Im A Coffee Lover But Have Braces: What Should I Do
If coffee has been a significant part of your morning habit, giving it up to protect your teeth can be challenging. Even if you know that it will harm your braces, you might still try to squeeze in a cup or two once in a while.
However, that shouldnt be the case. Here are some tips that can help you maintain your braces, even if you’re still drinking coffee.
Add Milk To Your Coffee
The color of your coffee affects how it will stain your teeth. Adding milk to your drink will lighten the color of the coffee and give your teeth some protection from the staining acids of the coffee.
Try Using A Straw
Coffee wont stain your teeth if it does not directly touch them. Drinking coffee using a straw will allow you to enjoy your beverage and keep coffee away from your teeth.
Drink Coffee With Less Caffeine
Caffeine is probably the whole reason why coffee is part of your morning routine. However, the amount of caffeine in your coffee dictates the staining effect the drink will have on your teeth. This means that the less caffeine a drink has, the less likely it will stain your teeth and harm your braces. Try drinking or coffee drinks that have less caffeine than a regular brewed coffee has. This will allow you to enjoy coffee without the negative effect on your braces.
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Brush Your Teeth After Drinking Coffee
Sticky Or Hard Candies
Hard candies are both too hard and sticky for an approved food for braces.
The biting force that it takes to crush a hard candy with your teeth is not compatible with braces, wires and orthodontic appliances. If hard candy gets positioned on top of a bracket and you bite down, you are sure to break a brace off.
Also, candies are high sugar content items. Even if you suck the candy instead of chewing it, you are flooding your mouth with sugar. This sugar is food for acid-producing bacteria that cause cavities. This can ruin your beautiful straight teeth. Enamel decalcification is after your braces come off, is unhealthy and unattractive.
For this reason, hard candies are our number 3 food that should be avoided with braces.
Coffee Vs Invisalign Trays
If you have Invisalign, you have a completely different set of concerns.
Invisalign is a clear plastic aligner that is virtually invisible. You wear them for 20-22 hours a day and they gradually move your teeth into the desired position.
Since Invisalign trays remain tight against your teeth, you need to be careful of hot beverages like hot coffee and tea.
The heat from the beverage can cause the plastic to warp which can affect the fit of your Invisalign tray.
Its also important to note that coffee, tea, and other dark beverages can stain your Invisalign trays as well. Carbonated beverages like soda and sparkling water can also cause staining.
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Is Iced Coffee Bad For Your Teeth
As per the opinion of most doctors, dentists, and orthodontists, no coffee is bad for you as long as you are consuming it in moderation.
Drinking any kind of coffee excessively can be harmful for your health.
However, iced coffee or cold coffee does cause less harm and lower stains in comparison to the consumption of hot coffee.
Iced coffee also contains fewer acids and polyphenols that make it better for your stomach as well as for your teeth.
Despite having these benefits, drinking too much iced coffee can also make you feel jittery.
Excessive iced coffee consumption can also lead to the other problems such as anxiety, nervousness, and headache.
So, as long as you are enjoying your iced coffee in a limited quantity every day, it will be good for your health and will not cause any of the above mentioned issues.
What About Drinking Water While Wearing Line
Yes, you can always drink water while youre wearing your Line-M-Up trays however you should only do this when drinking cold or room temperature water.
Its never a good idea to drink hot water while wearing your trays for potential warping issues, but drinking water in general is always encouraged!
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Staining Foods & Drinks
If you wear braces, you may have elastics, which are prone to staining with some foods & drinks. With clear braces, they tend to resist staining. However, its always a good choice to limit these items. Then, brush, floss, and rinse if you do partake of staining foods & drinks.
- Balsamic vinegar
- Tea
- Tomatoes
Notably, this is not a full list. So, if an item is likely to stain your clothes, it might also stain your elastics. Fortunately, we will change your elastics at your next appointment. Then, you can choose new colors if you like. Generally, elastics with darker colors will be less likely to look discolored than clear or lighter shades.
Does Coffee Cause Teeth Sensitivity With Braces
Hot beverages and iced drinks can often cause sensitivities, especially in the first few months after the braces installation and the first few days after each months adjustments. That happens because it is the peak of movement for your teeth, so the gums also become sensitive.
Someone who has been through braces will tell you that opening your mouth can be painful. Imagine having something cold or hot hit that sensitivity it can be excruciatingly painful.
If you do have coffee at the specified times, it is best to have warm or room temperature coffee and drink it with a straw to prevent it from touching your teeth and gums as much as possible.
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Can We Consume Milk After Eating Fish
Since milk has a cooling effect and fish has a heating effect, their combination creates an imbalance that can lead to chemical changes in the body. This Ayurvedic phenomenon, about the cooling and heating effect, is also supported by many nutritionists and therefore, they advise you against this combination.
