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Foods to Avoid

Once your orthodontic treatment begins, there are certain foods that should be avoided in order to maintain the quality of your braces. Without proper diet habits, the likelihood of getting cavities and other dental problems will increase. The most common type of foods and drinks that affect the overall health of your teeth are hard foods, sticky foods, and foods that are high in sugar. In order to minimize the damage made on your braces and teeth, Dr. Lauren Cai recommends to avoid these type of foods for a smoother and faster treatment period.

Sticky_FoodsSticky Foods

Sticky foods increase the risk of dental decay and appliance breakage by bending wires or loosening the cement bond. Sticky foods tend to stay on braces and remains on your teeth for a long time. These type of foods are:

  • Caramels or candy bars with caramel
  • Fruit Roll-Ups
  • Gum
  • Candy or caramel apples
  • Skittles, starbursts, gummy bears

Hard_FoodsHard Foods

Hard foods can bend wires, break your braces, or loosen the cement that is attached to your teeth and the bracket. In some cases, the damage caused by these foods can potentially cause harm to your mouth or teeth. These type of foods are:

  • Ice cubes
  • Popcorn kernels
  • Nuts
  • Pizza crusts and bagels
  • Apples, celery, and carrots (unless they are cut into small pieces)
  • Hard candy

Foods_HighFoods High in Sugar

Foods that are high in sugar can increase the chance of getting cavities and forming permanent white marks on the teeth. As a result, these foods should be avoided whenever possible. If you do eat sugary foods, it is recommended to brush your teeth immediately afterward. These type of foods are:

  • Ice cream
  • Cake, cookies, pie
  • Soft drinks
  • Soft candy
  • Pretzels and crackers

Schedule An Appointment With Dr. Lauren Cai

Dr. Lauren Cai is an experienced orthodontist that can assist you finding the right orthodontic treatment that best suits your needs such as traditional braces or Invisalign. If you would like to schedule an appointment, we have two offices conveniently located in Longview and Vancouver, WA. The phone number for the Longview, WA office is (360) 425-8210 and the phone number for the Vancouver, WA office is (360) 882-5090. We look forward to seeing you soon!