Foods to Avoid at Your Summer BBQ with Braces

Summer is finally here, and we are all excited for a season of fun, relaxation, and enjoying some time under the sun. One of the hallmarks of any summer is a barbeque with family and friends – and while anyone’s mouth would water at the smell of fresh-grilled ribs or seared corn on the cob, barbeques get a little more complicated when you’re wearing braces. As your dedicated Cottonwood dentist, our mission at Arizona Smile Designers is to support you in every aspect of dental health, so here’s our guide to navigating a summer BBQ with braces.

What to Eat at a Barbeque with Braces

If you’re heading to your neighborhood summer BBQ with braces this year, you’ll need to be careful about the things you do and do not eat. But have no fear: there are still plenty of classic barbeque foods you can dig into.

To protect your braces, you’ll need to avoid any foods that are hard, crunchy, gooey, or sticky. It’s also important to avoid foods that might cause damage when biting into them: for example, while soft rib meat is no problem, the rib bone itself could easily crack off a bracket if you chomp into a whole rib. Here are some examples of the types of food you should avoid at a barbeque:

  • Spare ribs & baby back ribs
  • Corn on the cob
  • Kebabs
  • Roasted asparagus

But here’s the good news: many barbeque foods that pose a threat to braces in their normal form are still safe to eat so long as you take a couple of extra steps. Rib bones can break braces but the meat is soft, so if you pull the meat off the rib with a fork and eat it separately you’re still in the clear. The same goes for food like corn on the cob: simply cut the kernels off the cob and they’re safe to eat with braces. For thicker meats like brisket, cutting them into bite-size pieces makes them a safe bet for braces.

Contact Your Cottonwood Family Dentists

We hope these tips make it easier to enjoy your summer barbeques if you’re wearing braces, and as always, we’re here to help if you still have questions. Contact us today for more tips on navigating the orthodontic treatment process or to schedule an appointment for a dental checkup at our family dental practice serving Cottonwood, Sedona, and Camp Verde. We can’t wait to hear from you, and we’re excited to help you and the whole family achieve a better smile!