Teeth-Friendly Holiday Treats
It’s the holiday season and delicious feasts are upon us! Desserts and sides a-plenty! Snacks and treats and a holiday turkey, oh my! But wait. Are these treats teeth-friendly or will they end up being an orthodontist’s nightmare later? If you’re unsure whether or not you should be taking a bite into that holiday treat, not to worry! Our team of experts has compiled a list of foods that are teeth-friendly as well as items that you should be wary of.
Holiday Entrées
Typically, the holidays consist of a giant turkey at the head of the table. Meanwhile, you’re sitting there with your braces wondering (hoping!) if you can partake in this delicious piece of meat. Good news: you can! Baked turkey is safe to eat with braces because it is moist, soft, and easy to eat. Also, be sure to avoid any pieces that have bones in them! Unless you want to pull the meat from the bone, we highly recommend not biting into a drumstick because it can cause issues with your orthodontic braces. This can cause a bracket to pop off or a dental wire to pop out!
Holiday Sides
At our tables, we see the likes of soft, delicious foods such as mashed potatoes, mac ‘n cheese, potatoes au gratin, rolls, sautéed green beans, cranberry sauce, and more! We say, bon appetite! If for some reason, you see a hard side food at your table or have a traditional holiday favorite that you think may do damage to your orthodontic braces, air on the side of caution and avoid those foods! You can also contact us at our Anacortes or Bellingham, WA offices before the holidays and ask our knowledgeable staff for confirmation about whether or not specific foods are okay to enjoy!
Holiday Desserts
There’s nothing wrong with eating sweets once in a while—hey, we’re a fan of desserts too! As an orthodontic practice, however, we must advise not to overdo the sweet stuff during the holidays. It’s not good for your teeth or your overall health. That being said, if you’re wondering which desserts are okay to serve yourself, you’ve come to the right place! We suggest sticking to soft desserts like pies, ice cream, soft fudge, cakes, and hot chocolate! We don’t recommend biting into hard chocolate bark, crunchy cookies, chocolate covered nuts, or anything of the sort. Basically, if your dessert causes your teeth to have to add pressure to be able to bite into it—stay away!
Happy Holidays From Dr. Damon & Our Team!
We know it can be a bother to avoid your favorite foods sometimes, but we assure you that, in the long run, you’ll be pleased with your smile at the end of the treatment! Alternatively, if you wish to not have such a restrictive diet, feel free to talk to Dr. Damon about alternative treatments such as Invisalign! From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for being a part of the Damon Orthodontics family! We wish you and yours a happy holiday season packed with pleasant meals and full tummies!