How to Care for Your Braces During the Holidays

The holidays are upon us, which means time spent creating new memories with friends and family. It also means lots and lots of food and sweets. Unfortunately, a lot of the foods we enjoy during the holiday season can cause problems for those wearing braces. In today’s post, Bandeen Orthodontics in Three Rivers would like to offer some seasonal tips for ensuring that you make it through the holidays without any complications with your braces.

Avoid Problematic Foods

At least until your orthodontic treatment has completed, it’s crucial that you avoid certain foods that can get stuck in your braces and cause issues with them. This no different during the holiday season, as there are a number of tasty favorites that you should avoid:

Gingerbread Cookies – they are delicious and they make great ornaments, but gingerbread cookies can be difficult to safely chew while wearing braces. You can still enjoy baking and decorating them, but hold off on eating them until your orthodontic treatment is complete.

Candy Canes – these Christmas staples have stood the test of time for generations, but not with people who wear braces. They are hard and sticky, and they can create havoc if they get stuck in your braces. Candy canes should be avoided while wearing braces. This goes for other sticky, crunchy treats like pecan pie, peanut brittle, hard candies, toffee, and peppermint bark.

Nuts – a favorite throughout the year, nuts are another holiday staple that you should avoid while wearing braces. All it takes is one little piece to get stuck in the wrong place in your braces to cause problems, and removing it can be a nightmare. You should avoid eating nuts until your orthodontic treatment is complete.

This isn’t to say that you cannot enjoy any of the treats that the holidays have to offer. Soft cookies, brownies, cakes, and pies are all fine, especially when accompanied by a nice hot mug of cocoa. Just be sure to stick with your normal dental hygiene practices by brushing and flossing. In the event that you do have issues with your braces, you should contact our office as soon as possible to schedule an appointment to evaluate and rectify the situation. In the meantime, all of us at Bandeen Orthodontics in Three Rivers would like to wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season.