There’s plenty to celebrate in Muscle Shoals
throughout the holidays and Hudson Orthodontics is proud to be a part of the community! Whether you’re kicking off the season on First Fridays in Florence with Pope’s Tavern Museum’s program or with Dickens Christmas festivities in downtown Tuscumbia, The Shoals is the place to be. With the busy holiday schedule also comes a superabundance of your favorite candy, cookies, pies and other treats as well as some pretty amazing home-cooked feasts. As your trusted Muscle Shoals orthodontist, we would be remiss if we didn’t worry about the effect of all the sweets on your oral hygiene — especially if you’re in the middle of braces treatment. Our goal is always to provide the very best orthodontic treatment in the Muscle Shoals area, so we’ve put together a few tips from your favorite orthodontist to help you best survive the holidays with braces — whether it means saying “yes,” “no”!
Say YES to Brushing More Often
If you have braces this winter, you may find an extra challenge from tempting treats that could damage your teeth and your braces. While you’re on the go this holiday season, Muscle Shoals orthodontist Dr. James Hudson wants you to say “YES” to brushing more often and flossing at least every day. With all the sugary treats that surround the holidays, your teeth could develop plaque — a sticky substance that can erode your tooth enamel and cause cavities. That’s the last thing you want in the middle of your braces treatment! An easy way to fight that plaque is to up your oral hygiene game and brush after you eat your sweet snacks as well as after meals. If you know you will be away from home for an extended period of time, take along your toothbrush and toothpaste so you can step into a restroom after eating to clean your teeth.
Say “NO” to These Holiday Food Favorites
At Hudson Orthodontics, we know you will be tempted by an assortment of holiday favorites. Fight the temptation to eat any hard, crunchy or sticky foods that could damage your braces. We know you don’t want to visit our Muscle Shoals office in an emergency because you broke a wire or pulled off a bracket with that candy cane or caramel you “had” to have! With a bit of intentionality and some simple preparation, you can enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas while ensuring the best possible outcome for your smile. Here are some of those holiday favorites you should avoid:
- Candy canes or other hard candy
- Hard cookies
- Chips or hard crackers
- Pecan pie or any pies with crunch toppings or crust
- Caramels and toffee
- Peanut brittle
- Nuts
- Popcorn
- Hard pretzels
- Meat on the bone
- Caramel apples
- Corn on the cob
- Raw vegetables (you can cut these up into bite-size pieces)
- Hard or tough bread (break into bite-size pieces)
- Casseroles that include crunchy fillings or toppings
Say “YES” To These Foods & Snacks That Won’t Harm Your Braces
While it may seem like you cannot enjoy any of your favorite holiday foods like sticky pies, hard-crusted rolls and chewy candies and other sweets, there are in fact many foods and snacks you can enjoy while wearing braces. Below are a few healthy alternatives your Muscle Shoals orthodontist approves of even with braces bonded to your teeth:
- Soft, whole wheat breadsticks and any soft breads without hard crusts
- Soft cheeses including holiday cheese balls and logs (without the nuts)
- Natural Greek yogurt topped with warmed honey and berries
- Jello and fruit salads made with soft fruits like oranges, nectarines & tangerines
- Cinnamon applesauce
- Potato pancakes topped with sour cream
- Ham, turkey, pot roast
- Mashed potatoes
- Stuffing
- Gravy
- Cakes
- Soft cookies
- Pudding
- Pumpkin and custard pies (no crunchy crust!)
- Deli meats
- Olives
- Cooked veggies
- Soft breads
- Jello
- Cheesecake
- Green bean casserole
- Cranberry sauce
- Hot chocolate
Say “YES” To Creating An Oral Care Kit
With all these amazing treats you will still enjoy throughout the holiday season, the friendly dental staff at Hudson Orthodontics suggests you create an oral care kit for caring for your teeth and braces while you’re on-the-go! This kit will give you the tools you need to brush after eating sugary snacks as well as after meals and floss at least once every day. The wax can be used in the case you do break or damage a bracket or wire and need to protect your mouth until you can get in to see Dr. Hudson at our Muscle Shoals orthodontist office. Your kit should contain:
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Dental Floss
- Mouthwash
- Orthodontic Wax
Say “YES” To Your Hudson Orthodontics Appointments — Make Yours Today!
It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the busy holiday season, which is perfectly fine as long as you don’t skip any scheduled appointments we’ve made for you. Whether you’re a teen in the middle of braces treatment or an adult just starting orthodontic treatment, these regular visits with Dr. Hudson are important and necessary for keeping your treatment on track. He wants to check your progress and make adjustments that will create your beautiful, confident smile in as little treatment time as necessary. So keep those holiday orthodontist appointments and if you haven’t made your next (or first!) appointment with Dr. Hudson, give him a call now at (256) 383-8736 and get that setup. To prevent tooth decay, remember to brush extra and keep up on your flossing – especially after sugary and sticky meals. From your Muscle Shoals orthodontist, we wish you a happy (and delicious) holiday season!