Metal Braces in Middletown is an important milestone in your journey toward a straighter, more beautiful smile. The treatment does require a couple of lifesytles changes for optimum results. Taking care of your braces involves the most critical part of being mindful of the foods that you take. Certain foods can actually break your braces, extend the length of your treatment, or be simply painful. Though you can use braces to straighten your teeth, having braces can be a bit of work.
Sticky and Chewy Foods
Sticky and chewy foods highly prohibited while having braces in Middletown. These are the types of foods that can be lodged between the brackets and wires of your braces, making it nearly impossible to clean your braces thoroughly. Food particles can result in plaque over time, which can lead to cavities or gum issues. Sticky foods such as caramel, taffy or chewing gum are particularly worrisome — these can pull off brackets or loosen wires.
Skip the chewy snacks and go for softer ones like yogurt, smoothies or soft fruits like bananas and peaches. These items won’t just be kinder to your braces, they’ll also give your mouth the nutrients it needs for good health while you get treatment.
Hard Foods
Some foods can be difficult to eat with braces, especially hard foods like raw vegetables, nuts, and hard candy. This can delay your treatment, as it can break or bend the wires and brackets. That is because crunching down on a raw apple or a hard piece of candy can lead you to a misaligned braces or broken brackets.
Cut hard foods in smaller, bite-sized sizes to avoid damaging your braces. If you like apples, cut them into thin wedges if chewing that food is difficult, for example. Instead of biting into hard candy, go for soft treats or skip candy altogether.
Crunchy Foods
Another food group to stay away from while wearing braces in Middletown is crunchy foods such as popcorn and chips. The small, sharp pieces of flesh in these foods can catch on your braces and prevent you from cleaning them properly. The chewing action needed to consume these types of foods can place pressure on the braces that may cause pain or damage the wires.
If you need something crunchy, try healthier options like sliced cucumbers or soft granola bars. These alternatives are a lot easier on your braces and will allow you to enjoy that crunch without a fight.
Sugary Foods and Drinks
And that’s all the more reason to be careful about sugar when you have braces. Sugary foods and drinks can accelerate plaque formation around the brackets and wires. The plaque is a breeding ground for bacteria that cause the tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease.
Although sugary treats may be tempting, you should do your best to limit those or swap them out for something a little healthier. Drink water or milk, not soda, and eat fruit instead of candy for dessert. Also make sure to brush your teeth after eating any sugary foods or drinking sugary beverages to ensure that your brackets and teeth stay clean and healthy.
Foods that Stain Your Teeth
Certain foods can leave stains on your teeth while undergoing braces, so even if they are not going to damage your braces, you might want to be careful with them. Should you eat foods that stain, such as coffee, tea, and red sauces, on a regular basis, you may get stains around your brackets. To avoid staining your calls, drink dark liquids through a straw, and steer clear of stain-causing foods.
Of course, if you are going to have these foods or drinks, just make sure to brush your teeth afterward so that the staining is minimized and your teeth look good!
Conclusion
Braces in Middletown may help you get that perfect smile but keeping that smile safe requires paying attention to what you eat. By steering clear of sticky, hard, crunchy and sugary foods, you can minimize the chance of damaging your braces and make sure your treatment goes smoothly. Also, always practice good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing your teeth to maintain your braces and teeth clean and in good condition.
As a Doctor-led practice, you can expect to be treated like family and with a smile, while we improve yours! Dr. Patel leads every patient's treatment and you can expect to see him on every visit. At Orange County Orthodontics, we use the latest and best technology to give our patients an amazing smile
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