Holiday Time & Braces - What Can You Eat?
Holiday seasons are typically filled with family, friends, great food and yummy treats. Having braces during these times of year can be especially difficult, as you want to indulge in all of the seasonal options just like everyone else. But, there’s good news! Just because you have to avoid some of the common dishes at holidays, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy most of them. There are plenty of options for kids, teens and adults with braces. Let's take a look at the most popular holidays and see what you can – and can’t – safely enjoy!
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New Year’s Eve / New Year’s Day
New Year’s celebrations are always filled with snacks, food, and drinks to celebrate the turn of a new year. It’s best to stick with soft, easy-to-chew options that won’t damage your braces.
Foods to enjoy with braces during New Year’s:
- Tender meats (like roast chicken or turkey)
- Beef if cut into small bite-size pieces (be careful!)
- Mashed potatoes
- Soft cheeses
- Deviled eggs
- Cooked vegetables
Foods to avoid with braces during New Year’s:
- Sticky toffees
- Hard candies
- Crunchy chips
- Popcorn
- Nuts
Super Bowl Sunday
Super Bowl Sunday is known as one of the biggest snacking days of the year. With all the spreads that are at your party, try to stick to softer finger foods and stay away from the crunchier snacks that can damage your brackets.
Foods to enjoy with braces during Super Bowl Sunday:
- Soft tacos
- Boneless chicken wings
- Dips (hummus, guacamole, etc.)
- Soft pretzels
- Soft slider sandwiches
- Chili
- Finger sandwiches
Foods to avoid with braces during Super Bowl Sunday:
- Crunchy tortilla chips
- Popcorn
- Sticky BBQ ribs
- Crunchy pizza crusts
- Hard pretzels
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Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day is surrounded with love – and sweet treats. Be sure to choose softer chocolates and other braces-friendly goodies to keep your braces safe.
Foods to enjoy with braces during Valentine’s Day:
- Soft chocolates (without nuts or caramel)
- Pancakes (made in a heart shape to stay on theme)
- Strawberries
- Cheesecake
- Soft pasta dishes for dinner
- Seafood
Foods to avoid with braces during Valentine’s Day:
- Hard candies (especially candy hearts)
- Gummy candies
- Chewy candies
- Caramel chocolates
- Crunchy cookies
- Nuts
Passover
Passover traditions are typically pretty generous to our braces-wearing friends in terms of food options. However, some dishes can be a little too crunchy for your braces. Try to stay with soft meats and vegetables, and be cautious with matzo.
Foods to enjoy with braces during Passover:
- Matzo ball soup
- Gefilte fish
- Soft brisket
- Mashed potatoes
- Steamed vegetables
Foods to avoid with braces during Passover:
- Matzo (can be hard and crunchy)
- Nuts in desserts
- Crunchy potato kugel
- Hard charoset
- Toffee-style candies
Easter
Easter usually brings many sweet treats and large holiday dinners. Enjoy soft foods and sweets and avoid those caramel eggs or chocolates with nuts.
Foods to enjoy with braces during Easter:
- Soft dinner rolls
- Mashed potatoes
- Steamed vegetables
- Deviled eggs
- Soft chocolates (without nuts or caramel)
- Seafood
Foods to avoid with braces during Easter:
- Hard chocolate eggs
- Jelly beans
- Peeps
- Crunchy cookies
- Toffee candies
Ramadan
Ramadan’s Iftar meals break the fast with delicious dishes. After your fast, you may want to dive right into everything, but remember to be cautious of your braces.
Foods to enjoy with braces during Ramadan meals:
- Soft dates
- Lentil soup
- Soft pita bread with hummus
- Cooked rice and stews
- Soft fruits (bananas, mango, etc.)
Foods to avoid with braces during Ramadan meals:
- Nuts in desserts
- Sticky sweets like baklava
- Crunchy samosas
- Hard pita chips
- Tough meats
Memorial Day
With the kick-off of summer, Memorial Day BBQs offer a variety of grilled meals and snack options. Opt for softer meats and salads to keep your brackets and wires intact.
Foods to enjoy with braces during Memorial Day:
- Soft burgers without crunchy toppings
- Grilled chicken (off the bone)
- Potato salad
- Baked beans
- Soft fruit salad
Foods to avoid with braces during Memorial Day:
- Corn on the cob
- Crunchy chips
- Hard pretzels
- BBQ ribs
- Raw crunchy veggies (like carrots)
Independence Day
July 4th is an American favorite and can be especially tricky to navigate with braces, especially at a large party. It’s important to stick to softer, grilled meats and avoid those crunchy vegetable trays.
