Surviving the Holidays With Braces

The holiday season is the best time for sweets and treats. Unfortunately, this can be a little difficult for those who wear braces. At Kurt Kavanaugh Orthodontics, we want to make sure your orthodontic treatment continually works and straightens your teeth appropriately, avoiding any and all orthodontic issues, especially during the holidays. The last thing you want to do is come into the orthodontist’s office to fix a bracket or a wire on your braces. To survive the holidays with braces, Dr. Kurt Kavanaugh and his staff have put together a list of rules to follow this holiday season. Follow our guidance and you will have a stress-free, fun-filled holiday season, free of orthodontic problems! For questions, never hesitate to contact our Kansas City or Sedalia orthodontist office.

Foods To Avoid Throughout the Holidays

As always, there are some specific foods that you should not eat while wearing braces, as they may damage your wires and brackets, putting your orthodontic treatment at risk. This is especially important throughout the holidays because we know the temptations are high. Try to avoid eating the following foods:

• Hard Foods: any type of hard foods can damage your braces. Foods to remember this holiday season: veggie platters (cut your vegetables into bite size pieces), nuts - beware of the ones covered in chocolate, and hard candies - this can be in the form of candy canes!
• Sticky or Chewy Foods: sticky and chewy foods are horrible for braces. They will pull on your brackets and cause unwanted damage. Avoid candies and desserts with caramel, toffee, and taffy. Remember - during the holidays, these foods may be masked with chocolate and actually have a caramel center!
• Crunchy Foods: crunchy foods can be sneaky and some of the biggest culprits can cause a lot of damage. Look out for extra crunchy pizza crust or bread, pretzels, and ice! All of these can strain your brackets and/or wires.

The Good News

Although there are some precautions you must take this holiday season, there is some good news! You do not need to miss out on all the holiday desserts and treats. We recommend eating pudding, JELL-O, ice cream, and soft cakes or cookies. All of these desserts are easy to manage while wearing braces and will not damage your brackets or wires.

Contact Your Kansas City & Sedalia Orthodontist Today!