Braces that use cemented brackets on each tooth are effective, but they require dietary changes lest you break off a bracket. After you get braces, you’ll hear constantly about avoiding nuts, hard candies, and more, but one more food could need some attention: pizza. So, can you eat pizza with braces? In general, yes, you can actually eat pizza with braces! But you need to be careful.
Two Obstacles
The two immediate concerns with pizza are tough, thick crusts, and chunky, tough toppings. Both of these are hard to chew and often difficult to bite through, which means any attempts could lead to wires bending or rubber bands popping out. You shouldn’t have issues with brackets coming off just from biting into a pizza crust, but if you attempt to gnaw through a thick, burnt section, it is a risk.
So, if you want to eat pizza after you get your braces on, look for pizza companies that make crusts that are softer. Pan pizzas are good; thin New York crusts may be tougher to deal with, but if you trust your pizza parlor people, let them know you’re getting braces and that you need softer crusts for a while. Ask them the best way to phrase that order.
Also look for toppings that are smaller and easier to chew. Vegetables are usually fine but pineapple can be stringy, so you may want to avoid it while you have braces. Pepperoni can be slightly challenging, it’s fine as long as you can bite through it easily. But if it is tough and overcooked, you may want to set that morsel aside.
Additional Pizza Strategies
Cheese, by the way, is not a problem. Stretchy mozzarella may look sticky, but it’s not sticky in the same way that caramel is, for example. Cheese is fine; just floss afterwards if you think any got caught. Whatever you have on the pizza, take small bites. You’re not going to do yourself harm if you eat that pizza slowly and savor it.
You could benefit from trying Chicago deep dish pizza. It has a large quantity of sauce on top of the cheese, and you have to eat that pizza with braces in small bites with a fork. That’s perfect for brace-wearers.
If you are interested in getting braces, or if you would like more information, contact Dr. Scott Runnels Orthodontics today to schedule your consultation! We have two locations in Destin and Inlet Beach, FL.
