From decorating trees to selecting gifts for our loved ones, the winter holidays are a wonderfully festive time of year that you probably anticipate with excitement.
Whether you're unwrapping gifts or finishing off Christmas dinner, there's one part of the holiday season you always look forward to… indulging in your favorite salty and sweet desserts.
Unfortunately, for those wearing braces that contain metal brackets and archwires, many of these treats simply aren’t an option.
If you have metal braces or are considering the pros and cons of investing in this orthodontic treatment, it’s important to know what to steer clear of if you want to avoid an emergency trip to the orthodontist.
Here are five desserts to avoid this holiday season if you wear metal braces...
#1. Nuts
From nut brittle to chocolate-covered peanuts, nuts can be tasty protein-packed treats.
However, eating nuts with metal braces can be risky as they are hard, crunchy and can become stuck between wires and your back teeth.
Taking time to pick out the pieces can be painstakingly long – and dealing with a broken bracket or wire when many dental practices are closed isn’t the way you want to spend your holidays.
#2. Popcorn
Unlike nuts, popcorn isn’t all that hard, and you may be wondering why it could be a potential problem.
The problematic part of popcorn is its husks and hulls.
Even without wearing braces made of metal, these small pieces of the popcorn can easily get stuck between your teeth – imagine attempting to get the pieces out with the added complication of wires and brackets!
Additionally, sneaky unpopped kernels hidden amongst the popped popcorn could end up in your next mouthful, leading to a broken bracket or an archwire popping loose.
#3. Chocolate-covered pretzels
Chocolate-covered pretzels can be a winning treat if you enjoy the salty and sweet combination of flavours.
However, pretzels can be hard and with the added layer of chocolate, their surface is even tougher on your teeth.
If you’re wearing braces, and you simply can’t survive the holidays without satisfying your craving for pretzels, you’ll need to go for a soft pretzel option.
#4. Hard sweets and cookies
As with nuts, certain sweets can be too hard on metal braces.
Whether it be candy canes or M&M-filled cookies, aim to steer clear of hard sweets and cookies.
Instead, find other alternatives such as cake, sponge puddings, mousses and ice cream to satisfy your holiday sweet tooth.
#5. Chewy sweets
At the other end of the spectrum from hard sweets, there’s another risky dessert if you are wearing braces with brackets and wires—chewy sweets, such as caramels, gummies and toffee.
These types of sweets are difficult to clean from your brackets and wires, and can cause wire damage and loosen brackets.
The last thing you want is to carry a conversation with metal braces filled with bits of sweets that can’t be easily removed.
During festivities, missing out on these delicious desserts can dampen your holiday spirit and create unnecessary complications during special meals.
The good news is that there is a superb alternative to traditional metal braces that allows you to indulge in the luxury of eating your favorite holiday treats—without damaging your orthodontic treatment or risking embarrassment during meals.
Instead of wearing metal braces, choose Invisalign.
Invisalign’s clear aligners are a convenient teeth-straightening option that allows you to live your life without the restrictions that come along with metal braces.
To correct your smile, you’ll receive a series of nearly invisible and removable aligners that are custom made for you.
With Invisalign, you can remove the aligners while you eat your favorite foods and easily maintain clean teeth and optimal dental hygiene throughout the whole treatment process.
Not to mention, unlike traditional metal braces, you don’t have to worry about wires and brackets, allowing you to radiate confidence as you smile.
If you’re interested in choosing Invisalign over metal braces or switching from metal braces to Invisalign, and would like to learn more, click here to locate your nearest MiSmile Invisalign provider.
