OT - Chewing Gum With Braces

[mom_of_3_70737]

Hello All! I have a question for all of you experienced Disers! My DS8 has had his braces for a few weeks now and we are going to be flying out on Thursday. This will be the first time that we have flown as a family. I know that chewing gum may help reduce the pressure in the ears and was wondering if anyone chews gum or allows their child with braces to chew gum. I have asked a few people I know and get conflicting answers. One assistant at the Ortho said no, while another said it was ok if it was Trident Some people say that is is ok if it is just sugar free. I have never had braces so this is new territory for me. Any advice would be great. I just don't want to give him some and then it stick to his braces making a huge mess. Not exactly how I would want to start vacation!

 

[dis75ney]

I was okay as long as I chewed Trident. Nothing too sticky, and make sure that your son disposes of the gum as soon as the pressure equalizes. A few minutes of chewing gum shouldn't hurt...

Also, try yawning every few minutes when the pressure builds up. I'm not a big fan of gum, so this worked for me on our last flight...

 

[eliza61]

Hello All! I have a question for all of you experienced Disers! My DS8 has had his braces for a few weeks now and we are going to be flying out on Thursday. This will be the first time that we have flown as a family. I know that chewing gum may help reduce the pressure in the ears and was wondering if anyone chews gum or allows their child with braces to chew gum. I have asked a few people I know and get conflicting answers. One assistant at the Ortho said no, while another said it was ok if it was Trident Some people say that is is ok if it is just sugar free. I have never had braces so this is new territory for me. Any advice would be great. I just don't want to give him some and then it stick to his braces making a huge mess. Not exactly how I would want to start vacation!

Have him suck on a piece of hard candy instead, don't bite it though. It's the act of swallowing that helps your ears. Gum, even trident can stick to the braces and/or break a wire. so not only do you have a big mess, you may have to pay a charge to repair the braces (depending on your Ortho).

Do you really want to chance it? For some reason my sons brace wires came off very easily. and at $50 a pop to repair, I made darn sure he followed the rules.

 

[drivencrazy]

I would give your Ortho a call and see what the Dr. (him/her self) say. My oldest had braces and was able to chew sugar free gum, no problems. But her friend (who had braces for a lot longer) wasn't allowed to chew gum at all! I don't know if there are different wires and such they use or not, but really you should check with the Ortho him/her self!

We did suckers on our flight and they seemed to work rather well!

 

[disneyag]

Both my kids have had braces and were allowed to chew sugarless gum. If your ortho still says no, invest in some Earplanes. They always end my DD's ear pain on flights.

 

[licountrygirl]

My son has had braces for almost a year and the kid always has a piece of gum in his mouth. Of course, I make him spit it out if it's Bazooka or something but a regular piece of sugar free gum shouldn't be a problem. If you're really not comfortable with it, maybe he can just chew during take off and landing like someone mentioned - or the Earplanes is supposed to be good.

My guy has never broken a wire or anything like that related to gum chewing.

 

[wdw_girl_18]

I chewed gum all the time while I had braces. You just have to make sure its sugar free or else you'll end up with cavities under the brackets. I never had any problems at all.

 

[wendithepooh]

I work with a girl that's full time job is a dental assistant.She told me to let DD chew gum for 30 minutes after each time see goes to the ortodontist.She said it helps the teeth to move just a little faster and that it doesn't hurt quite as long.Don't know if it works since DD12 has had her braces on for 4 weeks now.I don't let her chew gum because Dr. said not to.Actually,I told her she could,if she wants to pay for any repairs.So far so good.

I would call the orthodontist and ask them.

 

[tjmw2727]

Our ortho says no - and my friends DD chewed gum often with her braces without issue until just that one time - lots of damage and the ortho wasn't under obligation to fix the work because she broke the rules. The ortho did fix but apparently he didn't have to.

You wouldn't want "that one time" where the braces are damaged to be on the airplane on the way to Disney so I personally wouldn't try it.

That said its the chew and swallow, mostly the swallow that helps So sipping water from a sports cap or straw and or chewing a "braces appropriate" snack should help with the ears. My youngest dosen't like gum and hasn't ever had ear problems. Just offer a drink and snack about 1/2 hour before descent and he should be fine.


TJ

 

[mom_of_3_70737]

Thanks for all of the advice. I think I am not going to risk it. I am too worried that something would happen. I think I am just going to stick some peppermints in my purse for him to suck on if his ears start bothering him. Thanks again! Can't wait!!! 2 more days!!!!

 

[Stephaniecmc]

Fredent gum works great for braces. I wore braces for 4 years and chewed Fredent gum. The commercial says it takes the stick out of gum! Works like a charm and it's sugar free too.

 

[Hedy]

My ortho (in the dark ages of the 90's) said no way, no how. I used Mentos-actually, my mother still does as she doesn't care for gum.