Summer dos and donts, from Bernard & Eimer Orthodontics

AVOID THESE:

SPORTS DRINKS: Gator Aid and Power Aid and even citric drinks like orange and lemon-aid are very acidic. They can erode the enamel of your front teeth and leave white mark or patches; especially in those with braces.

STICKY FOODS: Most sticky foods have a high sugar content and when they get stuck in the grooves of the teeth, they provide food for decay producing bacteria over a long period of time. Watch out for sticky dried fruits like raisins as well!

HARD CANDY: Sucking on hard candy will again keep sugar bathing the teeth for a lengthy period. And it you decide to bite on it, your wire will bend and your bracket will be knocked off.

PROLONGED GUM CHEWING: Chewing gum for long periods will cause the muscles of the jaws to tire and even go into spasm. The jaw joints could become painful or begin clicking as well and headaches can occur from stressed facial muscles.

HEAD HOLDING: Propping up your head with your hand or sleeping on your hands could force the jaw sideways out of the sockets causing clicking or pain in the jaw joints. Pressure against the cheeks could also cause the teeth to move inward resulting in crooked teeth or a narrower arch.

(Instead,)
TRY THESE:

WATER: Not very tasty but always the best liquid for hydration and health! If you must have soda or sports drinks, always use a straw so the liquid cannot get to your teeth.

VEGETABLES: If you must have foods with sugar, try vegetables. Carrots have sugar but do not stick to the teeth or cause decay. Just remember to cook them or cut them up into small pieces if you have braces.

SOFT CANDY: Actually, some believe that dark chocolate is a cavity preventative. Soft candy may contain a lot of sugar, but it is easily chewed and swallowed so the contact with the teeth is minimized over hard or sticky candy.

LIMITED GUM CHEWING: Chewing sugarless gum for 5 minutes after meals is actually good for the teeth. It promotes saliva which washes away plaque and neutralizes acid. And gum with xylitol will even keep plaque from adhering to the teeth and prevent decay.

GOOD POSTURE: Keeping the back straight and head upright will promote good muscle tone and balance in the head and neck. It will allow the jaw joints to rest comfortably in the sockets and eliminate muscle and joint pain.