Orthodontic treatment will last from 18 months to three years. Anyone is bound to crave a chocolatey caramel bar or sugar fix during treatment. Don’t give in; sugary treats will compromise your progress, and they are never good for your teeth, braces or not.

Sugars are fuel for the acidic bacteria that destroy teeth. For teeth without braces, candy is a threat, but when you add in the brackets, bands, and wires, tooth decay becomes almost certain. There are just too many places for bacteria to hide.

You have probably heard that the type of candy makes a difference in the overall effect on the teeth. NOT TRUE. Hard, soft, sticky, or crunchy, it’s all bad for your braces-covered teeth.

The problem with eating candy while undergoing orthodontic treatment is that the sugar has so many different places to hide. It can hide under the wires, in the brackets, and around other components of the system.

Hard and chewy candies are particularly damaging, as when you bite down on them, your tooth becomes stressed by the force. With brackets and wires on your teeth, that additional force may break or pop off a component of the orthodontic system.

Better Sugar Fix Alternatives

These are some of the better choices you can make while undergoing orthodontic treatment:

• Dark chocolate
• Sugar-free gum
• Cookies
• Smoothies
• Milkshakes
• Ice cream

If you want us to break the news to your child, please let us know! Call our office at 703-263-0575.