The Holiday Season Is Here! Here’s How to Enjoy a Feast if You’re Wearing Braces

Braces are a tried and proven way to correct even severe cases of dental misalignment, but they come with a range of dietary restrictions that can make it difficult to enjoy a holiday feast. Luckily, you can still savor many delicious flavors if you keep a few simple guidelines in mind. Here’s a quick guide to how you can keep your orthodontic treatment on track during the holidays.

Remember to Practice Excellent Oral Hygiene

The germs that cause harmful oral infections do not go on vacation during the holidays, so you’re going to have to continue practicing excellent oral hygiene. This will include:

• Thoroughly brushing your teeth and braces with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Take special care to clean around the brackets and under the wires where food can easily become lodged. Do this after each meal.
• Carefully flossing after each meal. Use special devices such as floss threaders or water flossers to clean beneath the wires.
• Cleaning between your brackets with an internodal brush.
• Using antibacterial mouthwash.

Drink Plenty of Water

A few popular holiday beverages include coffee, tea, wine, eggnog, and soda pop, and these items can harm your teeth due to being sugary or acidic or having dehydrating effects. It’s always important to make sure your primary beverage is water since it will keep your body hydrated enough for healthy saliva flow and help wash harmful substances like sugar, acid, and dyes away from your teeth.

Be Mindful When Chewing

Munching on hard or chewy items like crusty breads, tough meats, raw fruits and veggies, and nuts can break your brackets loose or bend your wires out of shape. To prevent this, it’s often best to limit your intake of items like these and stick to softer fare like cooked veggies and pasta. However, you can still enjoy some tougher items by cutting them into small pieces so you won’t have to bite into them before chewing. You may even wish to use sauces or gravy to soften up tough cuts of meat.

Don’t let the holiday season force your orthodontic treatment off course. Consulting with your orthodontist will help you understand how to keep your realignment process on track.

About the Practice

San Antonio Smiles Dental & Orthodontics offers the finest oral health services in the area. Led by Dr. Gonzales, the staff ensures that each patient receives exemplary customer care in a friendly and welcoming environment. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as orthodontic services. To learn more about how you can protect your braces from damage, contact the office online or dial (210) 899-5417.