• Second Time’s The Charm: Sugar and Spice
    • December 21, 2017
    • 3 min read
    • Featured writers

    The holiday season brings hot chocolate, quality family time, and of course, presents. During this time of year, many offices like to exchange special gifts with one another. The most common in particular is food. So naturally, we can’t help but indulge. But a huge stoplight got put in front of me this year; Being in treatment means I am restricted to what I can and can’t indulge in (unfortunate, I know). We’ve received some incredibly yummy treats this season (shoutout to our wonderful referring doctors and their teams) but take a word of advice from me. There are some hidden culprits that you will want to watch out for.

    1. Apples: seems harmless enough? Can be eaten in small bites when sliced up and are still very yummy. However, if you are looking to indulge in that yummy decorative apple you received as a gift, beware! Hidden amongst those layers of chocolate is, caramel. While yes it tastes incredible, caramel is not a friend to those of us with braces. Lots of sticky goodness can turn into a big problem. Sorry folks, avoid this one if you can.
    2. Candy canes: a common holiday treat. We hang them on our trees, they sell them in almost every store, and if you’ve been lucky enough to catch the wonder that is the Jewel Osco Christmas Train, elves hand them out when you board. Being part of the hard sticky and chewy group of foods to avoid, these treats can also cause a lot of breakage and issues quickly. Err on the safe side and pass these guys up.
    3. Chestnuts: ….roasting on an open fire (okay, joke over). From what I’ve been told, chestnuts aren’t too terribly hard, but I’m leery. They fall in the nut family and I just feel more comfortable avoiding them altogether. If anyone has had experience in chestnuts let me know!

    Don’t get me wrong, this all sounds like you shouldn’t have ANY holiday treats but quite the contrary! There are many treats that you (and I) are still able to enjoy even with braces.

    1. Hershey’s kisses: mmmmm! These are one of my favorite candy treats during the holiday season and I love how they practically melt in your mouth. The white chocolate ones are my favorite! The hot chocolate flavored kisses make me weak at the knees.
    2. Fresh baked sugar cookies: This is my absolute favorite holiday treat. My mom usually makes batches of these for the holidays and they’re soft and yummy. Keep in mind, the key word there is soft. Also, use caution around sprinkles and other cookie decorations that are sometimes hard and crunchy. But don’t let this stop you from enjoying this classic holiday treat, just be careful.
    3. Marshmallows: If any of you have visited our office during the month of December, you’ve probably seen the jar full of marshmallows at the front desk for our holiday contest. These fluffy bites are perfectly soft and go well by themselves or in a big mug of hot chocolate. Feel free to indulge!

    I could go on all day about the multitude of holiday treats to enjoy. The key here is to be cautious and use moderation. Many of these treats tend to have a lot of sugar and can cause cavities. Remember to brush thoroughly after a lot of sugary snacks and drinks. Your teeth (and orthodontist) will thank you.

    With that being said, I want to wish everyone a very happy holiday! Travel safely and enjoy your time with family and friends (and if you see/saw the new Star Wars movie, let me know what you thought!)

    May all the smiles be with you.

    Clinical Care Specialist (and resident clinical Jedi).

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