The spookiest night of the year is drawing close, and your little ghouls and goblins will be heading out to scare the neighbors and score some treats. You probably already know most of the safety rules when it comes to trick-or-treating, such as carrying a flashlight and wearing light-colored or reflective costumes. Another big one is inspecting the treats before your kids dig in, to make sure all the candy is safe. However, have you thought about looking at the candy for the purpose of making sure it’s acceptable for your child’s braces-clad teeth?
Your child’s orthodontist probably warned you to steer clear of certain foods that are known to commonly break or bend braces. Some of these items are pretty easy to avoid most of the time, but a jack-o-lantern full of candy can be very tempting. Many of the popular treats that your child may collect when trick-or-treating fit the guidelines of being hazardous to teeth undergoing orthodontic treatment. Here are some items to avoid:
• All hard candies
• All chewy candies
• Nuts
• Licorice
• Caramel
• Taffy
• Jelly beans
• Bubblegum
• Popcorn
• Hard pretzels
• Caramel and candy apples
This may seem like a list that will take all the fun out of Halloween, but there are still many treats that your child can enjoy. Some braces-friendly examples are plain chocolate candy, peanut butter cups, sliced apples, and soft cookies and cupcakes. Just remember to look for treats that aren’t sticky, chewy, hard, or crunchy. Also, most parents tend to give their children a free pass about indulging in sweets on Halloween, but don’t forget your regular brushing and flossing routine. Maintaining healthy teeth will help you have a hauntingly good time on Halloween, and throughout the year!
Whether you are a recreational athlete or a member of an organized team, injuries are possible. Wearing protective equipment will help you be able to focus on the activity instead of worrying about getting hurt. This is especially true of your mouth, because your teeth and gums are at risk of harm from many types of sports. Wearing a mouth guard is the best way to protect yourself.
Experts report that wearing mouth guards lowers the number of mouth injuries dramatically. There are several types of mouth guards available, and the type of guard affects the level of protection provided. Here are the main kinds of mouth guards with a description of each.
Ready-made
The simplest type of mouth guard is ready-made, meaning that it may be worn right out of the package without any alterations. It is inexpensive and available at most sporting goods stores. Unfortunately, this model doesn’t provide much protection and can be uncomfortable. It may be difficult to talk and breathe while wearing it.
Boil and bite
One step up among mouth guards is the boil and bite version, which you boil to make it pliable and then place it inside your mouth to fit it to your own teeth structure. It provides average protection and the fit is not exact.
Customized
The best kind of mouth guard is customized to fit your mouth exactly. A dentist creates the mouth guard by making an impression of your teeth. This model provides great protection and is the most comfortable, and doesn’t cause speech or breathing difficulties. Although it’s the most expensive choice, it is also the best for your safety.
The foods you eat and when you eat them affects your overall health, but also the health of your teeth and gums. If you eat too many foods loaded with sugar, and not enough foods containing important nutrients, your risk of tooth decay increases. How can choosing a smart diet prevent dental problems?
When plaque on your teeth meets sugar, which then causes acid to attack your teeth, your teeth begin to decay. Foods and drinks containing any type of sugar can lead to tooth decay. You should make a habit of reading the nutrition labels on foods, so that you can opt for the choices lowest in sugar. Common sugar-filled items to avoid include sodas, candy, cookies, and pastries.
On the other hand, certain nutrients help build up the health of your teeth and gums. If your diet lacks those vitamins and minerals, the tissues in your mouth will be less resistant to infection. This can lead to gum disease, which if untreated can end up in tooth loss. Experts suggest that gum disease worsens faster in people who maintain a poor diet.
The key is to eat a balanced diet containing the five major food groups: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy foods. It’s also important to drink plenty of water. You should also limit snacking between meals, because those tend to be foods that fall outside the recommended food items for healthy teeth. Also, more saliva is produced during a meal, which is helpful in cleaning your mouth and reducing the harmful effects of acid on your teeth and gums.
For good dental health, remember to practice proper dental hygiene such as brushing and flossing regularly. Maintaining consistent dental checkups is another way to maintain your oral health. In the meantime, making smart choices in your diet will help keep your mouth in tip-top shape.
