Getting braces comes with a few changes to your daily routine, including paying closer attention to what you eat and drink. If soda is one of your go-to drinks, you may be wondering: Can I drink soda with braces?
The short answer is that it’s best to limit soda while you have braces. The biggest concern isn’t necessarily damage to the brackets themselves. Soda contains acids, and regular soda also contains sugar, which can increase the risk of tooth decay and enamel damage around your brackets.
At Just for Grins Orthodontics, Dr. Kendall Dunn and Dr. Alex Schreiber help patients throughout Montgomery, Millbrook, and Wetumpka protect their teeth while creating healthier, more confident smiles. Here’s what you should know about soda during braces treatment and what you can drink instead.
TL;DR: Can You Drink Soda With Braces?
It’s best to avoid or limit soda while wearing braces. Regular soda exposes your teeth to both sugar and acids, while diet soda may eliminate the sugar but is still acidic.
If you do occasionally drink soda:
- Drink it with a meal rather than sipping it throughout the day.
- Use a straw when possible to reduce contact with your teeth.
- Rinse your mouth with water afterward.
- Wait before brushing your teeth after an acidic drink.
- Keep up with regular brushing and flossing around your brackets and wires.
Water is the best everyday drink for keeping your teeth and braces clean throughout treatment.
What Happens If You Drink Soda With Braces?
Drinking soda won’t usually damage your brackets or wires directly. The bigger concern is what soda can do to the teeth underneath and around your braces.
Brackets create additional areas where plaque can collect and where brushing requires a little more attention. When you regularly add sugary, acidic drinks to the mix, you can increase your risk of:
- Tooth decay and cavities
- Enamel erosion
- White spots or discoloration around brackets
- Plaque buildup around your braces
These problems can become particularly noticeable after your braces come off because the portion of the tooth underneath each bracket was protected while the surrounding enamel was exposed.
That’s why good oral hygiene and following your orthodontist’s tips for living with braces are so important throughout treatment.
Can You Drink Coke or Sprite With Braces?
Coke, Sprite, Pepsi, and similar soft drinks aren’t the best choices while you’re wearing braces.
Dark sodas like Coke can contribute to staining, but switching to a clear soda doesn’t eliminate the bigger concern. Sprite and other clear sodas are still acidic and typically contain sugar.
So if you’re wondering whether Sprite is better for braces than Coke, the answer is: **not by much.**
Regardless of the type of soda, it’s best to make it an occasional treat rather than an everyday drink.
Is Diet Soda Better for Braces?
Diet soda eliminates the sugar found in regular soda, but that doesn’t make it harmless to your teeth.
Most diet sodas are still acidic. Frequent exposure to acidic drinks can weaken tooth enamel over time, so switching from regular Coke to Diet Coke doesn’t eliminate all of the dental concerns associated with soda.
If you choose to have regular or diet soda occasionally, drink it with a meal, avoid sipping it for hours, and rinse your mouth with water afterward.
Will Soda Stain Ceramic Braces?
If you wear clear or ceramic braces, you may also be concerned about staining.
The ceramic brackets themselves are designed to resist staining, but the elastic ties used around the brackets can become discolored. Dark beverages and certain foods may make those elastics look less clear between orthodontic appointments.
Your teeth can also develop staining or discoloration if plaque is allowed to build up around your brackets, which is another reason good brushing and flossing habits matter throughout treatment.
Can I Drink Soda With a Retainer?
Once your braces come off, you’ll move into the retention phase, but that doesn’t mean you should start drinking soda while wearing your removable retainer.
**Take your removable retainer out before drinking soda or other sugary or acidic beverages.**
Drinks can become trapped between your retainer and teeth, leaving your enamel exposed to sugar and acid for longer periods. Plain water is the safest drink when you’re wearing a removable retainer.
If you have a permanent retainer, you don’t remove it to drink. Continue brushing and flossing carefully around the retainer and keep sugary drinks to a minimum.
What Can I Drink With Braces?
Fortunately, giving up or cutting back on soda doesn’t mean you’re stuck with nothing to drink.
Good choices include:
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- Water: The best everyday choice. It keeps you hydrated and can help rinse food particles from around your braces.
- Milk: A braces-friendly option that also provides calcium.
- Unsweetened drinks: Options without added sugar can be better choices, although it’s still worth paying attention to acidity.
- Occasional flavored drinks: Check the sugar and acid content rather than assuming a drink is braces-friendly simply because it isn’t soda.
For everyday hydration, plain water is still the easiest and best choice while you’re wearing braces.
Protect Your Smile While Wearing Braces
You don’t have to be perfect throughout orthodontic treatment, but small everyday choices can make a difference. Limiting soda, choosing water more often, and keeping your teeth clean around your brackets can help protect your enamel and keep your smile healthy while your teeth are moving.
If you’re ever unsure about what you can eat or drink with braces, ask us! Dr. Kendall Dunn, Dr. Alex Schreiber, and the Just for Grins Orthodontics team are here to help you get through treatment with a healthy grin.
Considering braces for yourself or your child? Request your complimentary consultation at our Montgomery, Millbrook, or Wetumpka orthodontic office. We’ll evaluate your smile, discuss your treatment options, and answer your questions before you get started.
