Can I drink soda with braces? Can I drink pop with braces? Can I drink soft drinks with braces?
Whatever you call it, those fizzy drinks with braces aren’t always a good idea. Did you know that sodas affect your teeth with or without braces?
Just like foods, drinks can affect your teeth with braces. You’ve probably heard about all the foods you need to avoid with braces, but what about beverages? Smith and Davis Orthodontics will tell you what beverages you can enjoy or avoid with braces and why.
Can I Drink Soda With Braces?
We prefer you avoid sodas with braces for several reasons. You may think it’s just because of the sugars in the sodas. It’s true that sodas have a lot of sugar unless you drink diet sodas. So, can you stick to diet soda?
The sugars and sugar substitutes in sodas have been linked to an increase in type II diabetes, so neither option is a good one. Studies have also shown an increase in heart disease with regular consumption of sodas.
When it comes to your teeth, it’s not just the sugar in sodas that’s bad for you. Sodas contain a lot of acid. Phosphoric acid, carbonic acid, and citric acid are commonly found in sodas and can accelerate tooth decay, which can cause cavities. Because they’re in a liquid, those acids can get all around your braces and coat your teeth.
Dark and colored sodas can also stain your teeth. Many sodas include red, brown, or yellow coloring, among others. Those colors can stain your teeth over time, and with braces brackets and wires in the way, you could end up with lighter spots on your teeth when your braces are removed.
It’s best to avoid sodas with braces. If you do drink sodas, be sure to brush your teeth afterward.
Can I Drink Coffee With Braces?
Coffee is much like soda when it comes to teeth and braces. Coffee also has acids that can weaken your tooth enamel — that hard shell that protects the living interior of your teeth.
The dark color of coffee can also stain your teeth, leaving those areas a different color from what’s under the bonding agent holding your braces brackets. It may require special whitening treatments to restore your teeth to an even color.
Many people don’t drink black coffee. It often contains cream, sugar, flavor syrups, chocolate sauce, and whatever else you or your favorite café tosses in your drink. That’s a lot of extra sugar going into your mouth, which can lead to more plaque and tooth decay.
As with sodas, limit your coffee intake with braces and brush and floss after consuming coffee. If you can’t brush, at least rinse your mouth well with water.
Drinks to Avoid With Braces
What other drinks should you avoid with braces? Sports drinks are another big culprit for added sugar and acid. Sports drinks often include some pretty bright colors, which can stain teeth over time and even discolor your clear braces or clear aligners.
For adults, wine can produce a lot of sugar and acid on the teeth, and dark wine can stain your teeth. Most alcoholic beverages will either increase your sugar, add acid, or cause stains.
Fruit juices also contain sugars, acids, and colors that can damage teeth. However, they also often contain vitamins that can be good for your overall health, and they don’t have the high acidity of sugary drinks like sodas. Stick to the lighter color juices to avoid staining (white grape juice, apple juice), and clean your teeth afterward to reduce the amount of sugar on your teeth.
What Drinks Can I Drink With Braces?
The best drink with braces is the best drink for your oral health and overall health — plain water, especially tap water. It’s recommended that you drink 64 ounces of water a day. Water keeps your mouth moist and your saliva flowing.
Fluoride in tap water interacts with your saliva and strengthens your enamel. Water also helps wash away plaque and food particles, leaving your mouth cleaner. Either way, tap water protects your teeth and is good for you.
Milk is also a good beverage, though it can have its drawbacks. Milk has lactic acid and sugars that can add plaque to your teeth, but it also has minerals like calcium that strengthen teeth. Milk helps make your teeth and jaws stronger during and after braces.
Braces Treatment in Rogers, AR
Certain foods and drinks can stain your teeth or increase your chances of tooth decay. Filling cavities can delay your braces treatment, and that’s the last thing we want. The best solution is to brush and floss your teeth at least twice daily, taking care to get around your braces.
Smith and Davis Orthodontics offers braces treatment in Rogers, AR, and the rest of Northwest Arkansas. We are here for you should you have any questions about what you can drink and what to avoid during braces treatment. If you’d like to know more, schedule an appointment with us. We’re here to help you get a beautiful new smile!
