Eating while wearing traditional braces can be quite problematic for a number of people. Whether it is biting into an apple, enjoying a crusty sandwich at lunch, or simply not wanting to think twice every time they sit down for a meal, many patients worry that straightening their teeth will mean months of awkward eating and constant food restrictions.
Orthodontic treatment is a fantastic investment in your smile and long-term oral health, but it does bring about changes to daily life. For patients wearing traditional braces, eating is often one of the biggest adjustments.
Fixed braces are attached directly to the teeth, using wires and brackets to do so. These are used to apply the pressure that will slowly move the teeth towards their desired position. It can also cause some soreness for some patients too and can make eating uncomfortable.
Things you would normally chew without a second thought suddenly require more caution. Toast can feel tougher than usual and raw vegetables can seem surprisingly hard work. Even biting into something as ordinary as a baguette can make you pause and rethink your decision.
Although modern braces are strong and designed for everyday life, they are not immune to damage. Very hard foods can occasionally loosen brackets or bend wires, while sticky foods have an uncanny ability to find their way into every awkward little corner.
Anyone who has worn traditional braces will usually have at least one story involving caramel, popcorn, or a poorly judged crunchy snack. This is why patients with fixed braces are generally advised to be a little more mindful about what they eat.
For adults in particular, these inconveniences can feel frustrating. Life is busy enough without having to think strategically about lunch. That is one of the reasons invisible braces have become such a popular option. For many patients of the Smile Dental Practice, they have removed one of the biggest practical drawbacks of orthodontic treatment.
Unlike fixed braces, invisible aligners are removable. You take them out when you eat and put them back in afterwards. There are no brackets to catch food, no wires to work around and no worrying that biting into something crisp might lead to an unexpected repair appointment. You can sit down and eat normally.
You can still enjoy dinner out with friends. You can eat popcorn at the cinema without anxiety and you can order the crunchy salad, the seeded bread, or the apple you would otherwise have avoided. It helps treatment fit around real life rather than forcing life to bend around treatment.
Traditional braces are absolutely nothing to feel self-conscious about, but some patients of our Croydon dental practice have mentioned that they worry about food becoming trapped around brackets and that traditional braces are very visible to others as well.
Invisible aligners remove much of that worry. As can be seen from their name, they are very discreet, being made of medical grade transparent plastic. Because they are taken out for meals, there is no navigating those awkward post-lunch moments where you wonder if something has become lodged in the wiring.
Modern clear aligners are convenient and can be removed for cleaning as well as eating. It is important though not to take them out for other purposes, or for longer periods. This may well slow down the straightening process.
For our local Croydon patients who are organised and motivated, this is rarely an issue. Most quickly settle into a rhythm of removing aligners to eat, cleaning their teeth afterwards, and carrying on with their day. Another advantage is how much easier they make oral hygiene and enable you to brush and floss much easier than with ‘wire and bracket’ style braces.
The best orthodontic solution is not simply the most convenient one. It is the one that will give you the healthiest, most predictable result. It is reassuring then, that patients today have more choice than ever before.
If concerns about eating have put you off exploring braces, it is worth knowing that modern orthodontics offers options designed to work with everyday life. Straightening your teeth no longer has to mean months of carefully avoiding your favourite foods.
If you have been considering treatment but have hesitated because of the practical side of wearing braces, we would be very happy to talk through the possibilities with you. You can do this by booking an appointment at the Smile Dental Practice in Croydon on 020 8649 7911.
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