At Olson Orthodontics, we believe everyone deserves a healthy smile, and we're proud to help patients throughout Litchfield Park, Verrado, and Buckeye achieve one through comprehensive orthodontic treatment. Modern braces are more lightweight, comfortable, and discreet than their older counterparts, so achieving a new smile with braces is more convenient than ever – but there are still some adjustments to life with braces. One of the biggest changes is that you'll need to avoid certain foods while wearing braces, and that can make it particularly difficult to navigate the holiday season.
Holiday Foods You Can and Can't Eat with Braces
The holidays are a time for all of us to come together and spend quality time with loved ones, and they're also when we get to enjoy many of our favorite treats throughout the year. But if you're celebrating the holiday season with braces, you'll need to be careful about which holiday foods and treats you indulge in. That's because any foods that are hard, crunchy, sticky, or gooey pose a risk of damaging braces, including many holiday favorites. You should always use common sense when determining which foods to avoid with braces, but here are a few common holiday treats you should be sure to steer clear of this year:
- Candy canes
- Caramels
- Chestnuts or other nuts
- Cookies, brownies, and cakes that contain nuts
- Peanut brittle
- Pecan pie
- Gingerbread cookies
- Taffy
- Jelly beans
While these and any other hard or sticky holiday foods are a no go, that doesn't mean everything is off-limits. Here are some braces-friendly treats that are perfectly safe to enjoy during the holidays:
- Hot cocoa
- Toasted marshmallows
- Milk chocolate & soft chocolates
- Soft brownies & cookies
- Hershey's kisses
- Cupcakes
- Pumpkin pie
Contact Your Buckeye & Verrado, AZ Orthodontist
We hope this list helps you navigate the holiday season while keeping your braces safe and healthy, but if you still have questions, we're always here to help. Contact us today to learn more about which foods you should and shouldn't eat with braces or to schedule a check-up appointment with us. We can't wait to hear from you, and we wish you the best in keeping your braces and teeth healthy this holiday season!