Today is Valentine’s Day and along with celebrating comes lots of chocolate and treats! But those undergoing orthodontic treatment, especially patients wearing braces, have to be careful in which Valentine’s Day treats they indulge in, as certain sweets can damage your braces. Your orthodontists in the Zion Crossroads area recommend patients wearing braces avoid hard foods and sticky foods to prevent damaging their brackets and wires. That means you’ll have to skip toffees, caramels, and other sticky sweets that are commonly enjoyed for Valentine’s Day. But not to worry! Below you’ll find a list of treats you can enjoy in addition to a recipe for a DIY braces-friendly Valentine’s Day treat!
Braces-friendly Valentine’s Day treats
If you’re wearing braces as part of your orthodontic treatment, the treats you can safely eat for Valentine’s Day include:
- Plain chocolates
- Chocolates with soft centers (no chewy centers, sticky caramels, or nuts)
- Ice cream
- Cake
- Gelatin
A recipe for a braces-friendly Valentine’s Day
Our doctors want their Zion Crossroads and Charlottesville area patients to be able to celebrate Valentine’s Day if they would like to, so our orthodontists have chosen a braces-friendly recipe to help you do so!
Deviled Hearts by Spoon Fork Bacon
Makes 32 servings
Ingredients:
- 8oz packaged cream cheese, softened
- 2/3 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1 lemon, zested
- 1 1/2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups heavy cream
- 16 strawberries, tops cut off and cut in half lengthwise
- 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
Directions:
- In a mixing bowl and with an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, sugar, sour cream, lemon juice, zest, and vanilla until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- In another mixing bowl, beat the heavy cream with an electric mixer until stiff peaks are formed.
- Fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture.
- Slice the backs of each strawberry very slightly, so they sit up straight.
- Use a small measuring spoon or melon baller to hollow the inner center of each strawberry.
- Fill a piping bag with the cream cheese mixture to pipe a dollop into each strawberry.
- Top each with a sprinkle of graham cracker crumbs.
- Enjoy!
Contact your Zion Crossroads, VA, braces specialists
If you’d like more tips on foods to avoid while you’re wearing braces, contact one of our offices in Downtown Charlottesville, Zion Crossroads, or Hollymead to speak to one of our knowledgeable team members. We can also get an appointment scheduled for you to visit us for orthodontic treatment or you can fill out our online appointment request form. We look forward to hearing from you!