces?
There are plenty of soft fruits that are fine to eat while wearing braces. We’ve got a comprehensive article with a list of fruits you can eat with braces to read. However, here’s a quick rundown of good soft fruits to eat: –
- Grapes
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Blackberries
- Gooseberries
- Banana – Chopped up is the easiest so you can eat at the back of your mouth
- Watermelon chunks
You should avoid harder fruit that needs biting into like apples and pears, as well as acidic fruits like lemons, limes, and oranges (and orange juice). Chewy and sticky fruits like figs and dates should be skipped, as well as dried fruits in general.
