Making sure you have a stain-and-cavity-free smile once your braces are off depends entirely on you! And consider this: cleaning your teeth after you eat is important, but the effects of good habits also have a lot to do with what you eat.
This is especially true while you have braces. Be extra-conscious of eating tooth-friendly foods, and stay away from foods that will damage your brackets.
Keep Your Smile Healthy By Packing Great Lunches
Eating on-the-go can be problematic. In the morning, grabbing a donut is much easier than making an omelette! But taking the time to think through what you’re eating for lunch is really important for both your oral and overall health. Whether you’re planning your own lunch or you’re the one making lunch for your kids to take to school, keep these three smile-friendly lunch tips in mind.
1. Switch Out The Troublemakers
Chewy, sweet foods like gummies or dried fruits like Craisins can be really bad for your teeth because they stick! For a sweet treat, choose sliced fresh fruit or even a little bit of chocolate.
Processed, starchy crackers or chips are problematic. They stick to teeth and turn into sugars very quickly. Opt for whole grains instead—or even better, some healthy nuts or seeds (just nothing too hard!).
2. Reconsider What You Drink
Soda and sports drinks are bad news for your teeth, and NOT recommended while you’re in braces. Some fruit juices are loaded with sugar and acid as well. Consider milk or water instead. Chocolate milk may be a good option too. It offers protein and almost half of your daily calcium.
3. Use Natural Scrubbers
There are certain foods that actually help your teeth. For example, yogurt and cheese can cut acidity making something like fruit juice less harmful. And then there are great fruits and vegetables that scrub your teeth when you eat them and get rid of built-up sugars and starches from your lunch. These include celery, apples, carrots, cucumbers, and pears.
Having a hard time eating them with braces? Cut them up into bite-size pieces.
This Video Is Specific To School Lunches, But The Tips Are Great For Everyone!
The ideas in this video are great. Start using some of them today!
Do You Have Any Tips To Add?
Do you have any ideas of your own to add? Comment below, we’d love to hear from you!
Thanks for your trust in our practice. We appreciate wonderful patients like you.
