You’ve probably heard that there are certain foods you should avoid when you have an expander. You’ll want to avoid sticky and chewy foods. These foods cause your expander to become loose or even fall out, which slows down treatment. There are certain foods that are more difficult to eat with an expander. You can still eat these foods, but you may find that they are a little challenging to eat.
Sticky and chewy foods
- Laffy Taffy
- Caramels
- Gummy candy
- Gum (sugar-free gum is allowed!)
- Tootsie Rolls
- Licorice
- Swedish Fish
- Skittles
- Starburst
Challenging foods
- White bread and hamburger buns
- Spaghetti
- Popcorn
- Nuts
- Corn
- Beef jerky
- Crunchy pizza crust
