Can I eat fries with braces?
One of the easiest ways to invest in dental health is to begin a life with braces. It means they have dedicated a substantial amount of their time to straightening teeth and achieving proper alignment. However, if you choose a life with braces, you must yield some habits and routines to support a successful treatment.
What Are Braces?
They are orthodontic appliances that help straighten teeth. Traditional braces have been straightening teeth for many years, improving teeth function and appearance.
What Does Treatment with Braces Look Like?
A dentist at Phoenix orthodontics will usually recommend braces as the first solution for straightening teeth. The treatment works by employing controlled pressure on your teeth over a prolonged period.
When you first visit a dentist in orthodontics near you, (s)he will examine your teeth comprehensively to check the extent of the orthodontic problem. Afterward, the dentists develop a treatment plan that helps correct your underlying problems.
The dentist will then start installing the braces on your teeth. Metal braces feature brackets and wires that run through your teeth to apply pressure.
What Happens Once You Get Braces?
After the installation of braces, the dentist will release you to go home. However, your jaw and gums will feel sore because of the tension of the braces on your teeth. The soreness should wear off after a few days as you get used to the feeling of having braces.
Orthodontists typically provide a guideline on the maintenance of your teeth with braces. The guidelines should help you be comfortable before your next dental visit. Some of the areas you must be keen on are:
- Cleaning your teeth with braces – you will need special instructions to help you brush and floss with braces. It often translates to changing your oral hygiene toolkit to incorporate brushes and floss that works well for metal braces.
- Frequency of dental visits after your first appointment – usually, you need a dentist to adjust your braces every 4 to 6 weeks.
- Drinks and foods to avoid with braces – you may need to deny yourself some of your favorite foods until your treatment ends.
What Not to Eat with Braces
One of the restrictions you will have once you get braces is regarding food. The restrictions that our dental team at uSmile Orthodontics suggest are necessary for achieving high success in your orthodontic treatment. When it comes to choosing foods, here are a few categories you must stay away from once you begin your orthodontic treatment with braces:
- Sticky and chewy food – may make cleaning braces difficult. Great examples of sticky and chewy foods are caramel, gummy bears, chewing gum, bagels, licorice, and tough-to-chew meat.
- Hard and crunchy foods – once you begin your treatment with braces, your gums and jaw will feel sore because of that pressure and tension. Therefore, avoid foods that may add unnecessary pressure and tension to your mouth. Foods like nuts, raw carrots, apples, crisps, popcorn kernels, and ice cubes can aggravate the discomfort in your oral cavity.
- Staining foods – keeping your mouth clean once you get braces is already a tall order. You do not want to make the process even harder by choosing foods that leave stains on your teeth. Therefore, your orthodontist will advise against highly pigmented foods like red wine, tomato paste, coffee, and tea.
- Inflammatory foods – they flare up inflammation in your mouth, which may increase your discomfort during your orthodontic treatment. Foods with high levels of sugar, salt, and alcohol will not be a good choice for you when you get braces.
How Long Must You Make These Adjustments?
It will feel like a long time if you have to quit some of your favorite foods. However, once you appreciate that it is necessary to support a successful orthodontic treatment, you will be more willing to take up the responsibility. Depending on the complexity of your initial problem, it may take between 6 and 24 months to complete your treatment.
Conclusion
Ultimately, hard, chewy, sticky, and inflammatory foods are generally not good for oral health. Therefore, if you can keep up with your lifestyle long after removing braces, you will enjoy good oral health for a long time. The good news is that you can rely on your orthodontist for guidance about your treatment with braces.