The Pop Tart. A universally enjoyed sweet treat for many decades now. Perfect for any time of the day, especially at breakfast. But what about when you have braces? Is that still the case? Or are you going to have to go back to plain toast for a couple of years? Today, we’re going to look into this issue and discover the truth about Pop Tart eating while you’re wearing braces.
So, can you eat Pop Tarts aith braces? You can eat Pop Tarts; however, it’s probably best that you don’t. When you have braces, you must try to avoid food that is hard, chewy, and sticky. This is because foods possessing the characteristics pose more of a threat of brace damage and tooth decay. Pop Tarts, while not the hardest, chewiest, or stickiest of treats, still pose this threat to some degree.
Ultimately, the choice is down to you.
But there are certainly some dos and don’t when it comes to pop tarts and braces.
As we shall now see in the following sections.
So get comfortable and keep reading!
Besides, it could make your orthodontist a happy one!
Why You Shouldn’t Eat Pop Tarts With Braces?
It would be best if you didn’t eat Pop Tarts with braces, as their hard and chewy texture means they can cause your brackets to pop (no pun intended) off or get lodged up there to leave you with potential tooth decay.
So yes, Pop tarts can cause your brackets to pop off.
But how?
They’re so tasty!
They may be delicious, but they’re also hard and chewy, which means they’re not very suitable for eating with braces.
Due to this hard and chewy texture, high levels of stress and tension are put on your teeth when you bite into them.
Think about it.
When you have to eat a food that is particularly hard, you have to bite much harder than you would with a piece of food that is much softer.
As you’re biting harder, you’re putting more pressure and stress on your teeth.
So, Pop Tarts fit into this category of foods.
The pressure and stress that is generated when biting into a pop tart will also be placed on your braces.
What’s the result?
Well, your brackets could be forced to pop off (again, no pun is intended here, it’s just a happy coincidence that comes with the subject).
If you do eat a Pop Tart and your brackets pop off, then you will need to get them refitted by your orthodontist.
Each time you have to have them refitted, the total time you have to wear the braces increases.
So, you can either avoid Pop Tarts for a couple of years, or you can wear braces forever!!
It’s not just the pressure Pop Tarts generate, though.
As Pop Tarts are chewy and sticky, they can easily get lodged and wedged in your brackets.
If unwelcomed Pop Tart residue isn’t taken care of, then it will be left to leave an excess of sugar and bacteria.
This then leads to tooth decay, and trust me; you do not want that.
How You May Be Able To Eat Pop Tarts With Braces
You may be able to eat Pop Tarts if you ensure your teeth and braces are thoroughly cleaned of any residue. It would be best if you also chose Pop Tarts that are more suitable for brace eating, e.g., Fruity Pop Tarts.
Eat Pop Tarts Rarely
Like any sweet treat, it’s best not to indulge in them daily, even when you’re not wearing braces.
Low Sugar Is Best
But if you can’t resist not having a Pop Tart, then make sure you’re buying ones that are low in sugar and unfrosted.
What texture are things usually when they are cold? Hard!
And as we’ve discovered, hard foods are not ideal for brace eating.
So Frosted Pop Tarts will be too hard on your teeth.
Dont Toast
But guess what, toasting them isn’t the answer.
When you toast bread, it gets harder.
The same is true for Pop Tarts.
Now, I know what you’re already thinking. “I’ll soften them using the microwave.”
Doing this will make the Pop Tarts taste stale, so what’s the point anyways?
Plus, it can be quite dangerous to microwave Pop Tarts as they will suddenly get very hot.
It’s best just to buy unfrosted and low in sugar Pop Tarts.
Small Piece At A Time
Eat them in small pieces as well to ease the task you’re setting out for your teeth.
Soften Them First
If you can find a safe way of softening them, perhaps by dipping them into a cup of milk, then go for it!
All you need to do is ensure they’re not too chewy or hard.
Pop Tart Timing
Now, dental hygiene! You must always try to eat Pop Tarts around meal time.
Then, once you’ve enjoyed your naughty treat, you need to wait 30 minutes before brushing your teeth thoroughly.
By waiting 30 minutes, you allow your teeth’s enamel to return to its normal hard state after the sugary acids in the Pop Tarts have softened it.
Clean After
Make sure your brackets and teeth are completely rid of Pop Tart residue.
If a toothbrush doesn’t suffice, then you may need to get the dental floss out.
Tie a knot in the floss’ string and carefully use this to dislodge any bits of Pop Tart that have taken residence in your brackets.
Alternatives To Pop Tarts To Eat With Braces
So, with all the information I’ve provided, you can now make a conscious decision as to whether or not you want to risk eating Pop Tarts during your brace-wearing days.
Let’s face it; it’s not the worst treat you could choose to satisfy your sweet tooth with, as there are plenty of others that are harder, chewier, and stickier, and consequently more dangerous.
However, there are also plenty of alternatives that are much safer to eat when you have braces.
When trying to identify healthier alternatives, look for those that are soft, non-chewy, and non-sticky.
The lower in sugar, the better. Oh, and always avoid treats with hard toppings!
Below is a list of some alternatives to Pop Tarts to eat when wearing braces.
So, whether it be to replace your Pop Tart breakfast habit, your daily Pop Tart snack, or your special Post-dinner Pop Tart dessert, hopefully, you’ll be able to find something that fills that gap for you!
- Nutless and non-sticky brownies
- Crustless pizza
- Croissants
- Ice cream
- Soft cookies (like softened Oreos)
- Soft chocolate (like Kit Kats)
- Chips
- Yogurt
- Pancakes
- Smoothies
- Oats and Oatmeal
- Chocolate Milk
- Chocolate-Covered Fruit
- Chocolate-flavored lollipops
- Jell-O
The one major exception here is cotton candy.
While it is soft initially, it goes hard and chewy once it enters the mouth. It can be very difficult to remove from braves!
Finally
Unfortunately, Pop Tarts do not get the green light.
But they don’t necessarily get the red light either…
Instead, Pop Tarts fit into that yellow light category.
Eat them without precautions, and you run a high risk of damaging your braces and teeth.
But, if you follow my advice on how to eat them, you lessen that risk significantly.
Whatever you decide to do, happy eating with braces!
Related Articles:
- Can You Eat Chocolate With Braces?
- What Candy Can You Eat With Braces?
- Best Candy For Braces • The 5 That Are Safe To Eat! •
- Can You Eat Honey With Braces?
- What Cereals Can You Eat With Braces?
Hello, I’m Matthew, a candy expert and enthusiast with over a decade of experience in the candy industry. My passion for candy started at a very young age. Since then, I have worked in numerous, large candy stores, and have been fortunate enough to try out hundreds of brands of candies, different types and flavors. In addition to my work, I enjoy sharing my extensive knowledge with others, and decided to create Sugar Stand in order to do so. My mission is to make the world a sweeter place, one candy at a time.
