Beware Your Easter Baskets Full of Candy

By Yanni Family Orthodontics

Easter is over and now you have baskets full of candy.

But if you have braces or other orthodontic appliances, you need to be really careful.

Foods and drinks that may cause cavities should be restricted while wearing braces. Sticky food is to be avoided because of the increased risk of dental decay and appliance breakage. This type of food sticks to braces and remains on your teeth for long periods of time.

If food or drinks high in sugar content are to be consumed, have them with regular meals or at one given time of day. Please make sure that careful brushing and rinsing take place immediately afterwards.

Between-meal snacks should be confined to foods without refined sugar, and should be followed by brushing or vigorous rinsing.

Braces are attached to your teeth with an adhesive that normally will withstand the forces of eating. However, braces can be dislodged and wires bent or broken while eating certain foods.

Sticky food or candies damage appliances by bending wires and pulling cement loose. Hard food or candies may do damage by bending wires, loosening cement under the bands, or breaking the little brackets and tubes that are attached.

Foods high in sugar content should be avoided whenever possible. If you do eat them, brush your teeth immediately. If it is not convenient to brush, then always rinse your mouth with clear water after eating sweet foods.

While it may be really tempting to dig into those baskets, you have to be careful what you put in your mouth!