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Sugar and your orthodontic treatment

One word no one likes to hear is “cavity!”

For those patients of ours wearing braces, hearing that word is especially problematic, considering that delaying any dental work may result in delaying treatment time.

We often blame candy as the culprit behind tooth decay, but other foods and drinks that kids consume can be just as harmful to their teeth, and can lead to cavities and tooth decay. Keeping your teeth or your child’s teeth from decay during treatment starts with a proper diet, and today, our team at Zammitti Orthodontics will explain the negative effects that candy and other treats, including peanut butter, raisins, fruit juice, and chewy fruit snacks, have on your child’s teeth as he or she undergoes orthodontic treatment. Keep in mind that half of your child’s sugar intake may be coming from beverages that he or she drinks. A major offender is soda, but be mindful of fruit juices as well.

While sugar is known to sit in your child’s teeth and in between and under brackets and wires after consumption, it is important to know sugar is not the only cavity-causing culprit. Carbohydrates, starches, acids, and any food that is chewy or sticks break down into sugars, and can promote tooth decay.

So, what are the alternatives?

Candy such as dark chocolate, sugar-free gum, or anything that contains xylitol, a sugar substitute, is not as harmful for your teeth as hard, chewy, or sticky sweets. Sugar-free gum or gum that contains xylitol are known to reduce levels of bacteria on teeth.

And if you’re still looking for something to snack on, we recommend cutting up easy-to-eat fruits and vegetables. You would also be surprised how much eating a banana or sipping on a glass of water helps you curb snack cravings.

If you’re one of those folks who just can’t stay away from sweets, we encourage you to brush your teeth immediately afterward and swish water in your mouth.

Whatever you eat, Dr. Sal Zammitti and our team want you to remember to brush often, floss regularly, and visit your general dentist as your treatment progresses. If you have any questions about sugary foods or drinks, please give us a call or ask us during your next adjustment visit!

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The first step toward achieving a beautiful, healthy smile is to schedule an appointment. Simply select a location below, then choose the time and day that works best with your schedule.

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Patient Testimonials

We Love Making People Smile

Hear what our patients have to say about their experience with us!

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I went for my consult today and loved every minute. The staff was so nice and special shout out to Karen, the treatment coordinator, whom I absolutely ADORE! She’s very thorough with all... the information she provides and answers any and all questions. Would so far definitely recommended them!read more
Heavon J.
I love all the Ladies at the Harrisburg Office. I am going to miss seeing them when my son Zachary's braces come off. Would definitely recommend.
Gypsy C.
Great customer service great experience on today she made my son Son feel at ease
Dorothy B.
I enjoyed my visit for the very first time the staff made me feel comfortable from the time I walked in. Everything was just great about the office. I highly recommend.!
Shacoria C.
We had a great experience! Dr Matt is very friendly and thorough and great with kids!
Lori B.
Matt is a great provider. His team works hard and are very kind/polite. My daughter felt very comfortable in their care. I highly recommend this practice.
Danielle D.
Very clean, safe, friendly and dedicated staff! I’m excited to get serviced by staff!
Jaz
I want to say I visited a Orthodontist today named Zammitti &Gidaly in DavidsonWelcoming and professionalism.Thank you Dr.Gidaly and Karen for your great smiles that meet us this... morning!!!!Excellence in what they do!!!Rev.Jettonread more
Etheleen J.
We had a great visit and consultation. Dr. Gilday helped us understand where we are right now, gave us a timeline for orthodontic needs, and answered all our questions.
Casey V.
Everyone was so nice and explained in great detail what my son needed . It didn't feel like a sales pitch, it was in the best interest of my son and our concerns. Looking forward to them... helping my son be more comfortable and confident.read more
Steph
Lovely facility, amazing staff and outstanding customer service/ expertise. So glad we found this office !
Chamasha T.
The staff was beyond helpful and kind. Dr. G was patient and very knowledgeable. Great experience!
Katie R.
Amazing experience. Everyone is kind and professional at this location. Karen is a true sweetheart. Dr. Gidaly is straightforward & professional. You will not be disappointed!!!
Keana C.
WOW! Just WOW! Absolutely detest dental work due to previous experiences at a dentist's offices being so traumatic & the judgement I feel at the practices I've been a patient at. Not to... mention, the use of what I feel are scare tactics or at least come across that way. Therefore, I was definitely nervous about my initial ortho consultation with Dr. Zammitti...dreading the possibility of hearing all the things that are wrong & ugly about my teeth along with the pressure of having to have everything "fixed". My experience couldn't have been any further from that. I couldn't have asked for a better experience from the moment I walked in & met my treatment coordinator to the moment I left & everything in between. My treatment coordinator respected my "dental anxiety" & couldn't have done her job any better. Dr. Zammitti is hilarious to me, I'm not sure why but I find him very funny....and BRILLIANT! Like super BRILLIANT! He actually sat down at a desk with me to talk!!!! He explained things in normal human language that made sense. He didn't try to boast how intelligent he is or the endless list of credentials by throwing out tons of medical terminology that could be intimidating & cause someone to become overwhelmed. I didn't feel judged or criticized. I felt like his approach was more of "this is what I can do to make your smile perfect" rather than "you need to do this or all these bad things are going to happen". Everything was clear & I felt like I had a choice. My treatment coordinator explained the financials, which also made me feel like I had options. Because of my initial experience,I chose to follow Dr. Zammitti's suggestions toget braces. Dr. Zammitti & the assistant, Nathalie,were both very gentle putting braces on...BUT they also worked quickly which was crucial for me....yet I felt like if I had needed a break at any point,they would have been completely fine with it.l & wouldn't have grown impatient. I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this practice!!!! If you want your smile to be as flawlessas possible ....GO HERE!!!read more
Kelly L.
We had a great experience with Dr. Gidaly. He is kind and patient, never forceful in his approach. My daughter was a little nervous about starting orthodontic treatment, but Dr. Gidaly... made her feel completely at ease from the first visit.read more
Matt K.
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    Harrisburg, NC 28075
Concord, NC
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