Ok, I admit it. I love sweets. Who doesn’t? But, you don’t have to be a dentist to know sugar is bad for your teeth. Do braces mean you can NEVER have any of those delicious sugary treats? Of course not! As long as you are smart about what you eat and diligent about taking care of our braces, eating sweets is fine!
First, let’s discuss what we want to avoid. Sadly, try to avoid sticky, chewy, crunchy foods. Sticky and chewy food get trapped under your wires and braces and are very difficult to clean. Even with good brushing and flossing, that sugar can hide behind your appliances. We want you to have straight, beautiful teeth, not straight teeth with stains and cavities! Crunchy foods are the other culprit. Braces are glued onto your teeth, but not permanently so we can take them off later. Crunchy foods can break off those brackets and make your treatment longer than necessary.
So what can I eat to get my sugar fix? Instead of gummy bears, caramel, or chewing gum …grab some chocolate or yogurt! Say no to popcorn and hard candy…fresh baked cookies or ice cream will do the trick!
See! Braces doesn’t mean that you have to say goodbye to sweets. It just means that you must choose wisely.
Surprisingly, even healthy foods can cause problems with your braces. Corn on the cob, carrots, nuts, and the biggest culprit – ice – can all damage your braces. However, these can all be eaten as well. Corn should be cut off the cob; carrots should be steamed; and ice should stay in your drinking glass.
No matter what you eat, braces require great hygiene. Brushing after every meal and avoiding foods that can break your braces are important to obtaining a perfect smile. So don’t worry, you can still get perfectly straight teeth and satisfy that sweet tooth!