Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving comes Thursday, and we hope all our patients have a healthy and happy holiday filled with family, friends and your favorite foods.

At M. Scott Runnels Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics in Destin and Panama City Beach, we understand that Thanksgiving and the holidays that follow in December can be a challenge for folks with braces, especially those who are wearing braces on Turkey Day for the first time.

We have recently in past blogs offered some recipes that are delicious and safe for those who wear braces.

Thanksgiving brings the opportunity to sample a variety of great food.

We know Thanksgiving is a time to eat, and you can, even if you have braces.

But if you are wearing braces or other orthodontic devices, we advise that you be careful with what you eat so you don’t end up damaging the orthodontic work you have had. We came up with a variety of holiday foods that you should try your best to avoid if you wear braces.

But we also compiled a list of foods that are safe for you to enjoy on Thanksgiving, and the rest of the year.

Here are some holiday foods you should be able to safely enjoy if you wear braces:

• Ham and Turkey: These holiday mainstays are safe to eat and delicious. To be on the safe side, take care to not eat these foods off the bone. Also, it’s better and safer for you to cut meat into small and more manageable pieces.
• Corn: Corn on the cob is a no-no, but creamed corn and other soft corn dishes that are Thanksgiving favorites should be fine. Enjoy!
• Potatoes:  Sweet potatoes are safe, and in general you may want to opt for mashed potatoes instead of baked potatoes.
• Stuffing: Holiday stuffing is safe and delicious for those with braces. Just be sure the stuffing is not filled with nuts or other crunchy ingredients. These can cause problems.
• Green beans: These traditional favorites are great for brace-wearers because they are usually soft. Casseroles with green beans are safe, but again, ask if there are nuts or other crunchy ingredients in dishes before you dig in.
• Dessert: Most desserts, including pies, are safe. Again, be sure there are no crunchy ingredients and be sure to brush your teeth when you are done!

Here are some foods that we recommend you stay away from. It’s probably a familiar list if you’ve been wearing braces for a while:

• Popcorn: Those hidden hard kernels can damage braces.
• Chips: It’s a snack you should avoid – and hopefully there should be better snacks available on Turkey Day!
• Nuts:  Cashews, almonds, peanuts – you get the picture. They can damage braces and should be avoided.
• Caramel: This chewy candy sticks to braces.

We at Runnels Orthodontics hope this advice helps make your Thanksgiving more enjoyable and prevents any orthodontic emergencies.

So once again, Happy Thanksgiving!

If you do experience major problems during the holiday, feel free to contact us.