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But at what cost?

Your taste buds are going crazy, thinking this is great. However, your teeth and gums are suffering greatly from eating all the delicious foods, which is why intake should be limited and why cleaning is so important.

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Why are these foods so bad?

Foods containing sugars and refined carbohydrates are the perfect match for increasing bacteria inside your mouth. The bacteria within plaque feeds on sugars to create acid, which slowly eats through enamel and causes tooth erosion.

This is bad for anyone, however it’s much worse for those with orthodontic treatments. Eating the wrong foods can set your treatment back months.

So, what shouldn’t you eat or drink?

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Foods to avoid with braces:

Soft drinks:

You should stay clear of soft drinks, as they are high in sugar levels, which causes decay and stains teeth.
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Sparkling wines:

These wines are high in sugar, acidic and carbonated, which rots your teeth and begins a condition called “prosecco teeth” which is when your teeth start coming away from your gums.

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Hard foods:

Harder foods such as ice cubes should be avoided as biting down can easily break braces and can further cause harm to your teeth.

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Chewy foods:

Foods that require excessive chewing cause damage and stress to braces, so it is recommended to avoid things such as chewy lollies, tough meats and other chewy foods.

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Sweets and hard candies:

Lollies that are chewy, hard or contain loads of sugar should be avoided.

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Crunchy and bitty foods:

Food that leaves small bits inside your mouth for hours should be avoided, for example popcorn and potato chips. These small bits can get stuck between your teeth and braces causing discomfort.

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Certain vegetables:

Be careful when it comes to vegetables, stay away from low cooked and crunchy vegetables as they can get lodged between your braces and do damage. Food lodged between braces can cause discomfort and pain.

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Seedy and hard fruit:

Harder fruits, such as apples, as well as fruits containing heaps of seeds such as strawberries and watermelon should be avoided. Safer options include blueberries, bananas, oranges, and other low seed, soft fruits.

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Nuts:

Nuts are a no go for braces as they can easily dislodge brackets and break the wires, although ground and flaked nuts are fine for orthodontics.

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Tips for clean teeth over Christmas:

• Brush twice a day, or after meals
• Floss daily
• Use mouthwash daily
• Make healthier food choices
• Avoid grazing on snacks (prolongs acid attacks)
• Don’t savour sweet, sugary tastes
• Don’t sip sugary drinks

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The friendly team at Ocean Orthodontics wants you to take care of your treatments, so you can achieve your best results.

Ocean Orthodontics offers a range of treatments and are always happy to answer any questions or concerns. For more information about orthodontics and oral health, or to book an appointment, please click here.

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