Ceramic braces, sometimes referred to as clear braces, are a great way to straighten your teeth if you dislike the not-so-subtle aesthetic of traditional braces. We offer clear braces at M. Scott Runnels Orthodontics in Destin, FL because we don’t believe people should avoid straightening their teeth out of self-consciousness. To help you determine if clear braces are a good fit for you, we’re taking a look at what foods and drinks you should avoid during your treatment.
What Food and Drink Should You Avoid With Ceramic Braces?
If you have tooth-colored braces, you should not eat anything too hard, like hard crackers, pretzels, chips, crunchy veggies, nuts, and popcorn. You also shouldn’t chew on ice. Hard things should be avoided until your treatment is over because they can damage your wires or brackets. If damage occurs, you will need to make an emergency trip to the dentist to have the damaged parts repaired.
It is also extremely important that you do not eat anything that is too chewy, like gum and chewy candies. Such snacks are likely to become lodged between the braces and your teeth. It is not easy to remove lodged food because the appliance gets in the way of brushing and flossing. If food debris gets lodged, bacteria can multiply in your mouth, resulting in tooth decay and significant, permanent tooth enamel loss.
Is That All I Should Avoid While Wearing Tooth-Colored Braces?
In addition to avoiding foods that put your braces and oral health at risk, it is important to avoid consuming any foods or beverages that may stain your tooth-colored braces. For instance, you should strongly consider eliminating dark soda, coffee, tea, and red wine from your diet. If you want to drink something that may stain your ceramic brackets, you should use a straw. Foods that should be avoided due to the potential to stain your brackets include:
- Beets
- Berries
- Curries
- Turmeric-heavy dishes
- Yellow mustard
- Soy sauce
- Artificially colored foods
- Tomato sauce
Additionally, you should do your best to limit your consumption of anything that is too high in sugar. For instance, you should limit your consumption of fruit juice, donuts, and sugar-laden muffins. If you consume too much sugar, you may end up with teeth covered in plaque. Since it is harder to brush your teeth properly with braces, your risk of tooth decay increases if you consume too much sugar while wearing braces.
How Should I Care for My Oral Health Throughout My Treatment?
It is vital that you maintain a good oral hygiene routine during your teeth straightening treatment. One of the most important steps to take is to brush and floss after each meal. While you can get away with brushing twice daily and flossing one time per day while you’re not wearing braces, it is of the utmost importance that you avoid lodged food debris during your teeth straightening treatment.
Note that it is also important that you do not use whitening toothpaste during your teeth straightening treatment. The whitening agents in the toothpaste can whiten your exposed tooth surface but not whiten the tooth underneath effectively. It is also important that you do not smoke during your treatment. Smoking can stain both your teeth and the components of your braces.
Am I a Good Candidate for This Treatment?
Clear braces may be a good solution for you if all of your adult teeth have erupted and you want to straighten your teeth subtly. These braces are effective for the treatment of a wide array of orthodontic problems, including severe overbites and severe underbites. If you’re not sure if your orthodontic problems can be treated with ceramic braces, you just need to come in for an initial orthodontic consultation to discuss your goals and current oral health.
Who Is a Poor Candidate for Ceramic Braces?
Ceramic braces may not be an ideal fit for you if you suffer from periodontal disease, commonly referred to as gum disease. Periodontal disease occurs when there is an infection in the tissue that supports your teeth. Typically, the infection that causes periodontal disease is caused by bacteria from plaque buildup. Additionally, this treatment may not be right for you if you are a smoker due to the chance that your braces’ components will be stained.
How Soon Can I Expect To See My Desired Results?
Clear braces, like metal braces, can take up to three years to work. However, you may be able to enjoy your ideal results just one year after your treatment begins. The length of your treatment depends on how severe your orthodontic concerns are.
Fortunately, there is a bit that you can do to help ensure you see your desired results as quickly as possible. One factor that can delay your optimal teeth straightening results is extended periods between orthodontic appointments when your brackets need to be replaced. Therefore, if you attend your orthodontic appointments shortly after your brackets need to be replaced.
What Aftercare Is Required Once My Braces Are Removed?
There are several aftercare steps you will need to take once your braces are removed. One important guideline is to continue not eating anything hard or crunchy until your teeth feel normal. Some foods to avoid include:
- Raw vegetables
- Hard bread
- Hard candies
- Popcorn
It is also crucial that you wear your retainer exactly as instructed if you need to wear one post-treatment to keep your teeth from shifting. If you don’t wear your retainer at all, eventually, all of your results will be lost.
What Are the Advantages of This Treatment?
There are many advantages to getting ceramic braces. One incredible benefit is that this type of braces does not affect MRI scans. If you need to have a magnetic resonance imaging scan of your head or neck, your braces would have to be removed before your imaging test if you had metal braces. Another advantage of clear braces is that they are more versatile than clear aligners. You may be a good fit for clear braces even if you have more severe orthodontic problems.
Another great thing about clear braces is that they are less allergenic than metal braces. Metal braces contain nickel, so if you are allergic to nickel, you would be considered a poor fit for metal braces. If you are allergic to nickel and your orthodontic concerns are too severe to be treated with clear aligners effectively, clear braces may be your only option. Another advantage of this treatment is that plaque is less likely to build up if you go with clear braces.
What Are Clear Braces Made of?
Clear braces are made up of aluminum oxide. They are rated nine out of 10 on the Mohs mineral hardness scale, just falling shy of diamonds. The brackets can be made up of a number of materials, including ceramic and stainless steel.
What Can I Expect During the Treatment Process?
Before your braces are put on, you need to have a consultation with an orthodontist. After examining your teeth, we will develop a treatment plan that will work for you. Depending on how close together your teeth are, you may need spacers placed between your back teeth for approximately one week. This additional preparation step will ensure that the rubber bands can fit around your teeth.
If spacers are required, they will be removed at your next appointment. After that, we will use a retractor to keep your mouth open. Then, we will apply a solution to your teeth and rinse it off. Once that’s done, we will use a special glue to adhere your brackets to each tooth. This special glue is set with a blue light. After all of your brackets are placed, the archwire will be threaded through each bracket. Next, the wire is secured.
How Long Should I Expect My Appointment To Take?
Your appointment may take between 90 minutes and two hours altogether. However, it will only take around 10 to 30 minutes to put your braces on.
Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today
While wearing clear braces, you should avoid foods that will damage or stain your braces. Contact us now at M. Scott Runnels Orthodontics in Destin, FL to schedule a consultation if you’re interested in learning more. If it is more convenient for you, we are also happy to help you schedule an appointment at one of our other offices. We are proud to also operate out of Inlet Beach, FL, and Santa Rosa Beach, FL.
