If you have orthodontia, whether metal braces or Invisalign, you probably already know the importance of good oral hygiene. This is especially important as the temperature heats up, because during spring and summer months, we tend to eat more sugary, sticky food, as well as the types of food that can potentially cause damage to our braces. So, if you are a wearer of braces or Invisalign, it’s important to follow a few extra precautions when the longer, warmer days of the year also come with the temptation to eat foods we wouldn’t normally eat.
For those who have metal braces, it’s especially important to avoid sticky foods that can get stuck in braces and can also get trapped between brace components and the teeth. Foods like taffy, sticky candy, caramel or jelly apples, and other summer favorites can wreak havoc on brace-wearers. Spring and summer are not the time to slack off on avoiding foods that your orthodontist or dentist told you not to eat, because there is just as good a chance that you will cause damage to your braces or teeth now as you can during the rest of the year. Sure, the temptation is greater to eat these types of foods during this time of the year, but you have to stay strong and remind yourself how great your teeth will look when your braces come off.
If you wear Invisalign braces, you can of course take off the plastic aligners when you eat something sticky or sweet (you take them off anyway, no matter what you eat), but one thing you need to be especially vigilant about is cleaning teeth thoroughly after eating these types of foods. If you don’t properly clean teeth after eating, before putting your aligners back in place, you run the risk of having bacteria sit on your teeth, trapped by the aligners, where the bacteria can multiply and result in harmful decay.
Another food culprit that gets harder to avoid during warmer months, but that you still need to be careful of, is hard foods that you bite into. Foods like ribs, corn on the cob, candy apples and popcorn can result in broken braces, and nothing can ruin a fun-filled summer day like a broken wire jabbing into your gums or cheek. In addition to causing discomfort, eating foods that cause your braces to break require additional visits to the orthodontist, and this can increase the cost of braces, not to mention the extra time you need to spend making an appointment to have your braces fixed.
Whether you wear metal braces or Invisalign clear aligners, oral hygiene is as important as ever as you consume more sugary drinks and foods that can cause tooth decay. Be sure to stick to a regular brushing and flossing routine each day, and whenever possible, try to brush and/or floss after eating especially sweet or sticky foods. If you can’t manage to do this, the next best thing to do is to take a few sips of water and swoosh it around your mouth to help dislodge some of the food particles and bacteria from between your teeth and braces.
For more information about keeping your teeth and braces in good shape this spring and summer, or to schedule an appointment with an orthodontist in Queens, contact Park Dental Care at 718-274-1515.
