Getting braces can be an exciting and scary thing to experience. Understandably, one of the things that makes people dread getting braces is the fear of being unable to eat and drink their favorite foods. If you’ve had any friends or family members with braces, you’ve probably heard them complain about being unable to eat foods that were sticky, hard, gummy, or even full of sugar! Does straightening your teeth come with the price tag of having to give up all your favorite foods? Thankfully, it doesn’t! By choosing to go with removable aligners like Invisalign, you can still enjoy all the things you love while getting a beautiful smile. Listed below are a few of your favorite foods that are traditionally a no with braces, but can be a yes with Invisalign!
1. Hard foods and candies
Okay, we all know that eating a lot of hard candy isn’t the best idea, but traditional braces also made it impossible to also eat healthy foods like nuts and some hard fruits like apples. Even hard ices and French bread can be damaging to traditional braces which have brackets that can pop off easily. When wearing traditional braces, you will need to either avoid these foods entirely or cut them up so that they are easier to chew.
2. Front Teeth Chewing
Corn on the cob is a summer favorite, but it’s off the menu when you have traditional braces. Thankfully, this isn’t the case with Invisalign. Traditional braces are damaged by things that you have to bite into such as apples and corn on the cob. To eat them using Invisalign, you simply take out your aligner and enjoy munching right into your favorite treat.
3. Chewy Foods
When you go to the orthodontist to have traditional braces put in place, you can usually expect a list of “no-no” foods such as licorice, gummy bears, caramels, and bubble gum. These are off the menu because they can get into your brackets and wires, causing a disgusting mess. This isn’t a problem with removable Invisalign aligners.
More Benefits of Invisalign
When you opt for Invisalign, not only do you have the go-ahead to eat what you want, but you can also worry less about tooth decay. Traditional braces are somewhat difficult to clean. Not only will you need to floss and brush after each meal but will also likely need special tools to remove debris. With Invisalign, the entire alignment piece is removed completely, making it possible for you to brush and care for your teeth as usual.
Traditional metal braces have been around for years and are a tried-and-true way to straighten teeth; however, they come with many complications and drawbacks. Thankfully, Invisalign aligners make it possible to continue to enjoy your regular way of life while still eating and drinking what you want.
Are you a good candidate for Invisalign? Contact our Hallgren Orthodontics in Kalamazoo MI to learn more about this tooth straightening method and discover if it is a good match for your specific bite.