Nov 21, 2025

Top Tips For Looking After Your Braces This Winter

Winter brings cosy jumpers, festive treats and a well-earned break from routine. It can also bring a few surprises for your braces, from sticky sweets to cold-weather sensitivity. With a little planning, you can enjoy the season and keep your treatment on track. Here are our best winter brace-care tips, gathered from our Specialist Orthodontists, Treatment Coordinators and patients who have navigated many a Christmas with brackets and wires.

Make a simple festive plan for your braces

Small habits make the biggest difference during busy holidays. Set gentle reminders for brushing and elastics, keep a compact brace kit in your bag, and note any appointment dates before travel or parties. If you are away for a week or two, ask your orthodontic team for a quick pre-trip check or virtual advice, especially if you had a recent adjustment. Patients tell us that packing early and keeping to a routine helps them enjoy the holidays without worrying about their braces.

What to put in a winter brace kit:

• Travel toothbrush, fluoride toothpaste, and interdental brushes
• Orthodontic wax, a small mirror, and nail scissors for trimming wax
• Compact mouthwash or travel-sized disclosing tablets
• Sugar-free chewing gum or mints with xylitol for dry mouth
• A spare elastic bag if you wear elastics

Winter foods to enjoy, and what to avoid with braces

You can still savour the season, you just need to be smart about textures. Hard, sticky, or chewy foods are the main culprits for broken brackets and bent wires.

Safer festive choices:

• Roast meats cut into small bites, soft stuffing, mashed or roasted vegetables
• Yorkshire puddings, soft breads, and buttered rolls
• Soft cheeses, quiche, omelettes, and flaky fish
• Trifles, mousses, pavlova without hard nut toppings, mince pies served warm and cut into small pieces
• Warm drinks like tea, hot chocolate, or mulled juice - allow them to cool a little to avoid sensitivity

Treats to limit or avoid:

• Toffee, caramels, nougat, and chewy sweets
• Hard nuts, peanut brittle, and whole almonds; choose ground nuts or nut butters instead
• Hard sweets, candy canes, and crunchy honeycomb
• Pork crackling and hard crusts; tear crusts into small pieces if you must
• Popcorn kernels, which are notorious for dislodging brackets and getting trapped

A helpful tip from patients: pre-slice tougher foods like apples or carrots into thin sticks and chew with your back teeth. This reduces pressure on your brackets while letting you enjoy a broader range of foods.

Oral hygiene on the go, even at parties

When your diary is full, it is easy to miss a brush here and there. A few quick wins keep your smile fresh and plaque at bay:

• Rinse with water after meals or sweets, then use an interdental brush to sweep around brackets and under the wire.
• Brush as soon as you are home, aiming for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste, and floss daily with superfloss or an orthodontic threader.
• If you are wearing elastics, remove them while you eat, then replace them with fresh ones right after brushing.
• For dry mouth that can come with cold weather and heaters, sip water often and use sugar-free chewing gum with xylitol between meals.
• If you drink fizzy or festive drinks, use a straw and keep them to mealtimes - prolonged sipping increases the risk of white marks.

Our Specialist Orthodontists suggest an evening hygiene routine that starts before you get too tired. Brush, floss, and check your braces for trapped food, then pop in fresh elastics or aligners, and unwind.

Cold weather sensitivity and comfort fixes

Cool air and hot-cold drinks can make sensitive teeth feel more noticeable. Try these comfort tips:

• Use a toothpaste for sensitivity twice daily for at least two weeks.
• Warm drinks are fine, just let them cool slightly and avoid very hot followed by very cold.
• If brackets or wires rub, dry the area and apply orthodontic wax. A pea-sized piece pressed firmly over the bracket can make a big difference.
• Lip balm helps prevent winter cracks that can catch on brackets.
• If you grind your teeth more during holiday stress, mention it at your next visit. A small adjustment or guidance on night-time habits can ease tenderness.

Minor brace mishaps and what to do at home

Life happens, even on Christmas Eve. Here is how to handle minor issues calmly until you can contact your clinic:

• Loose bracket: If it is still attached to the wire, leave it in place and cover with wax if it rubs. Avoid hard foods and keep the area clean.
• Poking wire: Dry the wire and place a cushion of wax. If you feel confident, use the eraser end of a pencil to gently nudge the wire flat against the tooth.
• Lost elastic ties: Keep everything clean and avoid chewy foods. Call your clinic when they reopen.
• Sore spots or ulcers: Rinse with warm saltwater, use wax, and consider a topical gel recommended by your pharmacist.

Seek urgent help if you experience trauma to the teeth or significant bleeding. Otherwise, most festive hiccups can wait a day or two with the simple steps above.

Aligners over Christmas - quick pointers

If you wear clear aligners, the rules are similar, with a few extras:

• Always carry your case, and never wrap aligners in a napkin - that is the number one way they end up in the bin.
• If you change aligners on a set day, stick to that schedule; set a phone reminder if needed.
• Brush or rinse before popping aligners back in. If you cannot brush, rinse aligners and your mouth with water, then brush properly as soon as you can.
• Pack your next set if you will be away longer than a week.

Staff and patient wisdom for a smooth festive season

From our team: plan your treats, not your cravings. Choose your favourites, enjoy them slowly, then brush.

From our patients: wax is your winter friend, and a pocket mirror saves the day at parties. Many also swear by keeping a small bottle of water and an interdental brush in their coat, because a 30-second clean can prevent hours of irritation.

Keep your treatment moving, even when life is busy

Winter is a great time to focus on simple, consistent habits. Attend your appointments where possible, and if plans change, let your clinic know so they can keep your progress steady.

Summary, enjoy the season and protect your smile

With a little preparation you can protect your braces, enjoy festive food, and keep your treatment on track. Choose softer seasonal dishes, avoid hard or sticky treats, carry a compact brace kit, and use wax and saltwater rinses for comfort. For minor issues, follow the simple at-home steps above, then check in with your orthodontic team when they reopen. If you are local and looking for friendly, specialist support this winter, the team at Zen Orthodontics is here to help with personalised orthodontic care and flexible appointments that fit your festive calendar.

Note: If you need to reach us over the holidays, check our seasonal hours or contact reception for guidance; non urgent issues can often be made comfortable at home, while urgent concerns should be assessed promptly.