With the holiday season upon us, so are the dinner parties, sweets, and celebratory snack foods. Whether your favorite part of the holiday meals is the pot roast or stuffing, there’s something for everyone to look forward to. If you have braces this winter, you may find an extra challenge from tempting treats that could damage your braces. Though you may not be bobbing for apples or munching on caramel corn this year, there’s still plenty of holiday treats to enjoy! Here’s a list of do’s and don’ts to help your braces survive the holiday season:
Good to go:
- Ham, turkey, pot roast
- Mashed potatoes
- Stuffing
- Gravy
- Jello
- Cheesecake
- Green bean casserole
- Cranberry sauce
- Pumpkin pie (no crust!)
- Hot chocolate
Not this year:
- Candy canes
- Hard cookies
- Pecan pie
- Toffee
- Peanut brittle
- Nuts
- Popcorn
- Hard pretzels
- Meat on the bone
- Caramel apples
- Corn on the cob
Even with braces, there are plenty of sweets for you to enjoy this winter! To prevent tooth decay, remember to brush extra and keep up on your flossing – especially after sugary and sticky meals. From your Jacksonville orthodontist, we hope you have a happy (and delicious) holiday season!