Sometimes, people with braces can feel a little bit left out over the holidays. You might think you can’t enjoy your favorite foods with the people you love, but in reality, there’s plenty you can indulge in this time of year. If you use a little bit of discretion, you should still be able to have fun over the holidays. Here’s how to feast safely, so you can enjoy the festivities without popping a bracket.
Eat Softer Foods
Even without doing any special preparation, there are many holiday staples that should be soft enough to eat without issues. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, baked carrots, and squash are all soft enough to indulge in safely.
Use Gravy
For tougher meats, it might be good to use gravy to soften up your food. This holiday staple is bound to be on the table anyway, so why not take advantage of it? Slice your dinner into smaller pieces and slather it with gravy. Wait for a few moments, and even tougher foods should be soft enough to eat.
Eat Slowly
There are plenty of foods that aren’t problematic in themselves but contain little surprises that can damage your teeth. Chicken drumsticks are usually soft enough to eat, but their bones can be a massive problem if you bite down on them. It’s best to chew slowly and to take your time. That way, there’s a much lower chance of accidents.
Get a Dental Travel Kit
If you’re eating some things that may not be best for your braces, it’s a good idea to brush afterwards. However, fishing around in a suitcase for a toothbrush and toothpaste is a little unpleasant, and the inconvenience can make it difficult to commit to brushing regularly. Some people don’t even bother to bring dental hygiene tools when they travel for this reason.
If you want to make taking care of your teeth easy, you can invest in a travel dental kit. These can be found at any supermarket, and they contain travel-sized toothbrushes, floss, dental wax, and mouthwash. These kits are small enough to carry with you anywhere, so you’ll be able to maintain your braces wherever you go.
As you can see, braces don’t have to make the holidays less enjoyable. Keep these few tips in mind, and you can indulge in your favorite foods safely. Your orthodontist will be sure to thank you.
About the Author
Dr. Marissa Mikolich has over a decade of experience as an orthodontist, and in that time she’s helped thousands of patients get straighter smiles. To this day, her favorite part of the job is seeing someone’s face when the braces finally come off. Dr. Mikolich received her doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania College of Dentistry, and she continues her education to this day. If you have any questions about eating with braces, she can be reached at her website or by phone at (330) 967-4110.