Eating the wrong foods while wearing braces can cause damage to the wires on your teeth. This is uncomfortable, inconvenient, and costly. Snapped wires can protrude, causing sores on your cheek or tongue, which is no fun. Your dentist may have given you a long list of foods you should avoid, without giving much advice on what you can eat. There are lots of simple adjustments you can make to your usual eating habits that will ensure you enjoy a full, healthy diet that doesn't damage your braces. Check out the tips below.

Make smoothies and soups

If you haven't already got a blender, now is the time to invest in one. Soups and smoothies are the perfect way to get plenty of nutrition into your body, without damaging your braces. They're a great choice straight after you've had your braces fitted or adjusted, as your teeth might feel a little sore for a few days. You don't want to make things worse by eating food that's too solid or hard to bite into.

If you're going to eat soups a lot, try to choose vegetables that aren't too acidic, as these can damage the teeth. Tomatoes should be used only occasionally, while root vegetables like potatoes and carrots are fine.

When it comes to smoothies, use a mix of fruit and vegetables for maximum nutrition. You could make a tasty blend of apple and carrot, or combine spinach and kale with bananas for a healthy green smoothie.

Avoid stringy foods

Your braces create all sorts of nooks and crannies around your mouth, which food just loves to get stuck in. Avoid stringy foods like spaghetti and spiralized vegetables, as these could be a nightmare to get out of your braces, especially if you're not close to a toothbrush. Melted cheese can also be awkward, so try to choose varieties that remain fairly solid when melted. Mozzarella is off the table for your next pizza, but soft goat's cheese, Cheddar or Wensleydale will all be fine.

Cut fruit into small pieces

Biting into hard fruits like apples and pears is a big risk when it comes to damaging your braces. The pressure that's applied to the wires could cause them to pop or bend out of place, or snap altogether. Avoid this by cutting fruit into small, bite-sized pieces that you can chew easily. It's best to chop up all fruits, even those that seem soft - plums, oranges and nectarines might appear harmless, but can cause big problems.