During orthodontic treatment it is necessary to be careful with foods that you eat. Eating food that is hard or sticky can damage your braces and cause discomfort much less extend your treatment time. Below are a list of foods to stay away from. Hard Foods Ice, pizza crust, pretzels jerky, nuts, raw carrots, tostitos, peanut brittle, apples, suckers/hard candy and corn-on-the-cob Sticky Foods Caramel, starburst, gummi bears, taffy, licorice, tootsie rolls, milk duds, suckers and bubble gum Sometimes: Carrot sticks (if cut small), apple wedges and small pieces of sugar free gum