Walking into an orthodontist’s office to adjust braces is a major step to restoring a perfect set of teeth. Wearing braces demands some lifestyle changes, including maintaining high oral hygiene standards and eating brace-friendly food. The success rate of braces is increased when you consume soft foods that don’t realign brackets as well as healthy food that doesn’t contribute to dental diseases and cavities. What are these brace-friendly foods that you can enjoy during this summer? This blog aims at shining light on three of our favorites.
Peppermint Lemonade
There is nothing as refreshing as draining a tall cold glass of lemonade, especially during those sunny afternoons. Here’s how to enjoy soothing peppermint lemonade.
Ingredients
- 1 juicy lemon
- 11/4 cups granulated sugar
- 12 ounces frozen lemonade concentrate
- 30-40 fresh mint leaves
- Cold water
Preparation
Pour the lemonade concentrate into a jug or cooler. Add some cold water to make 1 gallon of mixture. Shred the zest from the lemon peel and add to the jug. Squeeze the juice from the lemon fruit into the jug. In a separate bowl, crush the mint leaves into the granulated sugar. Add the leaves and sugar into the jug and stir until the sugar dissolves completely. Cover the pot and let it rest for a few hours then sieve out the leaves and zest before serving. Add some ice cubes and mint for a chilling effect.
Pasta Fredda
Also known as a pasta salad, it is acknowledged for its nutritional value. Pasta meals go easy on the braces and teeth hence highly recommended when on orthodontic treatment.
Ingredients
- 1 pack of farfalle pasta
- 6 basil leaves
- 20 cherry tomatoes, cut into halves
- 7oz bocconcini
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- ¾ cup black olives
- 2 tbsp oregano leaves
Preparation
In a large cooking pot, boil salted water and cook the farfalle pasta. Once cooked, drain, rinse and put it aside. In a separate huge bowl, mix the halved tomatoes, olive oil, bocconcini, olives, oregano and basil. Mix or toss to have an even mixture then add the pasta and continue mixing. Season to taste and serve after mixing evenly.
(You could use any form of short pasta in place of the farfalle.)
Chicken Enchiladas
During your time with braces, we discourage chewing of hard meat. Tearing hard meat from the bone may break braces, while chewing hard meat may leave debris lying under the brackets. The chicken enchiladas, however, eliminates this problem while maintaining its balance as a healthy meal. It is also a quick-fix for a lazy day.
Ingredients
- 2 cups diced boneless, skinless, pre-cooked chicken breast meat.
- 3 cloves of garlic, crushed or 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- ½ cup finely chopped green onions
- ½ sour cream
- 4oz diced green chiles
- 10.75oz condensed cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup milk
- 6 pieces of tortillas
Preparation
Coat your baking dish with oil lightly. Heat the oven to 175 degrees. Melt the butter and put the onions in the pan. Fry the onions until they become tender. Add the garlic, green chiles, mushroom soup and sour cream. Stir to obtain sauce consistency. Pour ¾ of this thick sauce on a separate bowl and set it aside. Mix the remaining sauce with the chicken breasts and the shredded cheese. Mix gently until mixed thoroughly.
Fold the flour tortillas with the chicken mixture in between. Place the rolls in the baking dish with the fold facing down. Utilize the remaining sauce by mixing it with milk and spreading it over the rolled tortillas. Sprinkle the grated cheese and put the dish in the oven. Bake for about forty minutes. You should see the cheese bubbling on top, developing a crust.