Braces-friendly Christmas treats

Delicious treats might have been an important part of the Christmas fun for you before getting braces. However, there are some Christmas snacks that could damage your braces resulting in costly repairs.

In this post, we’ll look at foods to avoid to if you have braces, as well as Christmas foods you can safely enjoy.

Food that should be avoided if you have braces

Generally, people with braces should avoid hard, chewy, sticky, and crunchy treats. These include:

  • liquorice
  • bubblegum
  • chewing gum
  • caramel
  • toffee
  • jelly sweets
  • popcorn
  • hard pretzels

If in doubt, don’t risk anything that you think could potentially damage a brace.

Treats that can be safely enjoyed with braces

Try experimenting with healthy foods at home that are brace-friendly, healthy and still look appealing!

Reindeer Cheese

  1. Take a soft cheese triangle; the narrow point will make the reindeer nose.
  2. Cut strips of yellow pepper and push them into the wide “head” of the soft cheese triangle.
  3. Use two small pieces of diced olive to make the reindeer’s eyes
  4. Cut a cherry tomato in half and use it for Rudolph’s nose.

Marshmallow Snowmen

  1. Melt some white chocolate in the microwave
  2. Push a skewer or straw through three marshmallows to make up a body of a snowman
  3. Dip the marshmallows in the melted chocolate
  4. Quickly, before the white chocolate sets, press chocolate chips into the top marshmallow to make the eyes.
  5. Cut off a tiny piece of carrot for his nose – keep it really small so that it doesn’t damage a brace bracket

Christmas Tree Brownie Lollipops

  1. Make brownies and cut them into triangles
  2. Spread green icing on them so they look like trees
  3. Use sprinkles for baubles
  4. Push a bright, stiff straw into one edge of the triangle to form your lollipop stick.

Strawberry Banana Candy Cane

  1. Cut strawberries and bananas into 2cm slices
  2. Place them on a plate, alternating between fruits, and make them into a cane shape.

A reminder of good oral hygiene with braces

After you’ve eaten holiday treats (or any meal), it’s important they remember their oral hygiene. You should:

  • Rinse your mouth with water after meals and sugary treats
  • Brush at the gum line at a 45-degree angle. We recommend using a brush specially designed for brace wearers
  • Then, place the toothbrush on top of the brackets, angling down to brush on top of each bracket
  • Then, you can angle the toothbrush up toward the bottom of each bracket
  • Dental floss is also a useful addition to any oral hygiene routine

Conclusion

Eating healthily and sticking to foods that will protect braces can be challenging at most times and especially difficult during Christmas. If you ensure you look after your braces and clean them, and you have a selection of other, fun and festive treats available, this should make the process easier.

They will end up with the greatest treat of all – an amazing, healthy smile!

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  • paul