Some Foods Are More ‘Braces Friendly’ than Others

The post-holiday season and start of a new year is an ideal time for people of any age who wear braces to step back and consider which foods and food groups to avoid and which ones are ‘braces friendly,’” says Dr. Andrew Chase of ARCH Orthodontics.

To mark February as National Children’s Dental Health Month, Dr. Chase and his team are reminding patients — ages 4 to 84 — to watch what they eat — in order to keep their teeth protected from stain and decay; how they eat — to prevent braces from breaking; and how to care for their teeth — by following an aggressive daily cleaning regimen: ARCH Orthodontics’ Rule of 5’s + flossing.

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) of which the Dr. Chase is a long-time member, recommends four types of foods to avoid with braces: Hard foods, sticky foods, foods high in sugar content, and acidic foods. Foods that are considered ‘braces friendly’ include: soft fruits and breads, cooked vegetables, tender meats (off the bones), and most dairy products. “There’s a wide variety from all the food groups so it’s easy to ensure your diet remains healthy during your Orthodontic treatment,” says Dr. Chase, who estimates that ARCH Orthodontics has helped improve close to 25,000 smiles since the practice was founded by his father, Dr. Robert Chavez, 42 years ago.

Dr. Chase says by age 7 is the ideal time for children to have their initial check-up with an Orthodontist: “For some, our free and timely evaluation will lead to significant treatment benefits by starting ‘early’ but for the child’s situation at exactly the right time. For others, the principal immediate benefit is Mom and Dad’s peace of mind.”

“We emphasize to patients to watch what they eat to avoid breaking appliances, ARCH’s Rule of 5’s brushing and flossing. If they’re mindful of some simple guidelines, their treatment will go much smoother and they will be more likely get their braces off for the real sparkle smile. Faster treatment and a great smile are the rewards for following these guidelines,” says Dr. Chase. A new AcceleDent technology along with traditional or ‘invisible’ braces can speed the treatment timeline by up to 50%.

From now through March 31^st, any patient who refers a new patient to ARCH is automatically entered into a drawing to win their choice of either  ‘A Day of Racing’ at  F1 in Braintree, or ‘A Day of Beauty’ at Makeovers Salon + Spa in Easton. To schedule a free consultation (a $500 value) at any of ARCH’s 9 offices, call 1-800-28- SMILE, email smilemaker@archorthodontics.com or visit  http://www.sesameblogs.com/archorthodontics.  No-interest financing is available. ARCH is the Official Orthodontist of Miss Massachusetts.