Day : Naughty Pleasures
I kind of look like a character from Ultraman today because Im running out of clothes to wear to work. Its got shoulder sponges from the 80s and I was shedding glitter everywhere I looked like an ultimate Queen. Good thing that I was only working a half day today.
Kudos to anybody whom can name the name of this team.
Ive started to see my laziness kick-in because once again, Im certain that my teeth has stopped tightening and Ive started indulging myself in eating lots of crap. So I thought, why not list whats reasonably edible and just an indulgent during braces-wearing? After all, we should all still be able to treat ourselves. Here are a list of guilty pleasures from 1 to danger which Ive indulged in whilst wearing braces:
1. Crisps :
Danger rating: 2 A little bit difficult to eat when youve just tightened your braces but the most danger it would do is stick between your wires and would be cure with a good clean.
2. Fudge cakes & other baked goods
Danger rating: 3
My sister loves to bake so I refuse to turn down these angelic delights ! Like crisps, clean up good after but always good to gargle before hand to get rid of as much sticky stuff ASAP as you can before it hardens on your wire and brackets.
3. Fried Chicken
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Nutrition: Are Tapioca Pearls Bad For You
Overall, boba tapioca pearls are delicious and fun to eat, though theyre not a rich source of nutrients. In cup boba pearls, there are around 100 calories, 25g of carbs, 2g of fiber, and thats pretty much it. And, for those who are gluten conscious, boba pearls are gluten free! Again, I tend to steer clear of calling any foods good or bad. I enjoy eating tapioca pearls, and I also recognize that theyre mainly a source of starchy carbohydrates.
Where toFind Bubble Milk Tea Pearls
I bought my black tapioca pearls online, and they conveniently came with a set of classic boba straws! This is a great set of boba tea cups, which you can purchase separately for serving if desired. You can use any cups and straws that you like, just know that those tapioca pearls will be far too thick to sip through a standard-size straw.
Add boba tapioca pearls into boiling water. Lightly stir until pearls begin to float, then cover and boil for 3 minutes.,
Can You Drink Through A Straw With Invisalign Aligners
Drinking through a straw with Invisalign aligners on will reduce the amount of liquid that gets on your aligners, and potentially reduce staining. However, it is not 100% guaranteed to eliminate all staining so it’s best to just remove your aligners to drink anything other than plain water. And, again, remember to rinse your mouth out before replacing them.
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What Else Can You Drink With Invisalign Aligners In
Drinking with Invisalign isnt recommended for anything aside from the plain water we just talked about and you should remove your aligners before you have any other beverage. Even if you just add a squeeze of lemon to your water, the natural acids from the lemon can work their way in between your teeth and your aligners.
Regardless of what you have to drink, its always a good idea to make sure your teeth are clean before putting your aligners back in. This will ensure you dont inadvertently leave sugar or starches from your beverage on your pearly whites. It will also help prevent your teeth and/or your aligners from staining. So, after having a drink, brush your teeth. Or, if you have an acidic drink, rinse your mouth out with water really well after and then brush your teeth after about an hour when the pH balance in the mouth has had a chance to return to normal.
Can I Drink Coffee Through A Straw With Braces
Yes, it is always suggested to use a straw to drink coffee while you have braces on your teeth.
Drinking your favorite cold coffee through a straw helps to reduce the staining of your teeth.
When you use a straw to drink iced coffee, the coffee particles will not touch your teeth.
This simple trick will prevent teeth staining and damage to the parts of your braces such as bands and brackets.
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What Drinks Should You Avoid While Wearing Braces Or Line
The truth is that you wont have to completely give up any specific beverages while undergoing orthodontic treatment, but it will always be important to limit the following beverages and only drink them in moderation:
- Sports Drinks: Many sports drinks like Gatorade and Powerade are much like soda in that theyre full of sugars and harmful acids.
- Energy Drinks: Even the sugar-free versions of many popular energy drinks are extremely detrimental to an orthodontic patients enamel, and this is mainly due to the high levels of acidity.
- Commercial Lemonade And Iced Tea: These specific types of lemonade and iced tea just so happen be extremely high in sugar and acidity.
- Fruit Juices With Added Sugar: There are many different fruit juices that actually contain little amounts of natural juice and are full of added sugar. These drinks may taste really good, but theyre terrible for your teeth in general and are exponentially worse for your oral health while wearing braces.
Can You Drink Coffee With Dental Braces
For both conventional braces and Invisalign, it would be best for you to avoid coffee throughout treatment. We realize that this might not be a sensible alternative for a few of you.
If you are an Invisalign wearer, this is what you need to understand:
- Hot coffee and tea can warp the plastic of your Invisalign trays. As you know, Invisalign aligners are customized fit to the shape of your mouth. If they no longer tightly fit, you can not get ideal orthodontic outcomes.
- Coffee, tea, red wine, and soda can likewise stain your trays. These stains beat the purpose of wearing Invisalign, which is nearly invisible to the naked eye.
