Good news for patients in Purcellville and across western Loudoun County: most of the Thanksgiving table is braces friendly. With a few smart swaps and a little planning, you can enjoy the whole feast and keep your treatment on track. Here are tips from Dr. Minh Nguyen and Dr. Tamana Spingher.
Fill Your Plate With These
- Turkey cut into small, bite sized pieces
- Mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and gravy
- Stuffing, soft rolls, and green bean casserole
- Cranberry sauce and mac and cheese
- Pumpkin pie, which is soft and easy on brackets
Skip or Swap These
- Corn on the cob: cut the kernels off first
- Turkey legs: pull the meat off the bone
- Pecan pie and caramel apples: sticky and nutty, a double risk
- Crusty bread and raw veggie trays: hard bites can pop a bracket
- Popcorn during the football game: hulls get trapped under wires
Take your aligners out to eat and keep the case handy, not on a napkin. Brush before you put them back in, and skip sipping cider or soda with aligners in place.
If a Bracket Comes Loose
A loose bracket is rarely an emergency. If it is still attached to the wire, leave it in place. If it spins or rubs, cover it with orthodontic wax. If it comes off completely, save it in a bag and bring it to your next visit. Call our office on the next business day so we can schedule a repair.
If a Wire Pokes or Breaks
Gently push a poking wire back toward the tooth with a clean cotton swab or pencil eraser. If it will not move, cover the end with wax and call us. Do not pull on a broken wire or try to bend it with pliers.
Traveling to Leesburg, Charles Town WV, or farther? Pack orthodontic wax, a travel toothbrush, floss threaders, a cotton swab, and your aligner case.
Important: Swelling, bleeding that will not stop, or an injury to the face or jaw needs immediate care at an emergency room.
Call Excelsior Orthodontics at (540) 579-4055 or visit excelsiororthodontics.com. Dr. Minh and Dr. Spingher will get you back on track.
