If you or a family member has just gotten braces, it is natural to wonder what types of foods you can eat and drink. As some food groups can damage your braces and cause a lot of harm in the long run.
Can you drink Icees with braces?
Yes, you can absolutely drink Icees with braces on as this sweet sugary drink won’t harm your braces.
But as you are already aware – the high sugar content in Icees can potentially damage your teeth’s enamel if it is not brushed and cleaned properly afterward.
Tips to keep your braces clean after drinking Icees
Having braces increases the risk of plaque accumulation because the wires and brackets of the braces collect food particles and develop a layer all around the outside of the teeth, making it even more challenging to wash the teeth.
The plaque may cause the teeth to become discolored and may also harm the enamel of the teeth. If you desire to keep your teeth in great shape for as long as possible, consider following these tips after drinking Icees:
• Ensure that you clean your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush. It would be beneficial if you routinely clean the part of your teeth located below your gums and beyond the brackets on your teeth. To thoroughly clean the teeth’ enamel, the toothbrush’s bristles need to make contact with the gums. Choose to use a toothbrush with soft bristles to avoid irritating the gums, and then angle the brush bristles so that they are towards the gums as you clean your teeth.
• Brush your teeth after every meal. The brace wires trap food particles, and frequent brushing can help avoid plaque from accumulating on the teeth. You must bring a travel toothbrush, and we cannot emphasize this point enough.
If you do not have access to one, you should thoroughly rinse for about 30 seconds. The one exception to this guideline is making sure you brush your teeth after eating high in acid foods.
It would help if you waited between half an hour and an hour before brushing your teeth after ingesting acidic meals or beverages like oranges or sports drinks.
After drinking acidic foods or beverages, brushing your teeth too quickly might cause tooth enamel to become more sensitive.
• Use only a small amount of toothpaste. The foam formed when toothpaste is used may make it even more challenging to identify plaque and filth accumulated on the teeth. Make sure that your toothbrush is damp before brushing your teeth for the first time. It will be much simpler to touch all around brackets and in between the wires. Instead of scrubbing the surface, employ a precise plucking motion to remove the dust and dirt. After that, keep washing with the quantity of toothpaste around the size of a pea that you just added.
• Brush for two minutes at a minimum. Spend one-minute paying attention to each part of your mouth, working your way from the top right to the lower right, then to the upper left, and finally to the lower left. It is critical to clean the surfaces of your teeth, both on the inside and the exterior. Establishing a timer can help you clean your teeth for the whole two minutes.
• Use a floss threader or a Waterpik. When you have orthodontic work done on your teeth, flossing can be one of the most challenging components of maintaining good oral hygiene. If you attach floss to a threader, you will find that it is considerably less difficult to thread the floss through the wire. Make sawing motions with your tool to clear even more plaque by moving it back and forth. In addition to that, you should really consider purchasing a Waterpik water flosser. It is a speedy and uncomplicated way to floss, and it cleans your teeth by directing a moving stream of water through your mouth while it works.
• Rinse your mouth thoroughly with mouthwash before going to bed. Buy a mouthwash that contains fluoride and has anti-cavity characteristics. This will help reduce the amount of tooth decay and protect the enamel. If the material is still present after washing for one minute, it will be simpler to remove. After you have completed rinsing, examine your look in the mirror to ensure that you have not missed any spots and that you have not wasted any water.
Conclusion:
Icees are a great summer drink and you can consume it even if you have braces on, that being said, it is important to brush your teeth and braces afterward as the sugary content in Icees can promote tooth decay and plaque build-up if left unclean for a long time.
