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How to Limit Sugar While You Have Braces This Summer

Home » Blog » How to Limit Sugar While You Have Braces This Summer

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  • Charleston Orthodontics
  • July 3, 2018

Summer can be a great time to have braces. Not only do you have more free time to schedule your appointments, but you can also focus your energy on taking care of your teeth with braces. However, during the summer, one of the biggest problems patients face is sugar intake. Summer is the season for picnics and parties where sugary treats and drinks run rampant. Sugar can wreak havoc on your teeth, so here are some ideas on how to limit your sugar intake while you’re in braces this summer.

Health Problems Associated With Sugar Intake

Excessive sugar intake can increase your risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease. In addition, excessive sugar consumption leads to tooth decay and gum disease (which can lead to heart disease). Sugar causes tooth decay quicker than any other food: when sugar sits on the teeth or in between your brackets, it begins to break down your teeth. Even though sugar can seem harmless at first, consuming it in large amounts can do a lot of damage. Here are some helpful tips to reduce your sugar intake.

Read Food Labels

Sugar has a tendency to hide among other ingredients on food labels. Look for items like added sweeteners, fruit concentrates, and high fructose corn syrup, which can all be aliases for sugar. It’s also important to look at the amount of sugar per serving.

Learning how to read food labels can make a big difference when trying to limit your sugar intake, especially when you have braces. Some foods you wouldn’t expect can contain high amounts of sugar.

Get Rid of Foods With High Sugar Content

Often times, if the sugary food isn’t there, there will be no temptation to eat it. So give your pantry an overhaul. Read the labels and get rid of the foods that are high in sugar, replacing them with healthier alternatives. If you’re looking to add a bit of flavor to a sweet dish, try adding in some spices, like cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice or ginger. Not only will these spices give your dish a great flavor, but you’ll also be limiting the amount of sugar as well.

Other Helpful Tips for Cutting Sugar

Substituting water for sugary sodas is extremely important for braces patients because the sugar from soda has a tendency to sit on the teeth. If you do enjoy an occasional soda, be sure to brush your teeth afterward.

It can be difficult to cut sugar from your diet, but protecting your teeth is important. Most people find that weaning themselves off of sugar is the most effective approach. After all, sugar can be addictive, so quitting all at once can be tough. The less sugar in your diet, the less your body will crave it.

Sugar Intake and Your Braces

Having braces means you have new responsibilities. Taking the time to understand what is in the foods you eat and limiting sugar will help you now and for the rest of your life as you enjoy the smile that braces helped you achieve.

The experts at Charleston Orthodontic Specialists are ready to help you get the smile that you deserve. Contact our offices by calling (843) 642-8100 or visit www.charlestonorthodonticspecialists.com to learn more.

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PATIENT REVIEWS

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There is nothing that warms our hearts more than hearing from patients who have had a great experience at our office. Check out what our patients are saying about us!

