Whilst wearing fixed braces won’t interfere with your ability to drink your favourite fizzy drinks, there certainly are a number of things to be mindful of to keep your teeth healthy and your braces free from staining.
Braces or not, we already know that fizzy drinks generally aren’t the healthiest of options for your body, but let’s delve into the specific problems you can run into when combining fizzy drinks with braces.
What is a Fizzy Drink?
Examples of fizzy drinks are everywhere, including cola and lemonade. By definition, they are soft drinks which contain carbonated water, often a sweetener of some variety, and either a natural or an artificial flavouring.
How Do Fizzy Drinks Affect Your Braces?
Carbonated water by itself (e.g unflavoured sparkling water) usually isn’t going to cause any issues, but any flavoured carbonated water or other fizzy drink containing either artificial flavours, citric ingredients (such as lemon), sugar or colourings are things to be mindful of.
Whilst they won’t do any damage to the braces themselves, these things can stick to your teeth and the gaps between braces, leading to staining of both the teeth and the braces, and a potential deterioration of oral hygiene.
Is Fizzy Water Okay?
It’s a common misconception that fizzy water is fine for your teeth. Whilst some unflavoured sparkling water is no issue at all, flavoured water (sparkling or not) still sometimes contains sugar, artificial flavourings, and/or sweeteners. All of which can still cause issues with your teeth and braces.
Clear Aligners vs Braces
Whilst this blog post has more to do with braces, it’s important to note that there are differences between clear aligners (Invisalign) and braces, and these are especially important when it comes to fizzy drinks. Because of the material clear aligners are made from and because of the way they fit onto the teeth, it is advisable not to drink fizzy drinks whilst wearing clear aligners.
Tips for Consuming Fizzy Drinks With Braces
As mentioned previously, fizzy drinks should not be consumed too often due to the implications they can have on your overall health. However, as with all things which we find indulgent, they can be enjoyed in moderation with a balanced diet. So, how can you enjoy your favourite fizzy drinks whilst looking after your teeth and braces?
- Use a straw. Although this won’t completely eliminate contact with your teeth or braces, it will significantly reduce it.
- Make conscious choices – switching to sugar-free version will help, as well as switching out drinks like cola for slightly better fizzy drinks such as sparkling water.
- Routine – a regular cleaning pattern will become habitual, ensuring your teeth and braces remain cleaner throughout each day, even if you have had a fizzy drink. This should include regular brushing, flossing, and the use of mouthwash.
Conclusion
So, can you drink fizzy drinks with braces? Hopefully this article clears up your questions surrounding fizzy drinks and braces. To summarise;
Make conscious choices about the types of drinks you consume, use a straw if you are going to have a fizzy drink (be mindful this does not eliminate the issues and can still lead to staining/white spots, but will reduce them), and keep on top of your oral hygiene.
Interested in Getting Braces?
If you are at the start of your journey to getting braces, and are looking for the best orthodontist for the job, why not book a consultation with one of our team? We can discuss with you your requirements, prices, and treatment times based on your specific circumstances. Our team can also provide further information on restrictions around what you can and can’t eat with braces, to help you make an informed decision on whether they are the right option for you!
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