If you live in East Central Illinois, one of the state's best family orthodontists is in your region! Illinois native Dr. Mark B. Huls is an accredited orthodontist who provides tailored care for patients of all ages. With offices in Monticello and Champaign, the team at Huls Orthodontics makes it easy to get expert treatment at your convenience.
Candies That Can Be Bad for Your Braces
Candy is a sweet treat that's easy to enjoy. Unfortunately, eating some types of candy can damage your braces and teeth. Here's what to avoid:
Hard Candies
When you're wearing braces, eating candies like jawbreakers and lollipops is a bad idea. These treats are hard enough to break your braces if you bite on them. Even if you're careful, the sugar can stick to your teeth and increase your risk of getting cavities.
Sticky Candies
If you're fond of snacking on gummy bears, Tootsie Rolls, caramel, and taffy, try to postpone the urge. These sticky candies, and others like them, can get stuck on your brackets and pull on them, potentially damaging your braces and teeth. To fix the issue, you may have to make extra trips to your orthodontist and endure longer treatment times.
Chewy Candies
Chewy candies like fruit snacks, Mike & Ike's, Starburst, and Skittles can also be bad for your braces. Even soft chest candies can get stuck in your braces, and tougher varieties can put strain on your brackets and teeth.
Crunchy Candies
Crunchy candies, such as LifeSavers, Nerds, and M&M's, can be crushed into small, sugary fragments that can get trapped behind your wires and be difficult to remove. If these pieces stay lodged in your brackets too long, they may damage your tooth enamel.
Sour Candies
Warheads, Sour Patch Kids, and similar sour candies contain acids that can erode your tooth enamel and loosen your brackets. If you eat these treats while you have braces, the acid can get trapped against your teeth and make them more vulnerable to cavities.
Chewing Gum
If you wear braces, chewing on gum is a no-no. Each time you bite down and release your jaw, the gum can pull on your braces. This repetitive motion can easily damage your wires or break your braces.
Braces-Friendly Sweet Treat Options
If you're wondering which snack options will be easier on your dental work, there are some sweets you can enjoy in moderation. These alternatives to chewing gum and hard, sticky, sour, crunchy, and chewy candies include:
- Soft, easy-melt chocolates like Hershey's Kisses and peanut butter cups
- Soft sugar brownies and cookies
- Pudding, Jello, and soft-serve ice cream
Other nutritious, healthy snacking options we like are:
- Chopped fruit and steamed vegetables
- Yogurt
- Soft cheeses like mozzarella, cottage cheese, and feta
- Light crackers like oyster crackers, Goldfish, and saltines
Whatever you choose to eat, be sure to rinse your mouth with water and brush your teeth as soon as you're finished snacking.
Caring for Your Dental Work
When you're wearing braces, you must be mindful of your oral health. Here are some tips for keeping your braces and teeth in top shape:
- Brush your teeth after every snack or meal.
- Floss your teeth at least once a day.
- Use an alcohol-free fluoride mouthwash to remove bacteria and food particles.
- Visit your orthodontist regularly for checkups and cleanings.
Taking time to care for your teeth and braces is the key to a lovely smile.
For a Bright, Aligned Smile, Visit Huls Orthodontics
When you're looking for a family orthodontist in Monticello or Champaign, Huls Orthodontics is a great choice. We provide gentle, personalized oral care that will make your smile more beautiful with time. We also offer treatment devices, such as clear aligners, that can help you maintain your results for years. To book an appointment, call us today!