Holiday Season with Braces: Your Culinary Survival Guide

Introduction

Christmas and New Year's are fast approaching, bringing family gatherings, lavish buffets, and tables overflowing with delicious treats! If you wear braces, don't panic: with a few simple adjustments, you can fully enjoy the festivities while protecting your appliance and your smile-in-progress.

As an orthodontic assistant at Centre Orthodontique du Dr David Benguira, I'm sharing my best tips for navigating the holidays stress-free!

Foods to Avoid (Even if They're Tempting!)

🍬 Candies and Sweets

• Candy canes and hard candies: They can break your brackets or bend the wires
• Caramels and nougat: Their sticky texture clings to appliances and can pop off brackets
• Taffy and toffee: A holiday classic, but way too sticky for braces!

🥜 Nuts and Hard Dried Fruits

Whole nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts) found in so many holiday recipes can damage your appliance. Alternative: Opt for almond or hazelnut butter on your morning toast!

🍖 Tough Meats

Dry turkey or overcooked meat can put excessive pressure on your braces. Tip: Choose the most tender parts and cut them into small pieces.

🍿 Popcorn

A must-have for Christmas movie nights, but unpopped kernels are bracket enemy number one! Also be careful with overly crunchy chips.

Delights You CAN Enjoy

✅ Starters and Main Courses

• Soups and cream soups: Lobster bisque, butternut squash soup... delicious and safe!
• Creamy mashed dishes: Potatoes, sweet potatoes, root vegetables
• Salmon and tender fish: Excellent protein source, easy to chew
• Tender turkey with gravy: The gravy keeps the meat moist
• Meatball stew: A classic that's braces-friendly!

✅ Approved Desserts

• Moist Yule log: Avoid ones with whole nuts
• Chocolate mousse: A delight that melts in your mouth
• Crème brûlée: Creamy and risk-free (watch the sugar crust!)
• Pumpkin pie: Soft and creamy, perfect!
• Cooked fruits: Baked apples, wine-poached pears

My 5 Tips for Stress-Free Holidays

1. Bring your emergency kit
   Travel toothbrush, dental floss, orthodontic wax, and interdental brushes. You'll be prepared for anything!
2. Cut, cut, cut!
   Apples, raw carrots, baguette... everything can be eaten if cut into small pieces and chewed with your molars.
3. Brush your teeth after every meal
   Food residue stuck in braces can cause cavities and decalcification. 2-3 minutes of brushing is enough!
4. Keep water handy
   A good rinse between courses helps dislodge food particles.
5. When in doubt, skip it
   A bracket popping off on Christmas Eve? Not ideal! Better to pass on a questionable food.

In Case of Emergency During the Holidays

If despite all your precautions a wire pokes you or a bracket comes loose, don't panic!

• Use orthodontic wax to cover irritating areas
• If a wire is sticking out, you can carefully trim it with clean nail clippers
• Contact the Orthodontic Center as soon as it reopens for an appointment

Conclusion

Holidays with braces are totally manageable! With a little preparation and these tips in mind, you'll fully enjoy the celebrations while taking care of your treatment.

Remember: every day with your braces brings you closer to your perfect smile. That's worth a few adjustments to the holiday menu!

Happy Holidays from the entire team at Centre Orthodontique du Dr David Benguira! 🎄✨

Do you have questions about your treatment during the holidays? Don't hesitate to contact us!

Centre Orthodontique Queen Mary (Montreal): (514) 484-3718
Centre Orthodontique Rive Nord (St-Eustache): (450) 983-4233

www.monorthodontiste.org