The holidays are finally here! If you’re wearing braces this season, it may feel like your options for delicious meals and snacks are very limited. But they’re not!
At Thomas Orthodontics in Spanish Fork, Dr. James Thomas wants you to know that you can still enjoy a variety of fun and festive foods. Here’s a list of braces-approved foods you can eat this season, along with some you should steer clear of.
Braces-Approved Foods
There are so many holiday foods you can still eat with your braces. Here are some that you can enjoy:
- Turkey Breast: When cooked tender, turkey breast is an amazing holiday main course. (Just don’t eat it off the bone!)
- Ham: Ham is totally acceptable to eat with braces, as long as it’s tender and not too chewy.
- Mashed Potatoes: A serving of creamy mashed potatoes makes for a perfect side dish that’s gentle on your teeth.
- Pasta: Pasta-based sides like mac and cheese allow for easy chewing.
- Soft Bread Rolls: Soft and warm bread rolls are perfect for you if you have orthodontic treatment.
- Cooked Veggies and Fruits: You can still get your daily dose of vitamins from steamed or cooked veggies such as carrots, green beans, or collard greens, and from soft fruits like cranberry sauce.
- Stuffing: As long as there are no overly crusty or hard pieces of bread in the stuffing, you’re in the clear!
- Pie: What would a holiday feast be like without pie? Once again, you can totally enjoy pie with braces, but make sure there are no overly chewy crusts around!
- Sweet Treats: Chocolate candy like Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Hershey bars are perfect if you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment. Soft cookies and fudge are also great ways to treat yourself without worrying about your braces.
- Warm Drinks: There’s something about a sugar cookie latte from Beans & Brews in Spanish Fork or a peppermint mocha from Odd Meter Coffee Co. that just jazzes you up for the holiday season! They also feel good on your teeth if you’ve had a recent adjustment from Thomas Orthodontics–just make sure to brush after you’re done!
Foods to Avoid With Braces
There are some foods you should avoid if you have braces this season. Here are a few to watch out for:
- Crunchy veggies or fruits: These may look appetizing, but they can pop off a bracket or dislodge a wire.
- Any meat that’s on the bone: Using your teeth to eat meat on the bone can also cause a bracket to break.
- Corn on the cob: The same thing about boned meat applies to this, too! You risk bending wires or breaking brackets by trying to eat corn on the cob.
- Chewy candies (like gummies, caramels, or taffy): Chewy candies are amazing during the holidays, but they’re a nightmare for your braces.
- Nuts (on their own and in food): Nuts are some of the crunchiest foods, which means they’re some of the most dangerous for your orthodontic treatment.
Braces-Friendly Recipes to Try This Season
Need some festive and delicious recipes that will fit your braces-friendly diet? Here are some fun ideas to try:
Peppermint Mousse Cups
Blend whipped cream, vanilla pudding, and peppermint extract together. Layer the mixture over crushed soft sugar cookies and enjoy!
Soft Gingerbread Muffins
Don’t want to risk the chewiness of touch gingerbread cookies? Try making soft gingerbread muffins–add a light glaze for extra sweetness!
Cinnamon Baked Apples
Apples on their own can wreak havoc on your braces, but tender cinnamon apples are perfect for patients undergoing orthodontic treatment! Just slice up some apples, sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon, and bake until they’re soft.
How to Enjoy the Holiday With Braces
Just because it’s the holidays doesn’t mean you should let your hygiene habits slide! Here are some quick ways to make sure you’re keeping your treatment on track:
- Brush after every meal. Foods of all kinds, and especially of the sticky and sugary variety, can cling to your braces if you don’t get them all cleaned off. And remember to floss or use a water flosser regularly to clear off that extra food debris!
- Keep orthodontic wax handy in case of an emergency. Bracket poking you while you’re trying to eat? Wire coming loose after eating a chewy piece of turkey? Put some wax on the offending wire or bracket until your next appointment, when the Thomas Orthodontics team can fix the issue.
- Stay hydrated. Not only is it good for your body, but it’s also a great way to wash away food and sugar particles you may not have reached with your toothbrush.
- Keep a braces hygiene kit with you when you travel. Road trips are a lot of fun–make sure you’ve got your braces essentials with you so they can stay stress-free! We recommend that your kit include tools like:
- Floss picks
- A travel toothbrush and toothpaste
- Mouth rinse
- A compact mirror
- Orthodontic wax
Thomas Orthodontics – Bringing Joy and Cheer to Spanish Fork Smiles
You deserve to enjoy the holidays, not stress over what you can’t eat. With the right food choices, your holiday season can be merry and bright… and full of delicious treats!
Considering starting orthodontic treatment? Schedule a free consultation with Thomas Othodontics at our Spanish Fork, Salem, or Tooele location today to get started! We’d love to get to know you!