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Most kids love candy; actually, most people in general love candy. So when it comes time for you to get braces there can often be a natural conflict between candy consumption and maintaining the integrity of your braces. For that reason, Dr. Kathleen Chan and Dr. Ivy Chen and our team know that it’s good to know which types of candy are not good for your braces. To better illustrate, here are some candies that you will want to avoid.

Caramel

Caramel is a sweet and often exceedingly sticky and chewy type of candy that just does not mix well with braces. Caramel can cause a mess in regular teeth, but teeth with braces are a whole other story. The sticky candy can very easily get lodged and stuck between the teeth, gums, and braces, making for a difficult task of cleaning your mouth. And if your teeth don't get cleaned properly, cavities can easily form. If you get cavities while you have braces, that could mean additional appointments at our Andover office and an extended treatment time.

Salt Water Taffy

Another sticky and chewy candy to avoid with braces is salt water taffy. For many of the same reasons as caramel, it is best to avoid taffy until you get your braces removed. It may be a long wait, but when it comes to the health of your teeth, and the purpose of your braces, it really is best to avoid taffy.

Popcorn

Popcorn of any kind is best to avoid when you have braces. The kernels can easily do damage to the braces as you chomp on them, and they can get stuck between your teeth and the braces causing discomfort and further complications. In this sense it does not matter which flavor of candy popcorn you eat, all popcorn is bad news until you get your braces off.

Generally speaking, any candy that is chewy, crunchy, or sticky is not a good idea to eat with braces in your mouth. These types of candy will make life wearing braces much more difficult than if you were to just wait until your braces come off. With a little patience you will be back to eating all your favorite candy again, and with straightened teeth at that.

While it’s normal to feel self-conscious, there is no reason to avoid photos just because you wear braces. Many people wear braces and you do not need to be embarrassed about them. There are also ways you can enjoy your photos without hiding your smile.

Make it Fun

Dr. Kathleen Chan and Dr. Ivy Chen and our staff offer rubber bands for braces in a wide range of colors. Choose your favorite color and wear it with pride. You can mix and match your colors too. For Valentine’s Day, try alternating red and pink bands. For the Fourth of July, use red, white, and blue!

Bands are also available in neon colors and glow-in-the-dark designs. Your imagination is the only thing holding you back. You might want to avoid using dark green bands, though. It makes it look as though you have broccoli stuck in your teeth. Gross!

Make them Disappear

If your braces still really bother you in photos, technology can quickly solve the problem. A photo-editing program, or even a simple paint program, can easily erase your braces. Zoom in on your teeth, pick your natural tooth color with the dropper, and paint your braces away.

If you have a significant amount of metal in your braces, try to avoid close-ups with flash. The flash can reflect off the metal. The important thing to remember is how good your teeth will look and feel once your orthodontic work is complete. Dr. Kathleen Chan and Dr. Ivy Chen and our staff can also show you options for braces that are not as visible as the traditional style.

Educating our patients on healthy dental routines is very important to us. With National Fresh Breath Day coming up in a few days, we wanted to share some important dental health information with everyone!

No matter what, you should be brushing your teeth every day. But don’t just stop there, make sure you are flossing and brushing your tongue as well. These are all important habits to build to ensure fresh breath. Maintaining a good oral hygiene routine will help kill the bacteria that cause bad breath.

We do recommend rinsing with mouthwash after brushing. Mouthwashes don’t replace brushing and flossing but it can be a helpful addition to the routine. Fluoride rinses can be used after brushing to help strengthen your teeth and prevent decay and decalcification of your teeth.

For all of our patients in school, brushing after lunch would be ideal. You can also carry a travel toothbrush and floss with you, which can be helpful if you have a chance to use them. At the very least, rinse with water after eating snacks or lunch.

To ensure that your visits continue to be easy follow our steps: brush and floss daily, rinse whenever you have a chance, and minimize sweet and acidic foods. By maintaining these good habits, you’ll have a happy and healthy smile!

Now that many of the schools in Andover are back in session, Dr. Kathleen Chan and Dr. Ivy Chen would like to remind all of our patients about the importance of scheduling appointments in advance. With school, clubs, sports, and family duties to consider, we know that it can be challenging to find time to visit Chan & Chen Orthodontics this fall. In order to accommodate all of our patients’ busy schedules, it is important that you plan ahead for your appointments so that we are able to provide you with a convenient appointment time.

As always, please remember to give us advanced notice if you’re unable to make your regularly scheduled appointment with Dr. Kathleen Chan and Dr. Ivy Chen and our team. Feel free to give us a call if you have any questions, or if you would like to schedule your fall appointment.

We’ll see you soon and hope summer is winding down nicely for you and your family!