How to Navigate Thanksgiving Dinner with Braces

Nov 22, 2022

How to Navigate Thanksgiving Dinner with Braces

Fall is here, and that means leaves on the ground, cooler weather, and of course, Thanksgiving. Family, friends, and food are a staple of the season, but for someone undergoing orthodontic treatment, the Thanksgiving table can seem more like a minefield. It can be hard to tell the difference between foods that are safe and foods that could cost you a broken bracket and an extra trip to the orthodontist, so your friends at GSO have put together a list to help!

Things to Avoid

• Anything too crunchy! This can mean croutons, nuts, or casseroles with crunchy crusts on top.
• Eating meat directly off the bone.
• Raw carrots, apples, or corn on the cob.
• Sticky desserts with ingredients like caramel.

What’s Safe?

• Turkey or ham that has been sliced off of the bone and cut into bite-sized pieces.
• Mashed potatoes, cornbread, stuffing, and steamed vegetables.
• Corn is safe to eat as long as it is cut off of the cob.
• Dinner rolls, of course!
• Pies and cakes that do not contain nuts.

Luckily, this still leaves you with lots of options, which means you can still enjoy a hearty meal without worrying too much about the safety of your teeth. As always, make sure to brush and floss after eating, and if you have any true emergencies, give Georgia School of Orthodontics a call at 770-351-7737. Happy Thanksgiving!