You Have the Best Smile | Dr. and Teen Patient
Charles L.
Outstanding Services on getting braces done for your kids or yourself. Dr. Patel and his staff are absolutely squared away and produce great results. Definitely Military Friendly for both active duty and retirees.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you had a positive experience with Dr. Patel and our team. It's great to know that our commitment to providing excellent service resonates with our patients, especially those in the military community. We appreciate your support and look forward to continuing to deliver outstanding care!
lexus D.
10/10 service , clean environment and it smells great ! today i came from another dentist and my brackets were different from
the ones they use . long story short they were still able to tightened them for me and i would recommend this dentist
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you had a positive experience with our team and appreciated the clean environment. It's great to know we could assist you with your needs. Your recommendation means a lot to us!
tamekica M.
Went to this place about a week ago, and from the front door to the back, customer services was awesome!! Shot out to Mrs. Laurie she was really sweet and pleasant. 10/10.
Response from the owner:We're thrilled to hear that our team, especially Mrs. Laurie, made such a positive impression. Your feedback inspires us to continue providing exceptional service. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!
Paula R.
Love this place. Always great service, handsome orthodontist, always take you on time. Kind staff.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you consistently enjoy our service and appreciate the punctuality and kindness of our team. Your support means a lot to us!
Shamicka B.
I would absolutely recommend everyone to get serves at Charleston Orthodontist they always do a great job and good customer service , and very clean atmosphere they always have snacks, coffee, tea, and water bottles they most definitely make you feel comfortable and at home. The Orthodontist doctor is the best also love them all very respectful and professional staff. I have been a patient of there's for about three almost four years and never had a problem or disappointment in services. There the best.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you feel at home with us and appreciate the efforts of our team to provide a comfortable and welcoming environment. Your recommendation means a lot, and we’re grateful to have you as part of our community for nearly four years. We look forward to continuing to serve you with the best care possible!
Andee C.
The office is beautiful and so well kept. All of the staff is so nice and welcoming. I’m very happy with my decision to visit.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're happy to hear that you enjoyed your visit and found our office inviting. Our team takes great pride in creating a welcoming environment, and it's fantastic to know that it made a positive impression on you. We look forward to seeing you again!
Mary H.
So impressed with this office. So welcoming. We met everyone and immediately knew this was our choice for braces
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you felt welcomed and confident in your choice for braces. Our team is dedicated to creating a positive experience for all our patients, and it’s great to know we’re on the right track. We look forward to supporting you on your journey!
jeannette B.
I got my braces through them and I love my results. The employees and Doctor are great always make me feel comfortable when am there. If any problems they immediately have you come in to address it. Have referred plenty of people to them
Aliaah J.
My experience here was AWESOME ‼️ Staff is really nice and braces are definitely affordable !
Response from the owner:We are so happy to hear that you had a great experience! We loved having you!
Lashawna B.
It was a great experience from the moment we walked in and interacted with the front desk to the staff that assisted us. And most importantly, the doctor was very professional and thorough in explaining his recommendations as well as why he recommended what he did.
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience! We're thrilled to hear that our team made a positive impression from the start and that the doctor provided clear and thorough explanations. Your feedback inspires us to continue delivering exceptional care. We appreciate your support!
Sheena N.
Loved my entire experience all the staff and provider was very kind, informative and professional! Results were good improvement .....would recommend!
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing! We're so happy to hear that our team made a positive impact and that you saw good results. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we look forward to continuing to provide you with excellent care!
Tori S.
10/10 would absolutely come here again if I ever needed to! Everyone is so sweet & professional. Any question, concern or problem I had throughout my treatment were addressed promptly & efficiently. I don’t think I could have chose a better company for my treatment! Amazing experience to say the least
Response from the owner:We have loved having you as a patient Tori! Although your braces journey is coming to an end soon, we hope to see your smiling face again soon. We are so grateful for your confidence in our office!
Chelsea B.
Awesome experience at Charleston Ortho. Ms. Laurie(Llama) and Dr. Patel were amazing. I had to bring my son with me and he stole the show. I’m on day to of my braces and barely any pain. 10/10
Response from the owner:We loved having you both! Bring him anytime :) We are also so happy to hear that you are acclimating to the braces so well! See you soon!
Angelica C.
I love coming to this place because they make me feel comfortable and the people that work at the orthodontics are really nice there. I love coming there
Response from the owner:We love having you here Angelica! Knowing that our patients feel comfortable and enjoy coming to their appointments makes our day!
Fire S.
I recommend this to anyone who need orthodontist care. They were very thorough. The process was quick. No long wait, friendly and respectful Team.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the great review! We're really glad to hear you had a smooth and positive experience with us. It means a lot that you’d recommend us—and we’ll keep working hard to make sure every visit feels just as friendly and easy. Hope to see you again soon!
Benita N.
Halfway through my orthodontic journey. The staff and specialists at Charleston Orthodontics are great. They keep me informed of my progress and are always available to answer any questions i have regarding my treatment. If you’re looking for an orthodontic practice, give Charleston Orthodontics a call. You’ll be glad you did.
Response from the owner:Thank you for choosing our office Benita!
william R.
Super friendly and efficient! I had an emergency and needed a replacement retainer! The entire staff from start to finish were professional and compassionate!
Response from the owner:We are so happy that we were able to help out, William!
Lee L.
Can’t say it enough I LOVEEEEEEE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS PLACE FROM THE ORTHODONTIST DR. Patel & all of the specialist including front desk❤️❤️❤️
Response from the owner:We LOVEEEE everything about having you as a patient!! Thank you so much for the review!! ❤️
Jennifer W.
Wonderful experience! Waiting time for anything, scheduling and cost, can’t beat it anywhere else. Staff is always pleasant and Dr. Patel is brilliant! I have enjoyed the service and will have my family do service in the future. My treatment came out beautifully!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful review! Dr. Patel and our entire team truly appreciate your trust and are so happy you're pleased with your results. We’re honored to care for you and your family, and we look forward to seeing you again in the future!
Derron D.
I’ve been a patient at Charleston Orthodontics for the past three years while receiving braces, and I couldn’t be happier with my experience. The staff is incredibly friendly and always made me feel welcome at every visit. The office is spotless and well-maintained, which made each appointment comfortable. I also really appreciated that the payment plans were reasonable and manageable. Overall, I highly recommend Charleston Orthodontic to anyone looking for quality orthodontic care!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words and for being a patient with us for the past three years! We’re happy to hear that you’ve had such a positive experience with our team and that our office, care, and payment plans met your expectations. Your recommendation means the world to us, and we’re so happy we could be a part of your orthodontic journey. We look forward to continuing to provide you with excellent care!
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