Navigating The Holidays With Braces & Aligners

The holidays are among us and that means yummy treats and festive events to enjoy with your family and friends. If you’re in orthodontic treatment, you may be concerned about being able to enjoy the holiday festivities without damaging your braces or aligners. Dr. Meagan Sturm of Silver Smiles Orthodontics has some tips to offer for making it through the holiday season without an emergency office visit.

1) Don’t forgo usual oral care even though you may be busier these next few months. Brush often, especially if you find yourself snacking more during the holidays.

2) Pack an on-the-go braces care kit to keep with you while traveling or out holiday shopping or visiting. Items include:

• Travel toothbrush & toothpaste
• Floss or floss picks
• Orthodontic wax
• Rubber bands (be sure to visit one of our offices before traveling if you need to restock)
• Aligner case

3) Remember your list of foods to avoid if you wear braces. Popcorn tins, candy canes, toffee, and tempting treats seem to be all over the place. You will want to indulge, but do not forget which foods can cause damage to your brackets and wires. Anything too hard, sticky, chewy, or crunchy can pull brackets off or bend wires, so be sure to avoid foods like:

• Nuts & nut brittles
• Caramels & taffies
• Candy canes & hard candies
• Crunchy cookies or desserts with nuts
• Popcorn

4) PUT DOWN THE TURKEY LEG! If you wear braces or attachments, avoid foods that you directly need to be like wings, turkey legs, apples, raw carrots & celery. These foods can still be enjoyed while wearing braces in Atlanta or aligners in Atlanta simply by cutting them into small pieces.

Softer foods are your friends and ready to be enjoyed. You don’t have to say no to all the amazing holiday treats that are out there just because you have Snellville braces or attachments. You can still enjoy:

• Pies (pumpkin, apple, cherry, chocolate cream, key lime) and other soft pastries.
• Hot cocoa
• Cupcakes and cakes (with NO NUTS)
• Puddings
• Soft cookies

5) Don’t forget your orthodontic plan. If you wear aligners in Snellville, it may be tempting to keep them out for longer periods during the holidays. Remember, the aligners can only work when they are in your mouth. Avoid putting them on napkins, when you remove them PUT THEM BACK IN THE ALIGNER TRAY. Stick to your wear schedule so your treatment is not delayed at all. The same is true if you wear rubber bands. Those elastics serve an important purpose, so do not forget them in all the holiday bustle. If you are running low, be sure to stock up before the holidays.

The holidays can be a hectic time of year, but your orthodontic treatment shouldn’t have to suffer. By following Dr. Meagan’s tips for the holidays, you’ll be able to enjoy the treats of the season and still keep your treatment on track.

If you are ready to start treatment with us, please request a consultation or contact our office at (770) 230-4271.