After getting braces on for the first time, it is natural to ask what foods you can and cannot eat.
Picking the wrong foods can damage your braces and extend the alignment process, so picking what to eat is very important, especially in the early days of having braces.
In today’s article, we’ll look at if you can eat dum-dums with braces.
Can you eat dum-dums with braces?
Yes, you can eat dum-dums with braces on as long as you remember that you should only lick the lollipop and not bite down on it with your braces. The tips mentioned below will help you keep your braces clean after eating dum-dums.
Assuming you are giving dum-dums to a child, it is important to explain that they should only lick on the lollipop and not bite down on it. Otherwise, it could cause the brackets and wire on the braces to bend out of shape and delay the alignment process.
After you or a child has finished eating dum-dums, it is important to clean the braces and your teeth using the below tips.
Tips to keep your braces clean after eating dum-dums
Braces will give you a beautiful smile, and it’s important to make sure that smile stays healthy. Taking care of your teeth is an important part of getting braces.
The chances of plaque build-up on teeth with braces are more likely because the brackets and wires attract food and dum-dum particles and make it harder to clean the outside of the teeth. Plaque can stain teeth and wear down the enamel that protects them. If you do these things, your teeth will stay in great shape.
- Use a soft toothbrush. It is important to brush the top part of your teeth between your brackets and gums. To clean the enamel well, the toothbrush’s bristles have to touch the gums. Choose a brush with softer bristles, so you don’t hurt your gums, and angle the brush toward your gums. This will also remove any sugary residue left behind after eating dum-dums.
- Brush every time you eat. Food gets caught in the wires of braces, and plaque can form if you don’t brush often enough. We suggest that you bring a travel toothbrush with you. Give it a 30-second rinse with water if you don’t have one. The only time you shouldn’t brush is after eating something acidic. When you eat or drink something sour, like an orange or a sports drink, you should wait 30 minutes to an hour before brushing your teeth.
- Use just the right amount of toothpaste. The foam toothpaste makes can make it harder to see the plaque and other sugary debris on your teeth. Start brushing your teeth with only a wet toothbrush. This will help you clean around the brackets and between the wires. Use a careful, picking motion instead of scrubbing. Then, put a small amount of toothpaste on the brush and clean.
- Spend two minutes brushing your teeth. Spend 30 seconds on the upper right, lower right, upper left, and lower left parts of your mouth. Clean the outside and inside of your teeth. Make sure you brush for the full two minutes by setting a timer. This will remove any sugary dum-dum particles.
- Use a threader for floss or a Waterpik. Flossing can be hard to do when you have braces on your teeth. Threading floss through the wire will be easier if you tie it to a threader. Use a motion like a saw to get rid of more plaque. Also, you might want to think about buying a Waterpik water flosser. It cleans with a stream of water and makes flossing quick and easy.
- Use a mouthwash at night to clean your teeth. Look for a fluoride mouthwash that helps prevent cavities and protects the enamel of your teeth. This type of mouthwash is especially important after eating dum-dums.
- One minute of rinsing will help get rid of any leftover dirt. After you rinse, look in the mirror to ensure you didn’t miss any spots.
Conclusion:
You or your loved ones can enjoy a dum-dum with braces on provided you clean your teeth and braces afterward using the tips mentioned above.
