Keep That Candy at Bay During Your Orthodontic Treatment!

Braces do play a very important role in correct teeth alignment and acquiring the smile of healthiness and beauty. Of course, with orthodontic treatment comes responsibility—particularly when it comes to what you eat. If you are receiving orthodontic treatment, your diet is essential in ensuring the success of your braces and the health of your teeth. Sweet and sour treats and sticky candies, although tempting, cause significant damage to your teeth and orthodontic appliances. Let us explore why you should be cautious with candies and how to properly take care of your smile during orthodontic treatment.

The Importance of Oral Hygiene during Orthodontic Treatment

According to Dr. Jed Hildebrand, Top Orthodontist in Arlington: “Now that you have braces, it is more important than ever to maintain good oral hygiene during your treatment.” Brushing and flossing regularly are important but so is what you eat. Sticky, sour, and candies can be enemies of your teeth and your braces. While they can taste wonderful, if you are a fan of those sweets, they might cause you to have problems in your teeth, enamel damage, or even expensive repairs to your orthodontic appliances.

How Candy Affects Your Braces and Teeth

While candy is nasty to your teeth in general, during orthodontic treatment, it has an added danger: multiples. Here’s why:

• Acidic Sour Candies: A lot of sour candies are acidic, which tends to erode the enamel on your teeth. Enamel is what nature provides as a natural barrier for your teeth, so if this is destroyed, you are more susceptible to tooth decay and cavities. However, if you are such an enthusiast of sour candies even while under treatment, you can kill some of the harm caused by rinsing with water, drinking milk, or consuming cheese afterward. Water, milk, and cheese help neutralize acids in the mouth.
• Sticky sweets: The sticky nature of candies such as caramels and taffies makes them stick between braces and teeth, bringing about plaque. In addition, the stickiness might make your braces loosen and even break which translates to an unscheduled visit to the orthodontist.
• Sugar and Tooth Decay: Sugar feeds nasty bacteria in your mouth that erode the enamel of your teeth with acid. If allowed to persist, the natural result can be cavities. These are particularly merciless when they appear near your orthodontic brackets.

When you have orthodontic brackets, it’s so much more difficult to clean every surface of your teeth adequately. So, aside from refraining from sticking candy, you should also avoid sugar-soaked snacks.

Statistics about Dental Health and Patients with Orthodontics

Let’s now refer to some statistics related to dental health and orthodontic patients as a means of driving the point home about controlling candy and sweets:

• Unless carried out as a preventive measure, no one wants to visit a dentist. Even with this mindset, the American Dental Association still states that some 91% of adults aged 20-64 have had at least one cavity in their life. Orthodontic patients are especially prone because metal braces make it difficult to clean the crevices that form where food particles and plaque collect.
• A Journal of Clinical Orthodontics study discovered patients who were consuming frequent meals of sugar- and acid-rich foods were 35 percent more likely to develop white spot lesions during orthodontic treatment. These are precursors to cavities.
• Nearly half of adults over 30 years of age have signs of gum disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is closely related to poor oral hygiene.

These statistics also highlight the importance of not only maintaining your orthodontic appliances clean but also proper oral care during orthodontic treatment.

Why Good General Oral Health Matters

Your general oral health is related to your general health. Research indicates that periodontal disease has links to other major health conditions, including heart disease. Healthy oral practices reduce the likelihood of gingivitis, which in turn may lead to these diseases.

Maintaining good oral hygiene during your orthodontic treatment will contribute a lot to maintaining your health. These involve:

• Checkup with Your Dentist in Arlington: Schedule regular dental checkup visits every six months throughout your orthodontic treatment.
• Brushing and Flossing Daily: Brush and floss at least two times a day to dislodge particles of food that get stuck inside your braces.
• Antibacterial Mouthwash: An antibacterial rinse can help kill germs and reduce plaque buildup around your braces.
• Regular Adjustments: Don’t skip your orthodontic appointments. Adjustments ensure your treatment is progressing properly and help catch any potential issues early.

What Foods to Avoid While on Orthodontic Treatment

Your orthodontist will give you a list of foods to avoid while going through treatment, but here is the quick and dirty of the main offenders to avoid:

• Hard Foods: Nuts, popcorn, and hard candy can break brackets and wires.
• Sticky Foods: Taffy, gum, and caramel stick in your braces and are hard to dislodge, thereby contributing to more risk of decay.
• Sugar Snacks: Candy, cake, and cookies can contribute to the formation of cavities if often consumed without adequate cleaning.
• Crunchy Snacks: Chips and hard pretzels can become easily lodged in your braces and cause damage and discomfort.

Healthy Alternatives to Candy

Many great snack alternatives will not damage your braces. Here are some braces-friendly alternatives that you can enjoy during treatment:

• Yogurt: Soft, calcium-rich, and delicious—yogurt is a perfect snack that is gentle on your teeth.
• Fruits and Vegetables: Soft fruits like bananas, grapes, and oranges can be used. Cooked vegetables like carrots and spinach are harmless even when you have braces.
• Cheese and Milk: Dairy foods are a good source of calcium, which can help neutralize acids in your mouth.
• Smoothie: A tasty smoothie made of fruits and milk is healthy and good for braces.

A Word from Dr. Hildebrand

“Our team here at Hildebrand Orthodontics is here to support you every step of the way during your orthodontic treatment. If you have any questions regarding foods to avoid, how to take good care of your braces, or your general oral health, don’t hesitate to contact us. Want information on how to care for your braces or want to know more about orthodontic treatment? We are here to help. Call us today, ask at your next appointment, or connect with us on Facebook!”

For any Arlington orthodontist needs or extra advice on looking after your braces, you may reach out to Dr. Jed Hildebrand and the staff at Hildebrand Orthodontics for any needs.