Meals for the Metal Mouth
A careful orthodontic patient can probably eat almost any food and not damage his or her braces. However, the following types of food may cause trouble, as may other foods. Use common sense, and if you have a question about your favorite foods, please ask us.
Hard foods may do damage by loosening cement under the bands, breaking the brackets away from your teeth, or breaking the wires. Examples: Popcorn, nuts, peanut brittle, ice (don't chew it), suckers, frozen candy bars
Sticky foods may do damage by pulling on the bands and loosening cement, or pulling brackets away from your teeth. Examples: Taffy, caramels, tootsie rolls, sugar daddy's, gummy bears, skittles, bubble gum
You should avoid foods high in sugar content whenever possible. If you do have these foods, brush your teeth or rinse with water as soon as possible. Sugar sticks to your brackets very easily and may stain your teeth or cause cavities if left on your teeth for a prolonged period of time. Examples: Regular soda, cake/cookie frosting, candy bars
Foods that you have to bite into, you now need to cut up. Examples: Carrot sticks, celery, apples, corn on the cobb, meat with bones (chicken wings, spare-ribs), hard French bread or pizza crust
And yes, you ARE allowed to chew sugarless gum!
Little Recipes
Although you've left the office, we are still looking out for you. Try these recipes, they are sure to please!
Suzi's Soothing Smoothie
1 large ripe banana or 2 medium peaches peeled and pitted, 1 ½ cups milk, 1 8oz carton vanilla yogurt, 1 tbsp. Powdered sugar, ½ cup ice cubes.
Cut fruit into chunks. In a blender, combine the fruit milk, yogurt and sugar. Blend till smooth. With blender running, add ice cubes 1 at a time through lid opening. Blend till smooth.
Michelle's Metal Mouth Mousse
1 ½ cup miniature marshmallows, 1/3 cup milk, ¼ tsp. almond extract, 6 drops red food color, 36 Hershey's Kisses, 1 cup whipping cream.
In saucepan over low heat, combine marshmallows & milk, stir constantly until mixture is smooth. Remove from heat. In medium bowl, pour 1/3 cup marshmallow mixture; stir in almond extract & food color. Set aside.
Remove wrappers from Kisses and add them to the remaining marshmallow mixture. Return to low heat, stir constantly until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat; cool to room temperature.
In mixer bowl, beat whipping cream until stiff. Fold 1 cup whipped cream into chocolate mixture. Fold remaining whipped cream into set aside mixture.
Fill four parfait glasses ¾ full with chocolate mixture; spoon remaining mixture on top. Refrigerate 3 hours or until set.
Angie's Chewless Chicken Chili
2 tbsp. canola oil, 1 chopped medium onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into thin strips, 4 tsp. chili powder, 1 tbsp. ground cumin, 2 tsp. oregano, 3 cups chicken stock, 1 ½ cups canned chopped tomatoes with juice, salt & ground pepper, 1 15oz. can red beans drained and rinsed, 1 15oz. can black beans drained and rinsed.
In a large saucepan, heat the oil. Add the onion & garlic, cook over low heat until tender. Add the chicken and cook over medium heat until it is no longer pink, about 3 minutes. Stir in the chili powder, cumin and oregano. Add the stock, tomatoes w/juice and season with salt & pepper. Cover, bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes.
Stir in the beans and simmer uncovered over low heat until the chili is thickened, about 15 minutes longer.
Jessica's Jaw Jamming Snacks
Jell-O, Mashed Potatoes, Ice Cream, Rice, Yogurt Bars, Applesauce, Pudding, Pasta, Popsicles.
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