The holiday season is full of festive meals, sweet treats, and family traditions—and having braces doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the fun! With a few smart choices, you can enjoy your favorite dishes while keeping your treatment on track and avoiding unnecessary discomfort or orthodontic emergencies. Here are a few key tips you should keep in mind.
1. Stick to Braces-Friendly Food When You Can
Many holiday staples are naturally soft and safe for braces, and will be much easier on your brackets and wires. Fill your plate with foods such as:
- Mashed potatoes
- Stuffing
- Turkey or ham (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- Steamed or boiled vegetables
- Casseroles
- Soft breads and rolls
2. Brush & Floss After Big Meals
With holiday foods, especially sticky or starchy dishes, it’s important to remember that oral hygiene still matters once you’re done eating. Be sure that you’re brushing thoroughly after your meals, especially after dinner and before going to bed. Likewise, don’t skip flossing—it’s just as important as brushing, since your braces can easily trap food particles. Use a water flosser or floss threaders if traditional floss is too difficult to manipulate.
3. Pack a To-Go Braces Kit
Whether you’re traveling across state or country lines for the holiday season, or simply spending a little more time than usual out and about with friends and family, it’s wise to take a to-go braces kit with you. This doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but you never know when you might need to brush, clean, or care for braces while you’re away from home. This also means that if unexpected snacking happens while you’re out, you’ll still be able to keep your braces clean!
4. Avoid Hazardous Holiday Foods
Some traditional holiday dishes and treats can lead to popped wires, broken brackets, or other issues that might affect your orthodontic treatment. Try to skip foods that are hard or crunchy, like nuts, hard breads, and raw vegetables. Sticky or chewy items, such as caramel, taffy, and pie filling, can also pose a threat to braces, since they can leave small particles trapped under the brackets and wires. Items that are too tough, like bone-in ribs, chicken, or fish, can also potentially damage your braces. A simple rule of thumb is, if it might bend, pull, or crack your braces, wait until next year!
With a little extra planning, along with a few mindful choices, navigating the holiday season with braces is very much possible!
About the Practice
Under the talented leadership of Dr. Sam Alkhoury, Dr. Amir Tiam, and Dr. Jamie Moon, our team here at Simply Orthodontics Worcester has proudly served the needs of patients and families in Worcester and the surrounding communities for several years. We offer a wide variety of orthodontic services for patients of all ages, including tried-and-true traditional metal braces. If you have any questions about the blog or you need to schedule an appointment for yourself or a loved one, please reach out online or call today for more information. Telephone: (508) 757-3173.
