It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The holidays are here and it’s hard not to get wrapped up in the festivities. There will be many get-togethers with good people and of course lots of good ole’ holiday food. However, we all know that when you have braces, you need to be careful with what you eat.
The last thing you want to happen is to end up needing an emergency orthodontic appointment to repair your braces. So here’s a brief survival guide to help you navigate the holiday season with braces.
- Watch what you eat: Holiday treats are delicious and tempting, but some of them are off-limits when you wear braces. The extra sweetness can linger on your braces and cause decay and the stickiness can break your brackets. As a general rule, try to avoid the following…
- Hard nuts (Peanuts, pecans etc.)
- Caramel and sticky taffy
- Candy canes
- Hard cookies
- Food you can safely eat: Holidays are a good time so don’t focus only on the negatives. Instead, focus on the delicious treats that you can enjoy such as:
- Christmas Tree Brownies
- Hot cocoa
- Soft cookies
- Holiday pudding
- Soft Chocolate
- Cupcakes
- Ice cream
- Pack the essentials: The holidays are a busy time and with everything going on, it is important to be prepared, which means making sure you have everything you need if you are going away. Here’s a quick guide on what to pack if you are taking a holiday trip:
- A travel-sized toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Floss or Flosser
- Your elastics
- Your aligner case (If applicable)
- Brush your teeth more often: With all the holiday cheer and food, you will be consuming more sugary foods. This puts your teeth at a higher risk for decay so be sure to brush your teeth as often as possible. If you know you will be away for long, take along your toothbrush, toothpaste and mouth wash so you can step into a restroom to clean your teeth.
- Stick to your treatment plan: Your journey to a beautiful smile doesn’t pause because of the holidays. It is important to follow all instructions given to you by your orthodontist. This will help you maintain that beautiful smile and prevent emergencies.
If you have any questions or concerns about surviving the holidays in braces, contact us Here.
From our family at The Orthodontic Centre at Northland to yours, have a safe and happy holidays!