Candy to Avoid With Your Braces

Candy to Avoid With Your Braces

Candy to Avoid With Your Braces – Although braces produce beautiful results that boost patients’ confidence, the initial idea of braces is often negative and seen by some potential patients as an inconvenience. The reason that many people think this way is because they must give up certain foods while they are wearing braces. As annoying as giving up certain candies and foods can be, it is vital to prevent damage with your braces.

Luckily, we have put this guide together on what foods to avoid throughout the duration of your orthodontics treatment, as well as how to properly clean your braces after eating!

Candy

While candy is an extremely broad category, generally you should attempt to limit your consumption of it due to the high sugar content. Too much sugar can damage the enamel on your teeth, which can in turn corrode the glue of the brackets of your braces.

Hard Candy

The first category of candy that should be avoided is hard candy. If bitten into or chewed, hard candy can break your brackets or bend your wires, which can become very costly to repair. If small particles of the candy get stuck in your teeth, this can also cause tooth decay and cavities.

Chewy Candy

The next category of candy that is just as damaging is sticky or chewy candy. Examples of this type of candy are taffy, caramels, and hi-chew. Their sticky texture means they can grab onto a bracket and pull it off if enough force is involved, and this can be very painful for the patient. Eating these types of candies can also make it more difficult to clean the surfaces of your teeth.

Brittle and Toffee

Another type of candy that should be avoided is peanut brittle and toffee. These types of candies are dangerous because they are both hard and chewy. Their hardness can break your brackets and their chewiness can also pull off your brackets. All in all, candy should be avoided during orthodontic treatment to prevent damage to your braces. The primary exception is soft chocolates that do not contain nuts or toffee.

Caring for Your Braces

Before getting braces, you should already have a good oral hygiene routine established that you can build upon once orthodontics are added to the mix. Taking care of your teeth while you have braces is extremely important because there is a much higher risk for tooth decay in areas that are harder to clean. Part of a good oral hygiene routine is also seeing the dentist regularly. If you don’t have a general dentist, check out this advice on how to choose a dentist from our dental friends at Dental Studio of Pasadena. 

At minimum without braces, you should be brushing your teeth twice a day, but if you are able to, brushing after every meal is the most helpful. This can help remove debris in between your teeth and prevent any plaque buildup. You should also be flossing around three times a week at a minimum to remove food that may have been lodged between your teeth. To make flossing easier, we recommend floss threaders and waterpiks! Once you have braces, it is even more imperative to brush your teeth every time you eat and floss as often as possible.

If you have any questions about braces and how to care for them, visit our orthodontist in Alpharetta or give us a call at (678)-389-9400!