Our practices will be closed from 24 December until 4 January - however, you can still book to see us in 2021. Happy Holidays from everyone at Ocean and warm wishes for the New Year!
Our practices will be closed from 24 December until 4 January - however, you can still book to see us in 2021. Happy Holidays from everyone at Ocean and warm wishes for the New Year!
It is possible to enjoy your diet while still keeping your teeth and braces in good shape!
Hard foods can break wires, knock brackets loose or damage elastic bands. Your braces stop working whenever they get damaged. This essentially pauses your treatment and only adds to the overall length of your treatment time. Plus, an unplanned trip to the orthodontist for repairs could cause an inconvenient disruption to your schedule.
Debris from foods high in sugar can cling to your brackets and stay in contact with your teeth for a long time. This long-term exposure to food debris increases your risk of enamel erosion and tooth decay.
Braces can be uncomfortable after each orthodontic adjustment. Your teeth will feel sore after the wires are tightened because the process puts pressure on your gums, jawbone, tooth roots and the ligaments around your teeth. You can minimise the discomfort by eating the right foods.
What should you eat after an orthodontic adjustment? Choose foods that are soft to limit the need to chew. You can also enjoy cool foods that can help soothe sore gums.
We recommend foods like:
Mashed potatoes
Soup
Ice cream
Pudding
Cottage cheese
Peas
Pancakes
Pasta
Your mouth will likely feel much better within a couple of days of your braces adjustment and you will be ready to eat other kinds of foods.
Foods that are hard, crunchy, chewy or sticky can bend wires or even dislodge brackets. It may not be easy to say no to your favourite crunchy snacks during orthodontic treatment, but braces are not forever. The final outcome is worth the short-term sacrifice.
Foods that can damage braces:
Whole apples
Fresh carrots
Pretzels
Hard lollies
Chewing gum (there are exceptions, so ask your orthodontist which type is safe)
Whole nuts
Caramel
Popcorn
This is only a basic list; there are other foods you may have to temporarily avoid. In general, stay away from anything crunchy or hard unless it is ground or chopped finely so that you do not have to bite into it.
When you are straightening your teeth, you have a foreign object stuck to them at nearly all times. This is true for both regular metal braces and for clear aligners such as InvisalignⓇ. Both metal brackets and clear aligners provide extra surfaces to collect plaque and food debris. When this debris is in contact with your teeth for a long time, it can begin dissolving your enamel and increase your risk of tooth decay.
We recommend that you limit your between-meal snacking during orthodontic treatment. You will be more likely to have clean healthy teeth when your treatment is finally over.
In summary, try to maintain a healthy and balanced diet that is low in sweets while avoiding hard foods. You can still enjoy a varied diet filled with foods you love while wearing braces. Being careful about what you eat will help you to get the most out of your orthodontic treatment.
Our team wants to see your orthodontic treatment be a success so we are ready to help you every step of the way. We are happy to share expert orthodontic advice with patients from Mooloolaba, Kuluin, Coolum Beach, Maroochydore and the surrounding areas.
Are you wondering whether you need braces? We would love to have you join our family.
Book a free consultation with one of our specialist orthodontists to find out what kind of orthodontic treatment is right for you.
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Learn how we make treatment affordable with a unique pricing structure and flexible payment options.
Get the answers to some of the most common questions that we are asked about orthodontic treatment.
See the stunning smile transformations in photos of actual patients we have treated.
