The holiday season is upon us. Between the lights, gift-giving, and family celebrations, there is a lot to look forward to. It can be easy to get wrapped up in the busyness that we all feel this time of year, however, it is still important to make sure you are taking care of yourself, including your braces. Hoskinson Orthodontics is here with a few helpful tricks and reminders to ensure that you and your braces have a very happy holiday season.
Read on to learn more, and if you are in the Scotia, NY, area and are looking for orthodontic treatment, contact Hoskinson Orthodontics today!
The Basics
When it comes to your orthodontic health, it is imperative that you remember the basics. This solid foundation will keep your teeth bright and healthy year-round, but with all the eating and sweets that come with the holidays, it is even more critical this time of year.
Brushing and flossing twice daily will always be an important part of your day-to-day life, however, when you add orthodontics into the mix this becomes even more vital. Having a solid brushing and flossing routine will ensure that your braces are strong, clean, and healthy, and will cut out those emergency visits to your orthodontist to reattach a broken brace.
Tips & Tricks
Although brushing and flossing is the most important thing to remember for your orthodontic health this holiday season (and beyond), there are also some other things you can do that will help.
Traveling
Many of us travel for the holidays, and packing can be extra stressful due to how busy transportation can get during the season. If you are traveling, along with all your normal toiletries, remember to always bring extra bands, wax, or anything else that you may need for your braces in a pinch. Remember, it is always better to have it, and not need it than need it and not have it!
Eating
Next to Thanksgiving, the winter holidays are the easiest to get carried away with our comfort foods. We are not saying to skip out on your holiday dinner, instead consider how you eat. Taking smaller bites is a great way to make sure the stress on your braces is minimized.
Things to Avoid
You hear it all the time, but making sure you are avoiding certain kinds of food is drastically essential for the health of your braces. As a good rule of thumb, popcorn as well as hard and sticky foods are the main culprits here. That includes hard candies, nuts, and even jerky. Keeping these out of your holiday diet will help you stay out of the orthodontist office this season.
Indulge
Although it may seem like having braces means you can’t eat any of the things you enjoy, but there are plenty of delicious foods to indulge in this time of year. For example, soft-baked goods such as muffins, bread, and pies are perfectly fine to eat when you have braces, so if you are a dessert lover, feel free to dig in! (just make sure to keep up with your brushing!)
Make Sure to Enjoy
At the end of the day, your priority should be enjoying a safe and relaxing holiday season. After the stress and hard work of the past few years, we all deserve that. Of course, it is important to remember to keep your orthodontic health in check by avoiding hard-to-eat foods, and keeping up with your brushing and flossing routine. Ensuring your teeth and braces stay healthy this season will make starting the new year with a smile just a little easier.
From everyone at Hoskinson Orthodontics, we wish you a very happy holiday season, and we look forward to seeing you in the new year.
If you are in the Scotia, NY, area and are looking for high-quality orthodontic work, contact Hoskinson Orthodontics today.