- If you still wish to consume coffee, tea, red wine, and soda, remove the trays before you drink. Keep in mind to clean them before you pop them back in.
- Drinking iced coffee or iced tea out of straw may minimize staining.
For those who use standard braces:
- Dark-colored beverage such as coffee, tea, red wine, and soda can stain the brackets and bands of your braces.
- They can also stain your teeth.
- If you still choose to consume coffee, tea, red, white wine, and soda, rinse with water or mouthwash later on.
- Drinking iced coffee or iced tea out of straw may minimize staining.
When we eliminate your braces, if you find staining exists from coffee or other drinks, you might wish to try an expert bleaching or at-home bleaching treatment.
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Can I Drink Green Or Herbal Tea After Brushing My Teeth
The same rules go for drinking green or herbal teas after brushing your teeth. Green tea is marginally better than black tea. White tea and Ceylon or Oolong are not quite as staining as black tea but still contain tannins. Other herbal teas like ginger, peppermint, chamomile, or dandelion are much better, but the guidelines still apply.
Think: Soft Foods Are Safer
Then, ask if they fall into one of the categories below. If so, try to avoid the item since they could damage or stain your braces. Hard, chewy, sticky items can get stuck around brackets and loosen them. On the other hand, staining items can stain elastics, giving your braces a discolored appearance.
- Chewy
- Sticky
- Sugary
As for the last category, avoiding too many sugary foods is always a good idea. With braces, its more important to maintain oral hygiene and avoid tooth decay.
When wearing braces, it can be harder to clean around the wires and brackets adequately. Then, a sugary film can feed bacteria that cause tooth decay. So, try to limit sugary items, though its fine to enjoy occasional treats and soft desserts.
Notably, some foods are hard until cooked. For example, hard veggies like carrots are fine once cooked in a softer form. Likewise, hard apples can be chopped into small pieces or cooked. That way, you can still enjoy these foods with braces.
Also, keep in mind that soft foods can have sticky, chewy, crunchy, hard toppings. If so, try to void that as much as you can within reason.
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Do You Chew Bubble Tea
Boba is made from tapioca. Due to the tapioca ingredient, it means the pearls or bubbles dont dissolve quickly when expanded to their fullest. Hence, if you eat them without chewing, it can be hazardous. I always told anyone trying bubble tea for the first time you have to chew the bubbles, said Mary.
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Can I Drink Tea And Coffee
Yes you can. You can drink tea and coffee wearing an Invisalign aligner, so long as whatever youre drinking is not too hot. Just be sure that once you get home, you brush your teeth and brush the aligners.
Also, if you are going out for a night, you can drink, but be sure to keep your retainers in, and once again be sure to brush your teeth and brush the aligners.
Here is a video from Lisa, Invisalign co-ordinator and previous wearer with some helpful advice about tea, coffee and nights out with Invisalign aligners.
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Can You Drink Coffee Or Tea With Aligners
This is a commonly asked question because so many people like to drink coffee throughout their working day, and especially in the morning! However, coffee and tea are both highly pigmented drinks so its best to avoid them completely, even the iced versions that wont warp your aligners!
If you have Invisalign attachments itâs especially important not to drink tea or coffee unless you remove your aligners. Buttons and attachments are very prone to staining if they come into contact with highly pigmented drinks.
Results Of Drinking Coffee With Braces
We, the coffee lovers, take the conical burr coffee grinder in our travel bag and get out camping! But what about our braces! Whos going to take care of them? No matter what you drink coffee or tea, anything of dark color will hurt the braces. These will stain the teeth along with the braces bands and the brackets. Stained teeth arent nice, right?
After the surgeries, often the stress is can I drink coffee after wisdom teeth removalor not. In the case of Invisalign, the brace trays made of plastic can get damaged. As coffee or tea is hot, any too hot beverage will damage the brace tray.
If the braces or trays get affected by heat, they will slowly get loose. And eventually, they dont fit the teeth tightly. If the braces are not tight enough, how can they make your teeth straight?
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What Should I Consider When Drinking With Braces
Can you drink coffee with braces? Can you drink soda with braces? What about alcohol? Like we mentioned, there are no restrictions when it comes to beverages when you have clear braces or metal braces. Drinking with braces wont damage your bracket and wires. That being said, wearing braces does make you more susceptible to plaque build-up because there are extra nooks and crannies for plaque and bacteria to hide. This is why we usually recommend that our Houston braces patients limit their intake of sugary drinks and acidic beverages, including soda, mixed alcoholic beverages and sports drinks. Getting cavities at any point in your life is no fun, however, getting cavities while youre in braces, could cause your treatment to go longer than it would have. Plus, teeth move most efficiently in a healthy oral environment.
Beyond sugary drinks, youll want to be careful when drinking coffee with braces . These types of beverages can stain your teeth. Since you have brackets covering portions of your teeth, when your braces come off, you could have a two-toned smile depending on how frequently youre drinking them.