Eating with braces can be challenging, as you are limited to the types of foods you can eat.
But don’t be disheartened, as there are still plenty of tasty options for you as an orthodontics patient. Here are a few brace-friendly food ideas to get you through the winter and your treatment period….
Cheese – Many people will be thrilled to hear that not only is cheese a ‘yes’ when it comes to braces, it’s also very good for strengthening your tooth enamel.
Turkey – Turkey is a great friend to teeth in general, in addition to being a soft meat, unlike steak or pork chops which can be difficult for brace-wearers, making it easy to break down. Turkey is full of protein, containing phosphorus which helps to keep your teeth strong.
Yoghurt – Yoghurt can be a surprisingly decadent dessert with a bit of imagination and poses no threat to your brace – add some honey, a healthier alternative to sugar, along with some fresh berries or strawberries.
Foods to avoid
Diet soda – Diet soda has a very low pH level of between 2.5-3.5 and the erosion effects are said to be as bad as those produced by the drug methamphetamine according to a study by AGD, who added ‘you could be drinking white household vinegar, which has the same acidity as diet soda’.
Alcohol and caffeine – Tea and wine are particularly bad for your teeth, containing tannic acids, which are responsible for deep stains and erosion which can eventually lead to cavities. As brushing can be challenging during the brace-wearing period, it is best to avoid food and drink that can jeopardise your oral hygiene.
Caramel and sticky confectionary – Fixed braces incorporate brace hardware (brackets and archwires) and sticky confectionary will very easily become lodged in amongst these parts of your brace, potentially causing a build-up of plaque. Avoid these to prevent any oral hygiene problems post-treatment.
A little more on pH levels in the mouth ….
The mouth is a little like a water-based ecosystem that needs a healthy and balanced pH level. Your saliva should sit at a pH of around 7.4, but when you consume acidic foods, this is compromised and if this figure drops below 5.5, your tooth enamel can erode. With this in mind, it’s essential to think about the types of foods and drink you are consuming and how acidic they might be, which can often be overlooked.
Invisalign aligners: minimal changes to your diet
If you’re thinking about having orthodontic treatment in the new year but you’re not keen on the idea of having to make changes to your diet, Invisalign clear aligners could appeal to you. The aligners are removable and give patients a 2 hour window each day in which to eat and brush. The removable feature is also a great advantage where day-to-day dental care is concerned, as you won’t have to deal with brackets and wires in the way when you brush and floss.
If you would like more information about the range of treatment at Park Lane, please do not hesitate to contact us.