Updated in October of 2026
Braces, Invisalign®, and oral appliances can sometimes make eating feel like a challenge, especially when you’re out in public, having a good time with friends or family.
Fortunately, eating doesn’t have to be a challenge. Your Brooklyn dentist explains below:
How to Eat a Bagel with Braces, If Your Orthodontist Approves
- Choose a fresh, soft bagel over a day-old or crusty one.
- Skip the toast, which makes the crust harder.
- Cut or tear it into small, bite-sized pieces. Don’t bite straight into it.
- Chew with your back teeth, slowly.
- Add soft toppings like cream cheese, but skip crunchy extras.
- Brush and floss afterward, since bread can get trapped around brackets.
Right After You Get Braces or Have Them Tightened
Your teeth may be sore for a few days. Stick to soft foods during that time, such as scrambled eggs, yogurt, oatmeal, soup, and smoothies, and save the bagel for later.
Bagels, Invisalign, and Other Appliances
- Braces: Follow your orthodontist’s food rules. Hard, sticky, and chewy foods are the main concerns.
- Invisalign®: You remove your aligners to eat, so you can enjoy a bagel without worrying about brackets. Keep your aligner case with you, rinse your mouth, and brush before putting them back in. Ask us about Invisalign.
- Mouthguards and other appliances: Remove them before eating.
- Dentures and other prosthetics: These may limit chewy or tough foods like steak. Ask us about dental implant alternatives.
Where to Indulge in Dumbo Favorites and Fun Foods
However, we humbly recommend Sweetgreen Healthy Food for your smile health.
Outdoor Activities and Your Smile
Remember, if you’re participating in roller skating at Golconda Skate Park or climbing our cliffs at DUMBO, please wear your mouthguard.
If you indulge in sweets or other comfort foods, please brush, floss, and book your next checkup and teeth cleaning in DUMBO as soon as possible.
Your healthy smile is our priority!
Contact Your Brooklyn Dentist Today to Get Started
To schedule your next dental checkup and professional teeth cleaning, or if you have questions about our treatments and services, contact a dental team member today at (718) 285-3035. We accept third-party financing through CareCredit.