Foods to Avoid

While it's true that braces are sturdier than they've ever been, you still have to take certain precautions to avoid damaging them. Some of the most essential parts of braces like rubber bands and wires are still vulnerable to certain types of food.
The three pillars of food types to avoid when your teeth are being realigned with braces are:

• Sticky
• Hard
• Sugary

Foods with any of those three qualities should be chomped out of your diet while you have braces. Otherwise, you're more likely to experience tooth decay and a range of other oral issues.

Find Your Perfect Smile at Bearden Orthodontist

Remember that the braces in Fountain City, TN will be worth it in the end, and this temporary inconvenience will only seem like a minor bump in the road to perfect alignment. Call us now for a Bearden orthodontist you can count on.

When Sugar Is Not So Sweet

Breaking up with sugar is almost always a tumultuous affair. Luckily, wearing braces doesn't mean you have to swear off the highly alluring substance altogether.

Moderation is key. Once a day should be fine as long as you practice excellent oral hygiene afterward. This includes all the best things in life like pies, cakes, and ice cream. 

Replace Bad Foods With Good Ones

The key to avoiding these harmful foods is to have other options on the dessert table. There are plenty of sugar-free options that are just as rewarding and sweet.
This includes sweet drinks, especially soda pop. Even sweet teas, Kool-Aid, and Gatorade aren't going to do your braces any favors.

Why Should You Avoid These Foods?

For the most part, the reasoning is obvious. Munching on crunchy and awkwardly shaped food with braces in your mouth should sound like a nightmare just imagining it. Conversely, with gummy sticky foods, it's easy to see how they would become a mess and impossible to clean up afterward.

Some of the top foods you should stay away from with braces are:

• Popcorn
• Nuts
• Gum
• Ice
• Baguettes
• Croutons
• Raw vegetables

If you're a popcorn fanatic and don't see how you could cut the classic cinema food, fear not. Hull-less popcorn is out there, and it won't necessitate a tedious and uncomfortable excavation afterward.

Solving Problems With Tools

The knife and fork are two innovations that are invaluable tools for brace-wearers. They're essential if you're dealing with hard food or just one that is awkwardly shaped and hard to eat neatly. 

Think along the lines of sub sandwiches, sloppy joes, and corn on the cob. Whenever possible, try cutting these foods up into smaller pieces to make them more manageable.

If you're going to bite into a fruit, make sure it doesn't have seeds first. You can eat bananas, grapes, and oranges as long as they don't have a pit. 

For your braces in Fountain City, TN, contact Myers Orthodontics now.