Valentine’s Day is almost here, and you know what that means! It’s time to buy flowers, eat chocolates and tell that special someone you love them. However, if you have braces, you may be concerned that your Valentine’s Day will be less romantic than usual. Thankfully, you can still fully enjoy this special holiday while straightening your smile! Just remember these simple tips to keep your treatment on track and show some love to your smile.
Don’t Give Your Sweetheart These Sweets
Sugary shows of affection are one of the most popular Valentine’s Day traditions. As you choose which types of sweets, candies and chocolates to get your sweetheart, remember to avoid:
- Hard candies and lollipops
- Chocolate with nuts
- Candies with sticky fillings
- Sticky caramels
- Caramel corn and popcorn
Instead, choose safer foods to indulge in (with moderation of course!), like:
- Smooth ice cream, milkshakes or ice cream cake
- Soft chocolates, truffles and soft cookies
- Fruits like chocolate covered strawberries or a fruit bouquet!
Tips for Kissing with Braces
You can still kiss your special someone this Valentine’s Day if you wear braces! However, you should take a few precautions to make sure it’s an enjoyable and safe experience for both you and your partner. Be careful to keep your brackets away from your partner’s teeth and use dental wax to prevent your braces from snagging lips or tongues.
But first, don’t forget to thoroughly brush and floss! Braces can easily trap and hold food debris, which can lead to bad breath. Make sure to brush for a full two minutes twice a day and floss between all your teeth and wires to clean away stinky particles. Whether you’re wearing braces or not, keeping your smile clean and fresh is essential if you want to kiss your Valentine!
Gift Ideas for Your Loved One with Braces
Many traditional Valentine’s Day chocolate and treats can potentially damage your loved one’s braces. Show them how much you care about them and their smile by getting them braces-friendly gifts like:
- Flowers and a hand-written card
- Chocolate covered strawberries
- Soft chocolates, truffles, or ice cream
- A gift card to their favorite ice cream or frozen yogurt place
- Dinner and a movie (but no popcorn!)
- Home-made gifts
A few simple precautions can help make celebrating Valentine’s Day with braces fun and easy. Keep these tips in mind to stay on track for getting a healthy, straight smile that you’re going to love!
About the Author
Dr. Dennis Sherman of Milton Orthodontics has been caring for smiles since 1988. As an active member of organizations like the American Dental Association and the American Association of Orthodontists, he stays current with the latest advancements in orthodontics. This way, he can offer his patients the most effective and comfortable ways to straighten their smiles! To learn more, he can be contacted via his website or at (617) 698-8883.