Foods to enjoy with braces during the Fourth of July:
- Hot dogs
- Boneless grilled chicken
- Hamburgers/sliders
- Potato/pasta salad
- Mac & cheese
- Watermelon slices
- Chili
Foods to avoid with braces during the Fourth of July:
- Corn on the cob
- Hard candy
- Popcorn
- Hard chips
- Bone-in ribs
Labor Day
The final chance for large BBQs and picnics to end the summer. Labor Day for braces should be the last time of the year you need to worry about corn on the cob!
Foods to enjoy with braces during Labor Day weekend:
- Hot dogs
- Grilled fish
- Hamburgers/sliders
- Potato/pasta salad
- Cooked vegetables
- Ice cream (without hard mix-ins)
Foods to avoid with braces during Labor Day weekend:
- Corn on the cob
- Hard crackers
- Corn or tortilla chips
- Nuts
- Sticky BBQ foods
Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah is a great time for celebration and reflection, soft challah bread is a great option for participants with braces.
Foods to enjoy with braces during Rosh Hashanah:
- Soft challah bread
- Apples dipped in honey
- Soft brisket
- Steamed vegetables
- Mashed potatoes
Foods to avoid with braces during Rosh Hashanah:
- Hard desserts
- Honey candies
- Crunchy matzo
- Hard apples (if not sliced thin)
- Tough meats
Halloween
Halloween celebrations are debatably the hardest time of the year for braces, as there’s a large variety of candy options at your disposal.
Foods to enjoy with braces during Halloween:
- Soft chocolates without nuts or caramel
- Peanut butter cups
- Reese’s pieces/M&M’s
- Spooky cupcakes
- Three Musketeers
- Peppermint Patties
- Pixy Stix
- Pudding/Jello
- Cupcakes
- Cheese sticks
Foods to avoid with braces during Halloween:
- Candy or caramel apples
- Hard candies
- Taffy
- Popcorn balls
- Gummy candies
Diwali
Diwali celebrations often offer a variety of sweet and savory snacks and meals. There are good options to stick to if you have braces during this time.
Foods to enjoy with braces during Diwali:
- Soft paneer dishes
- Dal (lentils)
- Cooked rice dishes
- Kheer (rice pudding)
- Non-sticky sweets
Foods to avoid with braces during Diwali:
- Jalebi
- Hard nuts
- Samosas
- Hard puris
- Brittle sweets
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving celebrations offer many comfort foods that are hard to turn down. It’s important to stick to options that are safe for your braces at the dinner table.
Foods to enjoy with braces during Thanksgiving:
- Mashed potatoes
- Turkey off the bone
- Stuffing
- Pumpkin pie
- Cranberry sauce
Foods to avoid with braces during Thanksgiving:
- Pie crusts
- Crunchy bread rolls
- Nuts in desserts
- Bone-in meats
- Raw vegetables
Hanukkah
Hanukkah features many delicious foods that are safe for braces, though some can be too hard or sticky. Stick to softer dishes like latkes and jelly-filled donuts.
Foods to enjoy with braces during Hanukkah
- Latkes without crunchy edges
- Applesauce
- Brisket
- Kugel without hard crust
- Jelly-filled donuts (sufganiyot)
Foods to avoid with braces during Hanukkah:
- Crunchy fried foods
- Sticky jelly candies
- Hard chocolate gelt
- Crunchy potato chips
- Nuts in desserts
Christmas
Christmas is a wonderful time for family celebrations and holiday feasts. Baked goods and turkey are great options to protect your braces.
Foods to enjoy with braces during Christmas:
- Roast turkey or ham
- Mashed potatoes
- Soft dinner rolls
- Soft candies
- Soft Christmas cookies
Foods to avoid with braces during Christmas:
- Candy canes
- Caramel treats
- Crunchy cookies
- Popcorn
- Nuts
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Conclusion
No matter what holidays you and your family celebrate, there are always safe options for those with braces. Avoiding the items listed in this blog for each holiday will help ensure that you don’t ruin your celebrations with an uncomfortable broken bracket or wire. If you have questions about particular foods or treats that you don’t see listed above, contact your Orthodontist to get their input. The rule of thumb is to avoid really sticky and crunchy foods and enjoy softer foods if you have any doubt. Remember to brush and floss after indulging, and enjoy your holidays with a bright and healthy smile! Happy Holidays from dobie revolution orthodontics.