I'm About To Get My Braces Tightened...a Lightbulb Went Off
Decorating By jenng1482 Updated 11 Mar 2010 , 7:26pm by nanikins
I have seen so many forums about wires in cakes and how to ensure they are foodsafe. What about the wires that orthodontists use on braces? There are obviously safe or I wouldn't be able to keep it in my mouth 24/7. They are about 4 inches long and come in different gauges. What do you think?
I got my braces off a year ago! 
You bring up a good point. I think it's about the chemical reaction to the icing - I remember someone here posting that any wire may discolor icing, and even if it is food-safe, that's the last thing you'd want.
I think the orthodontic wires are stainless steel, if I can recall correctly, but how expensive are they and where would you get them?
lol..........we should start a thread that's like those "if you do THIS, you might be a redneck"
If you get your wires for your gumpaste add ons from your orthodontist.............. you might be a cake decorator!
If you look at kleenex boxes for cake designs..............you might be a cake decorator!
LOL
KH, I love it, though it should be "... you might be a cake addict."
To the OP, from my limited experince with gumpaste flowers you have to wrap the wires with floral tape to help adhear your gumpaste to it. So even if you were using the surgical steel and it was safe to be in your mouth, if you used the floral tape it's still be covered in something you wouldn't want to just stick in a cake. I also think that it isn't just sticking wires in a cake, but also the fact that the moisture of the cake against the wire may cause some chemical reactions, may not be harmful, but might not be pretty when cut either..
Even if it wasn't expensive to use, I think I'd still use a straw or the other options when sticking wire, even 'safe' wire, in a cake. From what I understand the straws help support it as well.
I didn't mean to say redneck...just when I was typing, he came to mind and redneck came off my fingers 
Stainless steel, surgical stainless, and some others would have to remain embedded in a moist cake for an incredibly long time before breakdown began....I don't know of any cake that stays moist long enough for that to happen to those metals. Tin and steel, reactive breakdown begins almost instantly. Aluminum can withstand moisture for a long period of time...salt and acids that may come in contact with it are its' main source of breakdown.
I will have to remember to ask my orthodontist when I see him on the 17th - then hopefully I'll remember this thread to give a report.
if you steal your kids playdo toys (only the new ones, with no kiddie germs on them,lol) for fondant, you might be a caker.
OK - back on topic! Love the other spin-off thread though! I just left the ortho office. They gave me a catelog and said they would be happy to order for me. I can get a tube of 10 pieces of stainless surgical steel 14" inches long each in a ton of different gauges for $2.09 each tube. Sounds like i might have to give it a try.
WHAT A GREAT IDEA! Why didn't I think of that (I've been working for dentists and orthodontists forever). Those arch-wires can be really hard to bend (they tend to 'spring' back, I think that's the point). If you want finer wire, look for ligature ties. I'm pretty sure all that stuff is just stainless steel, I'm sure any stainless steel wire is going to be food safe.
**If you shop at Home Depot for cake tools, you might be a redneck 
Try this
You know you're a cake decorator when.
10. You hear about a party or wedding and your first thought is "I wonder who is doing the cake?"
9. When it is too hot/cold/rainy to go out, you make a cake.
8. You are online by 9am every Monday morning to see what updates there are on the Wilton forum.
7. You have 5 or more bags of powdered sugar in your pantry.
6. You can list 4 or more flavours of cake without stopping to think about it.
5. You know the difference between a shell, reverse shell, and ruffle.
4. Your mixer gets more use than your TV or treadmill.
3. You think the new trans fat free shortening is a bad thing
2. You judge your best friend harshly because you saw a can of store-bought frosting in her refrigerator.
And the number one reason you know you're a cake decorator is..
1. You would rather get something by Wilton than Tiffany for your birthday/Christmas/or Anniversary.
Sue
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