Thanksgiving is a time to gather, celebrate, and enjoy your favorite foods, and with a little extra care, you can keep your orthodontic treatment on track while doing it. Whether you have braces or Invisalign, here’s how to enjoy the holiday and protect your smile.

If you have braces, try to indulge in soft holiday staples like turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and roasted vegetables. Be cautious with crunchy bread crusts, hard nuts, and sticky desserts that can damage brackets or bend wires. It will also be helpful to cut some foods into small pieces and chew slowly is better for your braces and lets you enjoy every bite.

For Invisalign wearers, remember to take your aligners out before you eat and store them safely in their case (never in a napkin that’s the easiest way to lose them!). After the meal, brush and floss before putting them back in so food and sugar don’t get trapped against your teeth. If brushing right away isn’t possible, rinse your mouth and aligners with water until you can.

For everyone, a travel kit is your best friend. Pack a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss (or floss picks), and, if you wear aligners, your case. A quick clean-up after dinner keeps your smile fresh and treatment on track.

Thanksgiving is about gratitude, and a healthy smile is something to be thankful for. From all of us at True Smile Orthodontics, we wish you a holiday filled with family, food, and confident smiles.