What Are The Foods and Drinks to Avoid When Wearing Braces?

Christmas is here, and with it comes celebrations filled with mouth-watering food and fizzy drinks. Amid all the delicious things that Christmas has to offer, orthodontists in Manila remind their patients, especially the ones with orthodontic braces to take care of their teeth and gums even more.

But first, what are orthodontic braces?

Orthodontic braces are typically made of stainless wires and brackets. They are used to properly align teeth with regard to a person's bite, while also aiming to improve overall dental health.

Though orthodontic braces are often used to straighten misaligned teeth and fix gaps, orthodontists say that they are only effective when they are cared. With that, patients must get their monthly checkup and cleaning, practice regular hygiene and avoid certain foods to ensure that the best results are achieved in the shortest time possible.




But what does food have to do with braces?
When orthodontic braces are used, the teeth will be more sensitive because the wires and brackets are forcing the teeth to align. That’s why most patients often complain about tingling sensations between their teeth and gums. Due to that sensitivity, eating the wrong kind of food would cause further discomfort. It could increase the risk of brackets or wires breaking and thus require an unscheduled trip to orthodontists in Manila; not to mention additional treatment time. Moreover, if the patient frequently eats foods that can get stuck in braces or is high in sugar content, it will create an environment that encourages bacteria buildup, which then results to more serious and lasting damages to the teeth and gums.

To avoid further complications, here are the foods and drinks that the patient must avoid throughout the treatment.

1. Hard candies (for example, lollipops)

2. Chewing gum

3. Chewy caramel

4. Nuts

5. Popcorn

6. Some raw vegetables (for example, carrots)

7. Ice

8. Corn Chips

9. Hard cookies and crackers

10. Pretzel

11. Sticky or hard chocolate

12. Sodas

13. Natural fruit juices

14. Carbonated drinks

15. Hard taco shells

Whatever the type of brace is, one should always avoid sticky, chewy, hard and sugary foods as these can break the wires and brackets, and misalign the teeth even more. Moreover, fizzy drinks are also a no-no, since these are often high in sugar and can be acidic. These often lead to unwanted stains, tooth decay and erosion.

Aside from safe eating with braces, orthodontists in Manila also remind their patients to always keep their teeth and braces very clean. This means that one must brush and floss after meals to prevent further damage such as bacteria build-up and discoloration which can last a lifetime.

Last note, to ensure the best results from an orthodontic treatment, the patient must keep in touch and follow the advice of his/her dentist.

For dentist, you can visit: Dental World Manila