Foods That Can Harm Your Braces

McClellan Orthodontics

Teeth move best in a healthy environment and in individuals who maintain excellent overall health.

Certain dietary habits are known to cause breakage of orthodontic appliances, as well as increase the risk of dental disease. Dr. McClellan’s aim is to achieve treatment goals with as few disturbances as possible due to appliance breakage, and to minimize the side effects of poor diet choices.

Braces and other orthodontic appliances are attached to your teeth with a special orthodontic glue or cement that will withstand the normal forces of eating. However, brackets can be dislodged, and wires can be bent or broken after eating certain foods.

For most situations, common sense will tell you the specific foods to avoid.

To protect your orthodontic appliances, be sure to avoid:

• Hard and Crunchy Foods – These foods can break or damage wires and brackets, loosen cement under the bands or break the little brackets and tubes that are attached.

• Sticky and Chewy Foods – Sticky foods can get caught between brackets and wires, cling to bands, and pull appliances off. These foods can weaken the bond strength of the glue or cement for any appliance glued in your mouth.

• Sugary Foods – Foods and drinks that may cause cavities should be restricted while you are wearing braces or other orthodontic appliances. Whether you wear an orthodontic appliance or not, sugary foods can cause tooth decay and other related problems and should be avoided whenever possible. If you do eat them, brush your teeth immediately. If it is not convenient to brush, then rinse your mouth with clear water after eating sweet foods.

When taking care of braces or other orthodontic appliances, softer foods are recommended. Additionally, do not chew on non-food items such as pens, pencils, ice, or your fingernails.

It is beneficial to check your braces or other orthodontic appliances regularly to make sure that nothing is bent, broken, or loose. In the event of a loose or broken wire or bracket please call our office immediately to arrange an appointment for repair.

Remember, loose brackets or bands and bent or broken wires create longer treatment times and added fees. So please choose your foods wisely.

If you have any questions about dietary restrictions or healthy food choices, give our Kenilworth, IL orthodontic office a call!