New braces during the holidays? There is a lot to learn, but we’re here to help! Read on to learn how to get ready for your first Thanksgiving with your new braces so you can ensure your orthodontic treatment stays on track during the holidays and beyond.

Avoid These Holiday Foods with Braces

One of the first things to know when you have new braces during the holidays is which foods are safe to eat with braces and which foods you should avoid. The reason why you need to be careful about which foods you eat when you have braces is that some foods are more likely to damage your braces by breaking a bracket or pulling a wire loose.

Typically, we recommend avoiding any foods that are chewy, crunchy, sticky, hard, or that need to be bitten directly into. This can include dinner rolls, nuts, caramels, thick bars of chocolate, or apples. Stay tuned, though, because there are lots of other foods that are braces-safe!

Better Holiday Foods for Braces

Are you feeling bummed about having new braces during the holidays because a favorite treat isn’t braces-safe? You can still enjoy lots of other tasty treats — and might even discover a new favorite this year!

Mashed or cheesy potatoes, candied yams, green bean casserole, cooked fruit and veggies, soft bread torn into bite-sized pieces, salads, soups, pasta, cranberry sauce, and many other traditional holiday foods are safe to eat with braces! We haven’t even named them all — the list goes on and on!

When choosing holiday foods, try to select soft foods that don’t require biting into or a lot of chewing, melt in your mouth, or can be torn into bite-sized pieces.

Taking Care of Your New Braces

Having new braces during the holidays also means learning how to take care of them by brushing after each meal and flossing daily. This helps to keep them clean and free from food debris and plaque that can lead to problems like discoloration, cavities, or gum disease.

If you have questions about how to care for your braces, your orthodontist can demonstrate the easiest and most effective way to keep your new smile looking and feeling the very best throughout the holidays and beyond!

Call our 5th Street, Riverside, Galleria, Heights, Oak Forest, Rice Village, Richmond, Spring or Hulen dental offices 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.