Wearing braces doesn’t have to mean less enjoyment during the holiday season. If you or your child is new to braces, there will be some adjustment, but after that, everything will settle down, and braces will just be part of the festivities, like a guest! And, everyone knows guests deserve special treatment.
It’s important to be even more careful with your braces during the holidays.
Our office will be open over the holidays but we will have more limited availability as we observe the holidays. Additionally, the days we are open tend to be very busy due to the popularity of appointments when school is out of session. We will have emergency appointments but no one wants to have something bothering them on Christmas morning. Take good care of your teeth, your braces and be smart about food choices so that you’re not dealing with an emergency appointment.
Holiday treats
The holidays are full of treats and many of these foods can be very bad for braces. Sticky and sugary foods are already bad because they stay in the mouth longer and even stick in between teeth. For those with braces they increase the risk of not only cavities but also broken appliances.
Sticky sweets can cause all manner of orthodontic and dental issues, like pulling a bracket off a tooth, or a piece getting stuck around the brackets and causing tooth decay and discoloration.
Avoid candy canes
You can use fake candy canes for a festive look but otherwise it may be best to avoid candy canes altogether. This hard candy is a sign of the holiday season, but they don’t do any favors to our teeth. The high sugar content and its ability to get stuck in the grooves of the teeth makes for cavity risk. For those with braces, candy canes have the additional risk of damaged wires or popped brackets.
Consider chocolate instead of caramel
This won’t get any complaints! Chocolates melt in the mouth and are very soft on the teeth. They do have some dangerous sugars (though dark chocolate is better) so limited quantities are appropriate. Just try to avoid chocolate bars with braces-breaking additions like hard wafers, rice krispies, toffee, nuts or nougats.
And here’s a fun treat idea for gatherings: a chocolate fountain. Prepared cubes or slices of apples and pears and berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries) are delicious and healthy! They can be heavenly when dipped in chocolate. When these items are cubed into bite-sized pieces, apples and pears are great for those with braces.
Swish with water while you enjoy this treat. And brush at least twice a day.
Happy holidays!
About Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Specialists of Michigan has specialized in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1968. Our family-friendly and newly renovated office gives patients and families a more comfortable and consistent experience with dentistry from the very beginning. Our pediatric dentists treat children from newborn to 18 years of age while our orthodontists provide care for both children and adults and are proud to be Premier Providers of Invisalign and Invisalign Teen services. We have the ability to treat all patients with compassion and individuality, including those that may have special needs as we have treatment rooms available for children who require additional privacy and customized care options. We pioneered valued hospital affiliations to allow dental services to be performed at DMC Children’s Hospital and St. John Macomb Hospital, when appropriate or necessary, and our specialists are also proud to be on staff at Henry Ford and Beaumont hospitals.
