Many holiday traditions revolve around delicious foods and it can be a difficult time for braces wearers. Which foods are safe and which ones aren’t? Can you eat your favorite food with braces? Let’s talk about what’s safe to eat during the holidays when you have braces.
Avoid These Foods
It’s usually recommended that braces wearers avoid foods that are sticky or chewy, crunchy or hard, and that need to be bitten into. Some examples might include taffy or caramel, candied apples or hard candies, toffee or hard pretzels and large cinnamon rolls or dinner rolls.
Of course, this isn’t a complete list of foods that may cause damage to your braces, so it’s important to ask your orthodontist specifically about whether or not you can eat your favorite food with braces.
Safer Foods
While it may seem like there’s a lot of food you’ll need to avoid during the holidays, there are actually a lot more things that you can still enjoy. Many delicious holiday foods are safe for braces such as soft cooked fruits and veggies, deviled eggs, cranberry sauce, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, soups, mashed potatoes, cheesy potatoes, salads without croutons or nuts, pastas, pudding, custards, pies, cakes, and many other melt-in-your-mouth desserts. The list goes on and on!
“But It’s My Favorite!”
Sometimes favorite foods that are on the “avoid” list can move to the “safe” list if you cut them into small bite-sized pieces or remove a single ingredient that is unsafe for your braces. Check with your orthodontist before trying this with something they’ve recommended that you avoid. However, if you really don’t want to miss out on a holiday favorite, it’s always worth asking if there’s any way to safely eat your favorite food with braces just in case there are options!
Ask Your Orthodontist
As it gets closer to holiday get-togethers, don’t be afraid to ask your orthodontist any questions you may have about foods that are typically served as part of your family traditions. Your orthodontist will be happy you asked and will do their best to help you find the best options that work for you so that you can celebrate the holidays safely.
Call our Gainesville Dental Office to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.
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