Holiday Foods & Braces: The “Naughty” and “Nice” List

Your tree is trimmed, your ugly Christmas sweater is ready to go, and you have the red and green rubber bands on your braces to match! You’re ready for Christmas!

Visions of savory menudo and sweet treats like sugar cookies and candy canes are dancing in your head…yum!

But before you take that first bite, remember that several holiday foods are still off-limits if you have braces. After all, a broken bracket, damaged wire, or mouth injury can end your celebration faster than you can say “ho, ho, ho”! And a dental emergency is the last thing you’ll want to happen when most medical offices are closed for the holidays.

Therefore, we’ve put together a “naughty” and “nice” list to help you enjoy some of the most wonderful foods of the year as safely as possible, with braces:

THE “NICE” LIST: SAFE HOLIDAY FOODS FOR THOSE WITH BRACES

Hot Chocolate
Egg-Nog
Tamales
Empanadas
Roscas & pan dulce
Menudo & pozole
Turkey
Ham
Pasta
Soft cheeses
Chocolate covered strawberries and soft fruits

THE “NAUGHTY” LIST: UNSAFE HOLIDAY FOODS FOR THOSE WITH BRACES

Hard candies like candy canes
Buñuelos
Ojarascas or other crunchy/hard cookies
Peanut brittle
Caramel desserts (anything sticky)
Fruit cake (anything with nuts)
Meat on the bone, such as ribs
Raw veggies (like on a veggie platter, apples or carrots)

Having braces shouldn’t stop you from enjoying your favorite holiday antojitos, if you choose the right ones. By taking just a few of these precautions, you’ll be unwrapping a beautiful, healthy smile in no time!

The Smile Shoppe

Still have questions about safe holiday foods for braces, or want to learn more about achieving a perfect smile? Contact us today for a complimentary consultation at (956) 568-5525 or follow us on Facebook and Instagram @SmileShoppeOrtho.

Happy Holidays!

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