It’s not unusual for a portion of your braces to become loose at some point during treatment. Whether it’s a wire or a bracket or some other piece, it is not likely to go unnoticed. Loose pieces can poke the insides of your mouth, or affect your eating or speech.
The most frequent reasons for your braces becoming loose include:
• eating foods from the restricted list that your orthodontist provided
• a poor bond between the tooth and the bracket
• bad habits like biting your fingernails or chewing ice
• mouth trauma or injury
• change in your bite
Contact your orthodontist
The first thing you should do is discuss the problem with your orthodontist’s staff. The orthodontist may be able to recommend a temporary fix until your appointment. If an injury caused the problem, get help as soon as possible so that your orthodontist can evaluate the damage.
Common issues:
• If a bracket or wire is poking you and causing discomfort, place a piece of orthodontic wax over the item as needed. If you don’t have any wax, try using a piece of sugarless gum instead.
• If the small rubber elastic around a bracket has come off, try to avoid disturbing the bracket or touching it with your tongue.
• If something is extremely loose, remember that there is a risk of accidentally swallowing it. See your orthodontist if you feel that this might happen.
Just look around and you’ll notice that braces are very common, for both the young and not-so-young. Whether you’re 12 or 40, many of us find ourselves taking the plunge into orthodontic treatment. You might as well make the most of it, and these tips may help.
Accept it
You may not have a choice if your parents are making you get braces, or maybe it’s your own choice to get rid of jaw pain or headaches. Either way, focus on the fact that your teeth are going to look great in the end.
Shop around for the right orthodontist
It is likely that you have a number of orthodontist offices to choose from in your area, so find the one that meets your needs. Referrals from friends and family may be helpful. Many dentists have websites that highlight features of their practice or even a Facebook page where you can read real patient testimonials.
Ask questions
Educate yourself by researching on the internet and asking questions at the office. Get explanations of the work being done on you and why.
Relax
No need to panic when it’s time to get your braces. It’s not a painful process, it’s just somewhat uncomfortable. Understanding what the doctor is doing at all times may give you a feeling of control, so don’t hesitate to inquire about each step of the process.
Have fun with colors
If you get elastics on your braces, pick your favorite colors! You’ll enjoy wearing them more if you’re having fun with the colors on your teeth.
Follow your orthodontist’s instructions
You can minimize your treatment time by following doctor’s orders about wearing elastics, headgear, or other appliances. Also make sure you clean your braces as suggested, so that you’ll avoid tooth stains or gum problems.
Once you’ve gotten your braces on, your orthodontist will probably give you a list of foods to avoid. Your goal while wearing braces should be to prevent damage to the brackets, bands, and wires, not to mention keeping your teeth healthy and clean during treatment. Try to stick to the following food guidelines while wearing your braces so that you reach the best results at the end of treatment.
Raw vegetables
Veggies like raw carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower are hard to bite into while wearing brackets on your teeth. Cut vegetables like these into bite-sized pieces that can be chewed easily with your back teeth. Or, cook your vegetables before eating them.
Hard fruits
The brackets on your teeth also may break by biting into hard fruits, such as apples and unripe pears. Cut hard fruits into smaller pieces to be chewed with your back teeth.
Meat
Meat causes problems for braces patients because it may be fibrous and hard to chew. Stringy meat gets stuck in your braces or between your teeth. Tough meat may loosen the bands around your molars. You can pop off a bracket by eating meat from the bone, like ribs or chicken wings. Select tender, lean cuts of meat, cut it into bite-sized pieces, and remove meat from the bone before eating it.
Hard breads
Hard crusted breads like bagels can be very hard to bite. Either break breads into small pieces or soften them by warming them before eating.
Nuts and seeds
The problem with nuts and seeds is that they can be hard and small, both problems for braces patients. You might break a band or bracket, or bend a wire that can delay your treatment.
Candy
Avoid both hard and sticky candy. Biting or chewing hard candy can break your braces, and sticky candy like gummies or caramel can get stuck in your braces or bend wires. Also, any type of candy is sugary and should be avoided because your teeth are more susceptible to decay while in braces.
