During the holidays, many individuals want to spend their time celebrating and enjoying treats their friends and family — not focusing on what they can’t eat. That is why we at Weber Orthodontics in the Kansas City area have compiled a brief guide of tips and suggestions for surviving the holiday season with braces. We hope to make your holiday season a little easier, so you can focus on the things that do matter.
Though it may be tempting, the same daily dietary rules also apply during the holiday season, no matter the tempting treat. As a general rule of thumb, we suggest you avoid hard and sticky foods. These tempting treats can damage your braces, get stuck in your teeth, and promote tooth decay. The last thing anyone wants is a poking wire or tooth pain all night. Some foods you might want to avoid during the holidays are:
- Candy Canes
- Peanut Brittle
- Pecan Pie
- Gingerbread Cookies
- All Nuts
- Taffy
- Caramel Apples
- Popcorn
- Raw Crunchy Vegetables
- Fruit Cake
As long as you stay away from these hard and sticky foods, you should be able to enjoy all the other holiday meals this holiday season with your braces. Some other holiday treats you can enjoy are:
- Pumpkin Pie
- Ice Cream
- Pudding
- Soft Chocolates
- Sliced Fruit
- Turkey or Ham
- Dinner Rolls
- Stuffing
- Mashed Potatoes
If you do choose to indulge in some sweets, we recommend that you brush thoroughly around your braces to get rid of food and additional sugar off your teeth. Also, try not to overindulge with the sweets, and rinse your mouth out with water after eating. Though it is the holidays, it is no excuse to neglect your orthodontic treatment.
Another tip that we believe to be helpful this holiday season is to carry a travel sized emergency kit for your braces. This way, not only can you clean your braces after your holiday feast, but are prepared for anything that happens. That way if a wire breaks, you can apply some wax and focus on the celebration, and not the wire that is digging into your cheek. Some things our Kansas City orthodontist thinks are helpful to have in your bag are:
- Toothbrush
- Fluoride toothpaste
- Fluoride mouthwash
- Dental floss
- Floss threaders
- Proxy brushes
- Orthodontic wax
- Interdental picks
- Over-the-counter painkillers
- Small Mirror
At Weber orthodontics, we want you to be able to enjoy this holiday season with your braces. So if you are in the Kansas City area and are considering braces, call us today and our team will be eager to answer any of your questions. Happy Holidays!