Holiday Foods & Drinks to Avoid When Wearing Braces

Article by Dr. Leaver & Dr. Gardner

Christmas is but a few weeks away with all of those delicious treats and tantalizing dinner rapidly approaching us. For those with braces, you may feel cheated, for not everything on the dinner table is yours for the taking. There are many kinds of foods that can damage your braces and your teeth. Leaver & Gardner Orthodontics wants to discuss with those wearing braces what food must be avoided as well as the traditional holiday delights that you can still partake in.

HOLIDAY FOOD & DRINKS TO AVOID WHEN WEARING BRACES

Christmas seems to be the time of year we are bombarded with the sweetest and stickiest of treats. As tempting as they might be, sweet and sticky is the wrong combination for those with braces. Sorry. There are even some foods that are prepared for Christmas dinner that should be avoided because they leave small bits and particles in your teeth that can damage them and cause tooth decay. For effective orthodontic treatment, you must avoid some of these foods and clean your braces properly. Here are some of this year’s holiday delicacies you should avoid.
Hard Candy Canes – Candy Canes are often used as a quick treat. Even those used to decorate our Christmas trees are sometimes later consumed as part of our holiday traditions. If you avoid chewing on the candy canes and slowly suck them down, it should prevent direct damage to the braces, Keep in mind, the sugar left behind must be cleaned quickly or you could suffer tooth decay. Due to the high sugar content in candy canes we suggest minimum consumption of this holiday delight.
Christmas Pudding – Christmas pudding and even mince pies and other chew desserts that are high in sugar is an obvious problem for those with braces because they can slip into the tightest of cracks. On top of that, these chew foods will clog up your braces making it difficult to chew. Cleaning will become a nightmare with foods like these since pudding gets into the smallest of cracks. Most often tooth decay is not far behind.
Crushed Ice & Cubes – Ice cubes often are used to cool down our drinks. As great as it is for cooling down or chilling your holiday beverage, avoid chewing them. Ice cubes can damage both your teeth and braces.
Hard Vegetables – Despite vegetables being rather healthy foods, raw vegetables will also damage braces and get easily stuck inside them. Other hard foods like nuts, stone fruits, etc can damage the wires and brackets of the braces if you’re not careful. If you’re looking forward to some vegetables, it is better to eat them cooked and softened and in small pieces.

WHAT KIND OF CANDY, SWEETS & HOLIDAY FOODS CAN YOU EAT WITH BRACES?

Now we don’t want you feel like you can eat anything Christmas day nor do we want you to feel bullied by us, so here are some of those Christmas delights that are approved by most orthodontists! Most traditional Christmas dinners have turkey, potatoes and cooked vegetables. They can be eaten in small pieces are fine for those with braces. That Christmas pudding can be exchanged for ice cream or even a festive chocolate log which can be cleaned much easier and won’t damage the wire or brackets of your braces. Sugary drink beverages can be consumed but make sure you rinse with water after you finish them. Of course after your holiday binge is over, make sure to clean your teeth and braces thoroughly.

ORTHODONTIC CARE

Leaver & Gardner Orthodontics wants everyone to enjoy Christmas, and let’s face it, eating is pretty joyous. Don’t let your braces hold back your holiday enjoyment. Just proceed with caution. If you have questions, contact us and we will help you enjoy this Christmas.