These three things are definite during the holidays: you’ll have access to many friends, family, and food! The first two won’t interfere with your orthodontic treatment, but when it comes to food, you may have to hold back to keep your braces in good condition.
Your dentist doesn’t want you to have to go without all the tasty treats this holiday season, so we’ve compiled a few yummy alternatives for you to enjoy if you have braces in Canfield.
Why Patients with Braces Need Healthy Holiday Snacks
Not only is orthodontic damage something to worry about, but one of the hidden culprits of the holidays is the amount of sugar that’s consumed at the end of the year. Sugar directly catalyzes tooth decay, weakening your teeth.
This is especially dangerous for patients that have braces because your smile loses its strength and your teeth can also become discolored around your brackets and wire with large amounts of plaque buildup.
Here are some alternatives that you can enjoy from your orthodontist in Canfield.
Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries
You don’t have to sacrifice the sweetness of chocolate just because you’re straightening your teeth. Try combining the natural sugars of fruits like strawberries with a healthier alternative like dark chocolate.
In fact, recent studies found in Japan, England, and the United States state that dark chocolate is effective in fighting cavities, plaque, and tooth decay in the mouth. How? The compounds found in cocoa beans have an anti-bacterial effect to halt bacteria buildup. Some claim that dark chocolate may be more effective in fighting tooth decay than some fluoride treatments!
Oatmeal Cookies
Not only is oatmeal better for you than traditional sugar cookies, you can reduce the amount of sugar in this delectable treat by substituting applesauce for white cane sugar. If this may not be sweet enough for you to enjoy, try sprinkling in dark chocolate chips within your cookie dough.
Holiday Trail Mix
Although your orthodontist recommends limiting the number of crunchy foods to snack on, not all crunchy foods are bad. For instance, try replacing almonds in your trail mix with softer walnuts. Mix in your favorite dried berries like cranberries (even the sweet yogurt covered kind), and a delicious dried cereal like Honey Nut Cheerios, and a small amount of holiday colored candies.
The Bottom Line
Your dentist wants your orthodontic treatment to be successful without you having to sacrifice your favorite parts of the holidays. Be careful with what you choose to eat, keeping your braces in mind. Above all else, make sure to brush and floss your teeth thoroughly after you get a taste of these healthier alternatives. All food can become lodged between your brackets and wires, so it’s important to take your time to remove those leftover particles.
Ask your dentist for more yummy suggestions during your next dental appointment.
About Our Office
Here at Mikolich Orthodontics, we take pride in helping each of our patients reach their straightening goals. Our caring dental team has years of training and experience working with a variety of straightening treatments and we offer only the best options for our patients. You can be confident that we’ll provide the best advice to help you throughout your treatment. Feel free to call us today!