Clear braces are a subtler version of traditional metal braces that allow you to straighten teeth without dealing with the poor aesthetics of metal braces. Instead of metal brackets, clear braces come with tooth-colored brackets that are barely noticeable in your mouth. Instead of metal wires to connect the brackets, clear braces come with transparent or tooth-colored wires. As a result, clear braces blend in with your teeth, while metal braces look like miniature railway tracks on your teeth.
Foods to avoid during treatment with clear braces
Like metal braces, clear braces remain fixed in place once a dentist inserts them, which means the patient will have to learn to eat and clean their mouth with the appliance cemented to their teeth. Some foods are easier to eat while wearing braces than others. Some of the foods people with tooth-colored braces should avoid include:
- Chewing gum
- Popcorn
- Chewy candies
- Ice
- Nuts
- Hard candies
- Pretzels
- Hard crackers
- Chips
- Crunch fruits and vegetables
Hard foods can damage the brackets and wires that come with braces, forcing an emergency trip to the dentist to get needed repairs. Other foods like popcorn or chewy candy can get stuck underneath the contraption. Getting them off can be challenging since braces get in the way of brushing and flossing teeth.
Sweet foods and beverages should be avoided as much as possible since they lead to teeth being covered by plaque. This increases the risk of tooth decay since braces make it harder to clean teeth properly.
Foods that can damage or get stuck underneath braces are not the only things people who wear clear braces have to worry about. The tooth-colored components of the appliance can pick up stains, which makes them more noticeable in the wearer’s mouth. Examples of foods that can stain tooth-colored braces include:
- Foods with lots of curry or turmeric
- Beets
- Berries
- Yellow mustard
- Red wine
- Tea
- Coffee
- Soy sauce
- Foods that contain artificial coloring
- Dark soda
Brushing, or at the very least rinsing after every meal, helps to limit the formation of stains on clear braces. The longer the coloring agents in foods and beverages make contact with the appliance, the more likely it is to pick up stains. Brushing after every meal also helps to keep teeth clean, reducing the risk of tooth decay due to having braces attached to your teeth.
People who smoke should consider giving up the habit before treatment with clear braces since tobacco smoke discolors them. It leads to the brackets and wires turning yellow, making the appliance more visible. Whitening toothpaste can help keep clear braces white, but the parts of the patient’s teeth covered by the brackets will likely be a different color by the time the patient’s treatment is over.
Explore teeth straightening options
Clear braces are just one of the discreet ways our dentist can straighten your smile. Set up a consultation with our dentist to explore more options.
Request an appointment here: https://atlantapamperedsmiles.com or call Pampered Smiles at (404) 891-9489 for an appointment in our Atlanta office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Clear Braces in Atlanta, GA.
Recent Posts
Clear braces such as Invisalign® make it possible to straighten teeth without dealing with the attachment of metal wires and brackets. Just as with metal braces, these clear aligner trays work by applying a gentle force to the patient's teeth. Over time, this force pushes the person's teeth into better alignment.Patients get a series of…
A smile makeover can enhance natural beauty, boost confidence, and bring out the best in each smile. The process differs depending on which aspects of the smile a patient would like to improve. The one thing all smile makeovers have in common is that they involve using cosmetic dentistry to enhance the look of the…
If you are like many people, your smile is one of your most treasured assets. That is why a partial denture for one missing tooth can be a solid solution for this particular dental concern. A missing tooth can happen for many reasons and is likely to affect you at some point in your life.…
A missing tooth due to an accident or gum disease can lead to embarrassment and oral health challenges. A partial denture for one missing tooth is an excellent option for anyone who wants a fast and affordable way to fill a gap between teeth. Unfortunately, misinformation about partial dentures can prevent dental patients from making…