Happy holidays! The most festive time of the year is here, but that shouldn’t interrupt your journey to a healthy, aligned smile. Our Hutta & Cook Orthodontics team would like to give you some strategies to take care of your smile in the midst of festivities.
Here are Dr. Hutta and Dr. Cook’s top three tips for safe and healthy braces during the holiday season!
1. Watch your diet.
Candy, sweets, and indulging are a big part of the holiday season. Candy canes, gumdrops, and sugar cookies are everywhere. However, we encourage you to be mindful of what you are consuming and take care of your braces or aligners! Avoid hard candies as well as gooey or chewy sweets, such as candy canes, licorice, or caramel. Hard candies can bend braces, and gooey ones can get stuck in them. Soft sweets, like chocolate bars and sugar cookies, are okay as they are easy on the teeth and braces. Just remember to brush and floss!
2. Stay safe in the snow.
With the colder weather here, you may be eager to enjoy some socially-distanced outdoor sports. But be careful! If you have braces, an otherwise inconsequential trip or fall can be problematic for your mouth. Before you hop on that sled, gear up! Wear a mouthguard to protect your braces, teeth, tongue, and cheek from injuries or damage. Sports, such as skiing, skating, or snowboarding, can all cause lacerations, broken braces, or dental trauma, so protective gear is paramount! And if you start an impromptu snowball fight, lay out some ground rules first—like not throwing snowballs at anyone’s face. You wouldn’t want to deal with a bent wire or cut up cheek over the holiday!
3. Don’t skip your good habits.
During this season, your schedule may look different than usual. However, don’t let that disrupt your orthodontic habits! Patients who have retainers or aligners need to continue wearing their trays as instructed. And every patient needs to maintain healthy oral hygiene habits throughout the holiday. There may be a break from work or school, but there is never a break from caring for your teeth!
With these tips in mind, you’ll enjoy a wonderful, smile-friendly holiday. From all of us at Hutta & Cook Orthodontics, we wish you a happy and festive season! If you have more questions or if you would like to set up an appointment with our team, please call us today.