It is that lovely time of year again! To celebrate the fun holiday cheer, there’s no reason why having braces should stop you from being a part of the fun holiday treats. There are definitely certain treats and snacks you should avoid with braces, but there are plenty of alternatives that will still satisfy your cravings without interfering with your orthodontic treatment! So if you’ve been wondering what Christmas desserts you can indulge in that are safe for braces, keep reading! We at Align Orthodontics have compiled some helpful information as well as a list of tasty treats you can still enjoy during the holidays even with your braces!

Some Guidelines for enjoying your holiday treats with braces

Generally, consuming a healthy diet packed with good nutrition is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and smile. Sugary foods should be consumed sparingly or avoided as much as possible during your braces treatment, but you can still get away with enjoying some of your favorite treats this season! To get the best of both worlds, read below to get some great treats to eat and what to avoid this winter.

Holiday sweets in moderation

It’s okay to make an exception for sweets every now and then, if eaten in moderation! Try not to eat treats that aren’t too hard, sticky or chewy:

1. Marshmallows

2. Frosted sugar cookies without sprinkles

3. Hot cocoa

4. Brownies

5. Strawberry cheesecake

6. Cupcakes

7. Hershey’s kisses

8. Ice cream

Related: 5 Crucial Braces Life Hacks

Holiday sweets to steer clear of

Try your best to stay away from any sugary foods that are too hard, crunchy, sticky, or chewy because biting on these type of foods can bend or break metal brackets or cause other damages to your braces. Avoid foods like:

1. Peanut brittle

2. Caramel

3. Anything with nuts

4. Popcorn (big braces no-no!)

5. Candy canes

6. Gingerbread cookies

7. Taffy

8. Hard pretzels

Festive Braces-friendly Treats

Not to worry, you can still make it work without having to risk harming your braces by taking extra care of your oral hygiene. A great tip to keep in mind while enjoying your sugary snacks is to maintain portion control, and to rinse your mouth with water after eating. Brushing twice a day is also important during this sweet-filled winter. There are also other great holiday treats that are braces-friendly that you can make with your friends and family to get into the holiday spirit! Take a look at the list below for some great ideas:

1. Strawberry Whipped Cream Santas

To make these almost-too-cute-to-eat santas, simply slice off the large end of a strawberry to help it stand upright, as well as cut a quarter off the tip of the strawberry to create your santa hat. Squeeze some whipped cream on the body of your strawberry santa. Add two chocolate chips on the whip cream to create the eyes, and place the santa hat on top of your santa. Add some whipped cream on the tip of your santa’s hat as well as well as a few dabs down the body of the santa to make the buttons and your strawberry santa is ready to eat!

2. Marshmallow snowmen cupcakes

For this yummy and festive treat, skewer 3 regular-sized marshmallows together with a stiff straw or wooden skewer, and heat up some white chocolate candy melts in the microwave. Dip your marshmallow snowman into the melted white chocolate to get full coverage. Before your snowman sets, add two chocolate chips to the top part of the snowman for the  eyes. You can also add a tiny cut out carrot and attach for the nose (optional). Repeat steps to create a whole little army of snowmen and enjoy!

3. Christmas Tree Brownie Cake Pops

Cut some premade brownies into triangles, for your tree. Push some lollipop sticks about halfway through the bottom of your tree. Decorate your tree triangles with lines of frosting to create tinsel, and add some sprinkles for thr the christmas tree lights and you’re done!

The holidays are here for you to enjoy, with or without braces! Don’t let your limits from having braces dampen your holiday spirit. A little moderation, practicing good dental hygiene, and improvising will do the trick! Try to avoid the sticky, hard, chewy treats that might cause some problems for your braces and you’re golden. If you have any questions, make sure you contact Align Orthodontics for more information! We are more than happy to help. If you are interested in receiving orthodontic treatment in San Diego CA,  schedule your consultation here. Wishing a warm and happy holiday season from the staff of Align Orthodontics to you!

Related: 7 Best Foods for Your Teeth