During the holidays, your friends and family will gather around a table to celebrate the season. While you may have been excited about all the yummy dishes you can indulge in, it can be challenging if you have dental braces.
What you should know about how to eat with dental braces is that with the proper foods and techniques, you can effectively enjoy the holidays – and maintain a healthy mouth!
Take some time to read this article to learn about food options for what to eat when wearing braces. An orthodontist can also guide you depending on the type of braces you have. The following food options are perfect for eating with dental braces.
1- Soft and Sliced Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are healthy foods that are great to eat with braces and pretty easy to incorporate into a holiday meal. Slice them on a food slicer or knife to prepare fruit and vegetables.
The softer the fruit or vegetable is, the better it will be for you to eat with braces. That’s because the softer a food is, the more easily it can slide around your mouth and out of the way of your teeth.
2- Salads
Salads are a healthy option for eating with braces. You can create a salad by choosing your favorite vegetables, mixing some lettuce, and then dressing it. If you order a salad at a restaurant, be sure to ask for dressing on the side so that you can control how much you use.
3- Eggs
Eggs are a perfect food to eat with braces. They are soft foods that are very easy to eat, and they are also great for oral hygiene because they help keep your teeth clean. There are different ways to prepare egg dishes when it comes to eating with braces.
For example, you can use a fork and gently break the yolk into smaller pieces that you can place in your mouth.
4- Soft Cheeses
Cheese is an excellent food for you to eat, even with braces. That’s because the softer cheeses, like brie and camembert, will be easier to chew. The soft cheeses also will be easier to swallow so that they do not slide around your mouth.
5- Soft-Baked Cookies
Cookies are another food that can be enjoyed with braces. You can buy crunchy, soft-baked cookies like Oreos. You can also make your cookies using a piping bag and making small dough rounds.
6- Cooked Carrots
Carrots are another food that can be eaten with braces. You can choose to cut them into sticks or eat them whole if they are cooked.
7- Salmon or Other Fish
Fish is another food to eat with braces. That’s because it is a good source of protein and iron and can also be a source of B-12 vitamins. Not all fish are good for you when you have braces.
If you choose to eat fish at a restaurant while wearing braces, make sure that you ask the waiter how the fish is cooked and whether or not it contains bones.