Can You Chew Gum with Braces? Everything You Need to Know
Braces are one of the most important steps toward that perfect smile. But it does require adherence to a few lifestyle adjustments to make sure the treatment goes off without a hitch. One of the burning questions for most people with braces has to be if there’s any way to chew gum with braces or not. While it may seem like a simple question, there are a lot of orthodontic and health considerations to address.
In this article, we will discuss the all-important question of chewing gum with braces, key considerations and options, and tips on how to maintain your braces’ cleanliness while enjoying your favorite snacks. Whether you are an adult or a teenager with braces like mine; knowing what gum does to your braces is essential to a successful and hassle free treatment.
Understanding Braces and Their Components
Before discussing can you chew gum with braces or can you not, it is better to get to know what braces are. Braces are a complex set of parts that work together to straighten your teeth over time. Some of these parts are:
Braces: Small metal or ceramic squares that are bonded to each tooth.
Archwires – These are the thin metal wires that are attached to the brackets and move the teeth.
Elastics: Tiny rubber bands that attach to brackets so that arch wires are connected to the brackets, and also help to move the teeth.
All parts of the braces system are finely tuned to maintain pressure on the teeth, which will move them to the correct places. Because the system is so fragile, even innocent things like chewing gum can interfere with the movement of the teeth, or even damage the braces.
Can You Chew Gum with Braces? The Information You Want
The short and easiest answer is, “No, try not to chew gum while you have braces — with braces on your teeth, gum can stick and be difficult to clean off, causing cavities or even damaging your braces! Braces are an investment and chewing gum presents various dangers which can work against gum care and proper gum management. Let’s break down what should be factored in and what the not-so-good things about each side of the chewing gum and braces spectrum are.
Gum is Sticky and Will Probably Stick to Your Braces
It is a tough obstacle to try to chew gum while you have some metal around your teeth to get stuck in. The metal of your braces will trap shards of gum. This is probably going to be a sticky mess you are not going to want to put up with and if it is not taken care of it is going to leave plaque and/or stains which is going to make it very difficult to keep clean.
What is more, the gum that becomes inserted will be hard to extract – and this can create problems of hygiene influences and, ultimately, can even cause tooth decay and furthermore, gum diseases.
Gum Can Damage Braces
Braces are effective and they steadily and gently shift your teeth into place. But you should refrain from chewing gum since it can pull on the more delicate sections of your braces. Gum can weaken your brackets, snap your elastics and bend your archwire. Not only does this slow your treatment process, but you will also have to visit an orthodontist again to fix any damage done to wires and brackets.
Sometimes that pull from gum can interfere with the direction that teeth are supposed to be moving. It can be that the continuous pressure caused by chewing the gum, can counter all the good movement the braces want to provide.
Gum That Messes with Your Orthodontic Treatment
Your customized treatment plan is designed for gradual teeth movement, because your braces work by applying gentle yet consistent force to move each tooth in its own time. The pressure on the braces — and against the teeth — becomes uneven and may not be in synchronization with the predetermined timeline, therefore setting back the slow-moving process. Orthodontists may get adjust more frequently or include additional treatment phases to make up for it. Ultimately, this can significantly extend total treatment time and postpone orthodontic goals.
What Type of Gum Can I Safely Chew with Braces?
We’ve all been told that chewing gum with braces can be harmful, but are there any types of gum that are safe to chew when you wear braces? The answer is yes, but with conditions.
If it’s absolutely necessary for you to wear braces and chew gum, please follow these rules:
Sugarless Gum: Be sure it is sugar free. Not only is sugarless gum a way to keep a person out of the toothache zone, especially when it comes to braces, but it also can save a person from plaque and gum disease because of this sugary gum.
Non-stick Gum: Nowadays there is no excuse to be chewing the toxic industrial juvenile oriented gum that last more than a day to remove from a sidewalk. This gum should be low sticking, so easy toremove and would be gum residue from brace friendly.
Any soft gum: A softer gum like mint flavour chewing gum would less likely get stuck in around your braces than a chewy dense kind like bubblegum or caramel.
What Are The Best Alternatives To Chewing Gum With Braces?
If you are craving something chewy, there a few options you can still enjoy with braces. Below are some alternative safe options to try out and keep your braces in good shape –
Sugar-Free Mints
Some sugar free mints can also be chewed like gum. Mints do keep breath fresh, and you’re less likely to get bits of mint stuck in the braces than if you are chewing gum. As with other kinds of gum, steer clear of the sugary ones, lest you develop dental problems.
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Chewy Snacks That Are Braces-Friendly
And you can eat the squishy snacks sans the fear of brackets popping off. Soft pretzels, sugar free gummy bears, and some varieties of leather fruit also pass muster. Never have sticky sweets, toffees, and caramels, because these tend to stay inside the braces and may cause poor oral cleaning.
Braces-Safe Chewing Devices
If using orthodontic chewing devices to calm from stress or anxiety, silicone chewies are best. These brace chewing aids are easy on your braces while allowing you to chew safely without hurting your braces. They also help your braces to function efficiently and are useful in adjusting your bite as well.
Veggies and Soft Fruits
Banana and applesauce are great for those who prefer a crunchier or chewier consistency. Not only are these an amazing source of vitamins for you, but their softness is nice and easy on your braces. For something crunchy, you can try soft vegetables such as cucumbers and bell peppers. Just make sure you carve them into small bites as to not wreak havoc on your braces.
Stay Hygienic With Braces ‘N Gum
Adhering to good oral care habits is crucial for preventing plaque and avoiding cavities when you have braces. But for those who simply must chew gum, here are some tips to help care for your braces:
After Every MealBrush Those Teeth
Practice good oral hygiene Keeping teeth clean after eating (this may require brushing after every meal because food may become trapped between teeth.) And to add insult to injury, chomping a stick of gum necessitates a comprehensive oral hygiene regimen to eliminate the leftovers.
Regular Flossing
And since brackets and wires get in the way, you need to floss more than ever before. If you wear a brace you need to take super special care of getting rid of plaque – bits of food stick on the brackets because of their grooves and on your wires. Use Floss, specially designed to remove gum leftovers.
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A buildup of gum and active bacteria growth can impact your breath in a negative way. Nasty nitters: Mouth rinses (the non-alcohol rinse is best) can, in addition to killing off any gum debris, be very useful to keep that mouth minty fresh and clean.
Book Regular Visits With Your Orthodontics Doctors
Regularly scheduled visits to your orthodontist are essential to track your braces’ progress. Make sure you’re seeing your orthodontist on a regular basis if you’re worried something with your braces might be in danger from things like chewing gum.
Final Verdict: Can You Chew Gum with Braces?
Harking back to the initial question, “is it unsafe to chew gum with braces?” the most rational and scientific answer is No. Chewing gum with braces on carries significant dangers of breaking the braces and preventing the straightening process as well as potentially gum stuck on braces. Make sure you chew sugar-free gum that is soft, non-sticky, and also safe for any brace-related treatments.
If you feel like you need to chew, keep your braces safe with sugar-less gum, soft fruits, and bite-sized orthodontic chewies. You should also try to keep in mind the regular routine of taking care of your teeth and visiting the orthodontist to get the best shape your braces, it and your procedure to go well without misshapen.
Just follow all the previous recommendations and bring many of the benefits of an orthodontic treatment and not the worries associated with the gum chewers! Keep braces in check and let the beautiful, straight smile you want it appear right before your eyes.
