The Smart Way to Eat Thanksgiving Dinner With Braces
Before you stuff your mouth with the many Thanksgiving foods and treats covering your kitchen table, it’s best that you eat the right foods and treats that will not damage your teeth and braces. But how do you know which foods are good and which ones are bad? Well, we are here to help you! We have provided the following tips to help you care for your smile and appliance all while enjoying your favorite Thanksgiving foods:
Main meal
Your main Thanksgiving meats, like turkey and ham, are generally acceptable. However, it’s best to cut the meats into small, bitable pieces before you eat them. Doing so will reduce your chances of damaging your braces and breaking your brackets and wires. You can also eat foods like casserole, salad, and sauces as long as they do not contain nuts or other crunchy ingredients.
Sides
Please avoid biting into foods like corn on the cob, apples, and raw carrots. If you bite into these foods, the pressure will pull the brackets off your teeth. However, you can still eat these things. Just make sure you cut them into small pieces and you cut the corn off the cob before you eat it. Some orthodontic-friendly sides include mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, green beans, cornbread muffins, and sweet potatoes. These sides are soft and easy on the teeth.
Desserts
Sugary treats are not good for your teeth or braces; however, if you are going to indulge in the sweets of Thanksgiving, we recommend brushing your teeth 30 minutes after you eat them. Also, try not to eat the desserts that have nuts or crunchy ingredients. The best desserts to eat include pumpkin pie, chocolate mousse pie, and sweet potato pie.
If you are smart about the foods you eat this Thanksgiving, you are on the right track! However, if you are not and you end up damaging your appliance, please call our office and schedule an appointment. We don’t want your Thanksgiving dinner to set back your orthodontic treatment time.
Call our office now if you have any questions or if you would like to learn more!