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Don't Let Dieting Impact Your Oral Health

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Don't Let Dieting Impact Your Oral Health

Like many people who need to lose a few pounds, I try diet after diet in an attempt to find one that finally works for me. I learned the hard way that I need to make sure any diet will not harm my teeth, even if it does help me lose a few pounds. I learned this lesson when following a grapefruit diet. There are many versions of this, but the version I tried had me eat a grapefruit alone several times each day. It was supposed to suppress my appetite. I helped keep me from munching on unhealthy snacks, but the acid in the fruit took a toll on my tooth enamel and I quickly started getting lots of cavities. I created this blog to remind people that change up their diets often to make sure the foods they are eating are not harming their teeth.

Adjusting To Your New Braces? 4 Steps To Make Mealtime Less Uncomfortable

3 July 2016
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

If you just had your new braces installed, you may be having a difficult time learning how to eat. You might have just discovered that your teeth don't fit the way they used to, which means your bite is different. If that's happened, you're not only dealing with the discomfort of having new braces, you're also dealing with the fact that you can't bite down the way you used to. Both of those problems combined can make it tough to eat your food. Here are four simple steps you can take to make mealtime a little less uncomfortable.

Chew Slowly

If you're usually a speedy eater, you're going to have to slow down now that you're wearing braces. Trying to chew quickly while wearing braces could cause you to bite the side of your mouth. It could also cause the wires to poke holes in your lips. To avoid sores, cut your food into small bites, and chew slowly.

Avoid Foods That Are Tough To Chew

Once you've adjusted to your new braces, you'll be able to get back to eating normally. However, while you're adjusting, you should avoid foods that are tough to chew. Things like steak or even hamburgers can be difficult to eat while you're adjusting to your new bite, or dealing with pain. Stick to soft foods until you've adjusted to the changes.

Steer Clear Of Stringy Food

You may enjoy eating stringy foods—like spaghetti and string cheese—but while you're wearing braces, you should refrain from it. This is particularly true if you're wearing a palate expander to adjust the shape of your hard palate. Stringy foods can get wrapped around the wires and the palate expander, making it difficult to remove. If you can't live without your spaghetti and string cheese, cut the pieces into small pieces before eating.

Bite From The Side

Before you bite down on your food, you should angle it towards the side of your mouth. Trying to bite your food with your front teeth will cause you some discomfort. Not only that, but food tends to get stuck in your braces when you bite. If you bite with your front teeth, you could end up smiling with a mouth full of food stuck to your braces.

Now that you're wearing braces, you'll need to learn how to eat all over again. The tips here will help you adjust to the changes so you can avoid discomfort. If your braces continue to cause you pain when you try to eat, you should speak to your orthodontist. For more information, consider contacting places like Family Dentistry Of Woodstock.