Orthodontic info
What can you drink with braces, and what should you avoid?
Tap water and milk are the drinks the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends while braces are on, and the AAO advises avoiding regular and diet soft drinks, including soda, sports and energy drinks, flavored bubbly waters and fruit drinks, because they contain acids or sugars that dissolve tooth enamel and can lead to cavities.
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Coffee, tea and red wine raise a different concern: the AAO says they can stain teeth and advises avoiding them or keeping them to a minimum.
A sports drink or soda at the game
A sports drink or soda with braces usually means sugar, acid or both around the brackets: the American Dental Association (ADA) notes that “sugar is a top ingredient for many sports and energy drinks,” and the AAO says orthodontic appliances can increase the risk of white spots by trapping plaque.
The AAO calls those white spots, also known as decalcification, early warning signs of cavities rather than just a cosmetic issue, and says they can become permanent if mineral loss continues.
The one habit to skip is nursing a drink, since the AAO says frequent sipping on soda, sports drinks and energy drinks repeatedly exposes enamel to acid. For a sports drink during hard exercise, the AAO’s advice for athletes is water first, a drink finished quickly and a quick water rinse after.
Coffee or tea to start the day
Coffee or tea with braces brings concerns beyond staining: the ADA notes that many people add sugar and that caffeinated coffee and tea can dry out the mouth.
The thing not to do is sweeten a cup and sip it through the morning, because the ADA says sipping gives the bacteria more time to eat the sugar and create cavities. The next step is a rinse with plain water afterward, which the AAO recommends whenever brushing after eating or drinking is not possible.
Juice or sparkling water with lunch
Juice belongs with the soft drinks on the AAO’s list of drinks to avoid with braces, and the ADA says even juice with no sugar added contains high levels of natural sugar.
Plain sparkling water sits in between: the ADA lists it among healthy drinks low in sugar and also says carbonation raises the acid level of any drink, while the AAO puts flavored bubbly waters on its list to avoid.
With any soft drink, the ADA advises against swishing or holding it in the mouth longer than needed, suggests a straw, and recommends rinsing with water right afterward. Acidic drinks can also sting: the AAO says citrus fruits, soda and other acidic foods and drinks can irritate sore areas of the mouth, and soreness is covered in the post on adult braces pain compared with teen braces. If a sore spot does not improve after a few days, the AAO says to call your orthodontist, and the emergency info page explains which problems need a call now.
Water as the everyday drink with braces
Water is the everyday default with braces: the AAO says drinking water throughout the day keeps the mouth clean and rinses away food debris and acidic residues, and the ADA says water dilutes the acids that mouth bacteria produce. The AAO’s limit on sugary and acidic drinks lasts for the duration of treatment, to avoid decalcification.
AAO and ADA pages give different advice on how soon to brush after an acidic drink, so that timing is a question for your orthodontist, and both support a rinse with plain water. The routine itself belongs to the page on brushing and flossing with braces, and the practice’s foods to avoid page puts soda and sweet tea among the sugary items to minimize.
The AAO recommends a dental evaluation for a white spot you notice, and it says your orthodontist also checks the health of your teeth and gums at each visit.
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