5 Steps For Braces and Summer BBQs

5 Steps For Braces and Summer BBQs
Posted on 06/30/2016
This is the image for the news article titled 5 Steps For Braces and Summer BBQs

The smell of charcoal burning, the sound of ice being poured into the cooler and the feel of the warm sun on your skin as you relax in a lawn chair. It is summer barbeque time and the team at the UNLV Orthodontic Clinic doesn't want you to miss a minute, but if you have braces, there are some important things to remember. We've put together some tips for eating summer barbeque foods that might damage your braces and what you can do to still enjoy every bite.

Tip #1: Meats. If you have someone wearing braces that you're grilling for, the trick is to grill meats that are tender. What does that mean? Low and slow. When you grill meats slowly at a lower temperature, the fat and connective tissue in the meat melt and the meat becomes tender and juicy. If that's not in your wheelhouse, consider fish for the grill - always a tender and braces-friendly favorite.


summer bbqTip #2: Side Dishes. One of the most popular BBQ side dishes is corn on the cob, but as any braces-wearer knows, you can't bite straight into a cob of corn. If you don't want to miss out on this tasty dish, go ahead and roast those ears on the grill, but before taking a big bite, use a sharp knife to cut the kernels off the cob. You will get all of the taste and none of the broken brackets. Don't forget the other great braces-friendly side dishes including: potato salad, pasta salad, and deviled eggs.


Tip #3: Desserts. There is usually no problem with dessert for anyone wearing braces, but stay away from anything hard like certain candies, nuts or fruits and opt for juicy watermelon, yogurt or ice cream.


Tip #4: Snacks. Barbeque time usually means snacks while the grill is getting started up and the family plays games. Potato chips and popcorn are a staple around the house, but they can be tough on your braces. Consider baked chips or pita crisps with dip, salsa, guacamole, or hummus. Some other quick and easy snacks are yogurt, string cheese, citrus fruits, bananas, peaches, blueberries, grapes, cucumbers, and peppers. You can get really creative and fun with the snack ideas!


Tip #5: Drinks. While drinks seem harmless to braces, it's important to remember that some drinks are major contributors to tooth decay that can happen around your braces. Instead of sugary soda and sports drinks in the cooler, stock it with some ice cold water. If you have a blender going, make up some refreshing fruit smoothies that everyone will love - including your orthodontist!


The team at the UNLV Orthodontic Clinic hopes you enjoy your summer barbeques and look forward to seeing you at your next appointment. If you have any questions about the food dos or don'ts when you have braces, you can check out our Foods to Avoid page on our website or just give us a call.