Posted on: 27 January 2015Share
If you have braces, then your orthodontist has surely informed you of the hard, sticky, and crunchy foods you should avoid. These foods can dislodge the braces from your teeth and they can also force the arch and orthodontic wires out of position. Although you need to avoid certain foods, you also need to consider eating healthy items that will keep your teeth, jaw bone, and gums in great condition as your teeth are shifted around. This way, your teeth will be both healthy and straight when the braces are removed. Keep reading to find out what foods you should eat.
Fruits and Vegetables with Low Acid Levels
Fruits and vegetables are typically considered the healthiest foods for your teeth and gums because they are packed with essential vitamins and minerals. Some of the heathy foods are highly acidic though. Even when the fruits and vegetables are not naturally acidic, vinegar and lemon juice are sometimes added to keep them fresh for long term storage.
The acids in the foods can unfortunately eat away at the enamel that sits across the teeth. This erosion can leave noticeable spots on the teeth, because a portion of the enamel is covered by dental cement. The teeth can also become brittle and sensitive, and the teeth can be damaged as they are shifted around.
To keep your dental enamel healthy, substitute highly acidic foods for low acid ones. When choosing vegetables, do not eat pinto beans, kidney beans, or sweet potatoes. Consider eating peas, corn, carrots, cauliflower, squash, asparagus, mushrooms, and olives instead. Try to avoid canned fruits, berries, plums, and some citrus fruits. Think about choosing grapes, raisins, apples, pears, and papayas instead.
Foods High in Iron, Magnesium, and Boron
When you have braces, your teeth are forced to the left, right, front, or back so they sit in a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing position. When this happens, small holes open up in the jaw bone.
Your orthodontist will only shift your teeth a small amount so your teeth do not become too loose. Over time, your body regrows cells to fill in the openings. You want your jaw bone to be as dense as possible when this happens so your teeth are properly protected. Most people think that calcium and vitamin D are enough to keep the bones healthy. Dense bones require the consumption of iron, magnesium, and boron as well though.
To make sure that your diet is high in iron, consider eating chicken, seafood, and fortified bread products. Consume dark chocolate, avocados, fish, soybeans, bananas, and yogurt for good magnesium intake. To make sure you get enough boron in your diet, eat broccoli, cheese, and peaches.
Items with Protein
As your braces shift your teeth around, your gums become stretched and damaged. The stainless steel wires and attachments in your mouth also scrape the tissues, and small holes open up as your teeth move. Your gums generally heal quickly, but your body needs a great deal of nutrients to rebuild the damaged gums. Amino acids are needed to create the collagen that forms the new connective tissues. Amino acids are found in protein rich foods.
To make sure you are eating enough protein to rebuild the gum tissues in your mouth, eat foods like lean beef, seafood, and chicken. Dairy foods and eggs contain a good deal of the nutrient as well. If you are a vegetarian or if you cannot eat solid foods due to orthodontic discomfort, then consider eating tofu, quinoa, peanut butter, hummus, and soybeans.
If you have braces, then poor food choices can destroy your teeth and the orthodontic implements placed in your mouth. Good food choices can keep your teeth, gums, and jaw healthy and strong though. Consider some of the options above to make sure your teeth remain as beautiful as possible. For more information, contact your orthodontist.