Having braces (or Invisalign) will require a few lifestyle changes for most of us. Most of these changes are small, such as closer attention to brushing, flossing, and eating habits, but they are important to keep braces in good condition and teeth healthy. In fact, these are good habits to have regardless of whether you have braces or not!

Food is a wonderful thing, and the huge variety of it is undeniably one of the simplest pleasures of life. Unfortunately, however, many foods are very bad for our teeth, particularly when we have braces. Just by knowing how some foods act on other things around us (think Coke staining a tablecloth or maple syrup sticking to our fingers) we can take a guess on some. Others can be more stealthy.

Let’s take a look at a few types of foods and how they affect teeth and braces:

Hard foods

Hard foods like hard candy, ice, and nuts are hard on teeth and hard on braces. These kinds of foods are like gravel and have the potential to wear down teeth and damage braces. Plus, the sugar in hard candies promote the growth of bacteria which results in cavities.

Sticky foods

Sticky foods like caramel and gum are very bad ideas with braces. They can get stuck between braces or teeth and if not brushed or flossed away soon, can start to damage teeth. While sugar-free gum isn’t bad for your teeth, it’s not a good idea with braces.

Acidic foods

Very acidic foods and drinks like soda, fruit juices, and sports drinks are the worst at promoting cavities. The drinks listed above are doubly harmful because they also contain a lot of sugar, which cavity-causing bacteria love to feed on.

With some patience and a little bit of practice, you can still enjoy your favorite foods whether you have braces or not. If you have any questions about braces in Creve Coeur, Invisalign, and best care practices, contact Dr. Andy Frost in Creve Coeur, MO by calling (314) 567-1888 or by filling out our simple online form.

When we think of braces, we often think of kids or teenagers. For those of us who grew up in the last 20 or 30 years, we probably knew many kids in school who had braces, or we may even have had braces ourselves. Now we may be considering braces for our own kids as they get older.

But what if you didn’t get braces as a kid? Does that mean you can’t have straight teeth now?

Absolutely not. In fact, adults considering orthodontic treatment are becoming a bigger and bigger part of our market. With so many options ranging from Invisalign to traditional braces, many adults are seeing that having straight teeth may not be as much of an ordeal as it was when they were kids.

Just like kids though, the goals of orthodontic treatment are the first things an adult should consider. For example, do you want “perfect” teeth? That is, are you looking for a purely aesthetic solution? Is there a functional or oral health problem that needs to be addressed? Or do you simply want to protect the smile you have and not allow your current situation to get worse?

The many options currently available for orthodontic treatment also means there are more options to address various problems. For many problems adults face, Invisalign may be the best option. For others, an orthodontic retainer may be most sensible. And still for others traditional braces may be the best route. All of this will depend on the orthodontist’s evaluation of the patient’s individual case as well as the patient’s preference.

Also, don’t be led into thinking that because fewer adults wear braces than kids, adults are more difficult to treat. Both adults’ and children’s teeth present their own challenges, and an orthodontist is trained more than well enough to handle patients of all ages and with all kinds of difficulties and desires.

If you are an adult in St. Louis or Creve Coeur and you are unhappy with the appearance, function, or health of your teeth, stop in to see Dr. Frost for a consultation. We will be happy to give you an honest evaluation and explain your options so you get the best personalized treatment. Contact us to learn more about braces treatment in Creve Coeur!