You might be wondering how to make the most of the holiday season if this is your first winter with braces. For happy and safe festive smiles, our doctors and team at GSO Orthodontics have some ideas.
Enjoy your holiday favorites
Winter means delicious holiday treats, and that doesn’t mean you need to move away from the holiday table only because you wear braces! If you remember to scan your list for the normal trouble foods, you will enjoy your favorites. Foods that are hard, crunchy, chewy, and sticky fall on the Naughty List.
• Crunchy raw vegetables
• Nuts
• Hard rolls
• Candy canes and other hard candy
• Caramels, Toffee and other sticky treats
• Pecan pie
• Fruit cake
Fortunately, there are still plenty of braces friendly options. For the main course opt for Turkey and ham, but remember, small pieces are best.
• Dressing and stuffing
• Mashed potatoes
• Soft breads and rolls
• Pumpkin pie
• Cheesecake
• Soft cookies and cakes
• Soft chocolates
Show off your colors
At GSO Orthodontics we are pleased to include tips for holiday food that won’t damage your braces. And this season, we don’t expect you to turn down any sweet treat. Just be sure that if you like anything sugary, brush carefully after indulging.
Don’t forget that your ligatures can be festive as well as practical when you’re decking the halls, or pinning up New Year’s balloons and streamers, or even picking a great holiday outfit.
• Red and green rubber bands on your brackets are fun and festive when celebrating Christmas.
• Celebrating Hanukkah? Show off your white and blue bands!
• All about winter? Silver and pale blues are a wintery color scheme and can also have the advantage of making your teeth appear whiter. Considering white rubber bands? The idea is great, but often white bands may make teeth look yellow or become stained themselves.
• New Year’s Glam? Gold brings sparkle to your smile, but your teeth will bring out some yellow tones. Silver may be the ideal choice, since it is usually neutral with enamel colors.
For the best possible options for your teeth, check out our ligature colors. To build a new, confident look for the season, take advantage of these choices. Give the gift of your smile to others!
Take care of yourself
Winter brings some special dental health reminders for yourself.
• Winter sports are an ideal way to enjoy the snow and ice, just make sure your teeth and braces are covered. Speak to us about why a mouth guard is so important if you enjoy skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, hockey, or any other winter sport.
• Don’t forget to keep up with your dental routine while you enjoy your winter break. And because it’s the season for holiday treats, after sweet desserts and snacks, be particularly careful to clean your teeth and braces. And do not forget to floss!
• Did you know that hot chocolate and cold breezes can cause tooth sensitivity? Although some sensitivity is natural after a change, give us a call if you discover that you experience tooth sensitivity more frequently or more intensely than you normally do. It might be anything as easy as brushing habits, or you might need to see your dentist.
In this or any other season, if you have any questions about your braces, just ask when you visit our office in Atlanta or Gwinnett. You can make this the most wonderful time of the year with your healthy and confident smile!
