November 16, 2018
Eat and Enjoy: Approaching Your Thanksgiving Meal with Braces
Tender teeth may feel like a hindrance on a holiday where all you want to do is sink your teeth into your family feast. But from turkey to corn on the cob to every other classic side dish and dessert, we want to assure you that your braces don’t have to get in the way of your holiday enjoyment! However, if you’re beginning to sweat over how to navigate the Thanksgiving table this time around, we’re here to give you some food for thought on how to formulate a successful plan of attack:
Dive Into These Dishes:
Mashed Potatoes Soft, filling, easy to clean out of your braces, and buttery? Perfect! Mashed potatoes are the ideal Thanksgiving food for anyone wearing braces!
- Turkey and Ham – Who could steer clear of the Thanksgiving classic? Your family’s centerpiece turkey is safe to eat so long as you avoid bones and cut your slices into smaller pieces.
- Bread – So long as your bread or muffins don’t have a tough crust to crunch through, feel free to butter and bite away! Also be sure, however, that there are no added nuts or other hard and potentially damaging foods in the mix.
- Green Bean Casserole – A cooked classic side dish, green bean casserole and other vegetables will be safe so long as they’re cooked and soft. After all, we all need something a little green thrown into our meal!
Plan Around These Plates:
- Corn on the Cob – Sorry, but corn on the cob is likely to do damage to your wires and brackets when you bite straight into it. Unless you’re eating corn pieces that have been cut off and cooked, you’ll need to lay of the cob.
- Certain Salad Toppings – While salad in and of itself should be fine to eat, be sure that you don’t top it with any croutons, nuts, or hard vegetables. They are all likely to be too hard for your braces, so stick with softer toppings and salad dressings.
- Caramel apples – A common Thanksgiving dessert, caramel apples are a nightmare if you wear braces. The caramel is tough and will be nearly impossible to clean off, and apples that aren’t cut up are simply too hard to bite into. We recommend sticking to pie or ice cream.
- Chips and Popcorn – Bits and kernels will get stick behind your brackets—if not do damage—and they can even cut painfully into your gums if they get stuck between your teeth. Try to avoid these salty snacks on Thanksgiving and opt instead for cheese and meat slices or creamy dips.
If you still have some Thanksgiving-related questions on what you can (or can’t) eat, or if you just need some maintenance following your holiday feast, be sure to call us here at Southshore Orthodontics! Not only do we strive to provide excellent results and exceptional service in a welcoming environment, but we are also committed to offering a personalized approach to your experience, so schedule an appointment with us today!