Can you eat hubba bubba with braces?
Andrew Davis
You can consume Hubba bubba while wearing braces, however, it’s not advised. Some dentists advise against chewing gum, while others suggest chewing gum on occasion.
If you wear braces or not, you shouldn’t chew gum that contains sugar. This kind of gum could create a layer of bacteria on your teeth, which could result in:
- tooth decay
- cavities
- gum disease
Dentists typically recommend chewing sugar-free gum that has earned the Seal of Acceptance from the ADA.
The braces’ materials today differ from those used in braces of the past. The wires are much more elastic than they were and more resistant to bend due to chewing gum.
But it is important to consult with your dentist or your orthodontist prior to your decision is made to chew gum, since it may be difficult to determine exactly what substances were utilized to make your braces.
Pros:
Chewing sugar-free gum can boost saliva production. This neutralizes and removes acidity that occurs when food and drinks are degraded by the plaque bacteria on your teeth.
However, according to some research studies chewing gum can lessen the pressure and pain that braces cause on your teeth. The same research also showed that chewing gum doesn’t cause harm to braces.
Cons:
Chewing gum, no matter if it’s sugar-free or not, could cause harm to braces. Gum is sticky and could easily become stuck in the wires and brackets that traditional braces are made of and can also adhere to elastics (rubber bands).
Gum can cause flexible wires to bend, which can adversely hinder the effectiveness of braces for straightening teeth. A slight bend in a wire could cause teeth to shift in the wrong direction, which can cause problems with alignment and can add weeks to the treatment.
You might be enticed to take off rubber bands whenever the gum is chewed. If your dentist has advised them to leave your rubber bands on every day and this could delay treatment.