Can You Eat Chips with Braces? Safe and Unsafe Options

Can someone with braces eat chips – an exciting predicament for crunch lovers? If there is one thing that all food lovers can agree on, it is chips. One of the most widely consumed snacks – millions adore, love, and eat chips.

According to orthodontics, people with braces do not have to deprive themselves of the crunchy joy of eating chips. They can eat chips, but due to the minimally invasive medical treatment, they must be more careful regarding such snacks.

Let us dive deep into the dos, don’ts, and alternatives so that you can enjoy eating chips with braces without compromising the integrity of your medical treatments.

Although braces do not require many adjustments, crunchy foods change the dynamics slightly. Chips, a fan-favorite snack, are widely known for their texture and quality.

This popularity leads people to question whether chips can be eaten with braces.

Here are some of the chips you can and cannot eat with braces.

What Kind of Chips Can You Eat with Braces?

Not all chips are forbidden for people with braces. Here are some chips that people can eat with braces.

1- Pringles

Yes, yes and yes!

You can eat Pringles with braces on. The main reason behind this consent is the soft and malleable texture of the pringles. As compared to other types of chips, pringles are soft and brittle.

But care is essential because the fragments can get lodged in between brackets. Avoid stuffing and eat patiently – one chip at a time.

Note – the same is the case for lays. Because of the soft texture of the chips, you can eat them with braces.

2- Baked Chips

Boasting a soft texture, baked chips are easy to chew with braces. The crunch is nonexistent, and hence, the threat is also lower.

Devoid of the usual crunch, baked chips still promise a palatable taste and experience.

Remember to take soft bites. In case of a hard bite, you are risking the integrity of the brackets and wires of the braces – making them prone to damage.

3- Veggies Straws

High in fiber, starch, and taste, veggie straws are a healthy chip substitute. Made of potatoes and vegetables, veggies and straws are the perfect munching snack. Thus, they are the perfect chips for people who have braces.

Soft and less crunchy, these chips are a healthy and hearty snack to munch on with braces.

Remember to brush or floss your teeth after their consumption; you are golden!

4- Cheese Puffs

Yes, you can eat cheese puffs with braces.

They are laced with different flavors and promise soft and palatable snacks that are easy to chew with braces.

Cheese buffs are easy to eat and cause less trouble for the braces. A healthy habit will be to brush your teeth after eating these so that no leftovers are stuck between your teeth.

What Kind of Chips You Should Avoid with Braces?

Here is a list of forbidden treats that people with braces should avoid at all costs. Make sure to pay utmost attention.

1- Tortilla

A big and bold no.

No, you cannot eat tortillas with braces. The sharp crunch of these chips can cause severe and irreversible damage to your braces.

While eating them, people can often feign ignorance regarding properly chewing them. Therefore, the large chunks can get stuck between the braces.

Thus, a better approach is to avoid these chips altogether.

Also, a no for tortilla chips means a no for nachos (sad but inevitable!).

2- Sun Chips

Despite their nutrient profile and a whole grain base, these chips are a no. You cannot eat sun chips with braces.

The reason for this defiance is not their nutrient profile but their crunch texture. Resembling tortilla chips, their loud crunch can seriously disorient the dynamics of your braces.

3- Doritos

No, not a sound move.

Doritos are a tough and crunchy delight that holds a solid fanbase. But they are a death sentence for people with braces.

Their loud crunch will inadvertently dislodge the bracket – permanently damaging the brackets and braces.

4- Cheetos

Can you eat Cheetos with braces? Uh-huh…no!

Why do you ask? Although a cheese puff, Cheetos are a lot tougher to disintegrate. Therefore, these chips can wreak havoc on your braces – altering the dynamics in more ways than one.

5- Kettle Chips

A hardcore and solid no!

There is no debate about them. You cannot and should not eat kettle chips with braces. They are damaging, and eating them would be disastrous.

Regardless of their taste and delicious nature, these chips are hard in texture, and their crunch is loud. Two aspects that make them forbidden for people with braces.

So a healthy option would be to pass them.

Why You Should Avoid Eating Chips with Braces?

Braces are medically installed aligners that pressure your teeth to align or adjust them. They are a means to enhance your mouth’s aesthetic or functional value.

But having them means that people must endure some adjustments, and giving up on eating crunchy food is the main one.

Because of the chips’ tough, crunchy, and rugged exterior, people with aligners or braces should avoid them.

Moreover, the chips contain a large amount of starch and sugars. When mixed with saliva, these sugars create a sticky paradox that harms teeth.

Brushing is often the first resort to get rid of this sticky solution. But brushing or flossing with braces is a hard nut to crack. Therefore, a more reliable approach is to avoid such foods at all costs.

The Bottom Line

Whether you are indulged in a game or are just craving out of the blue, chips are there to satiate these little cravings.

But with braces, you must understand what is allowed and what can cause permanent damage—contact Palm Valley Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics experts for a more detailed and in-depth discussion.