July is National Ice Cream Month! As if we needed a reason to celebrate, ice cream happens to be a braces-friendly food. We always recommend that our Papillion, NE braces patients stick with soft foods when they first get their braces on and after adjustments since the teeth can be slightly sensitive. If you wear Invisalign, the same holds true at the start of treatment and, occasionally, when you pop in a new set of aligners. Cold drinks and snacks have the added benefit of numbing your mouth a bit to further reduce sensitivity. Ice cream doesn’t involve chewing, it’s cold and, most importantly, it’s delicious, so it checks all of the boxes. Just be sure to brush your teeth after indulging to keep your smile healthy. So, where will your favorite Omaha-area orthodontist and his team members be heading for a few scoops in honor of National Ice Cream Month? Here’s the Hawley Orthodontics guide to the best ice cream in Omaha and Papillion:
1. Dairy Queen – 345 S. Washington Street, Papillion
When an ice cream craving hits, we make a beeline for Dairy Queen in Papillion. In fact, we’ve been known to reward patients with free ice cream certificates to DQ for wearing their Hawley Orthodontics t-shirt to their appointment! It doesn’t really feel like summer until you’ve had a Blizzard® – or two. Their ice cream is smooth and creamy and you can customize it with toppings. Our favorite treats: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Blizzard, Summer Berry Sundae and Banana Split
2. Coneflower Creamery – 3921 Farnam Street, Omaha
Coneflower Creamery in Omaha uses local, farm-fresh ingredients for their homemade ice cream, toppings and sauces. Not only do they serve up phenomenal “farm to cone” ice cream, they also offer ice pops, artisan bottled soda, ice cream sandwiches, local root beer on tap and floats. They have a bunch of seasonal flavors that are definitely worth a try, as well classics you can get year-round. Our favorite Coneflower Creamery flavors: Peanut Butter & Strawberry Jelly, Vanilla Bean (this isn’t your average vanilla!) and Birthday Cake
3. Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt & Treats –
Shadow Lake Towne Center, 7902 Towne Center Parkway #121, Papillion
Technically, Orange Leaf isn’t a Papillion ice cream store. However, their frozen yogurt is fantastic and it’s like ice cream’s slightly healthier cousin. Alongside their standard froyo, they have dairy-free and no sugar added options to boot. This self-serve yogurt spot even made our previous list of braces-friendly food in the Omaha area. If you’re wearing braces, you’ll want to avoid toppings that are really sticky, chewy or hard. Our favorite flavors: Classic Tart, Strawberry Cheesecake and Mango Peach
4. Ted & Wally’s Ultra-Premium Homemade Ice Cream – 1120 Jackson Street and 6023 Maple Street, Omaha
Ted & Wally’s has some of the best Omaha ice cream. The 20% butterfat ice cream is made from scratch with all-natural, local ingredients. They slow-churn it with rock salt like they did in the old days. In addition to the insanely creamy traditional ice cream, they also have vegan ice cream, low-sugar ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and other treats. The family-owned store has been an area favorite since 1986 and it now has two locations. The ice cream flavors change daily and you really can’t go wrong with any of them. Our favorite flavors: Chocolate Banana Crumb Cake, Strawberry Rhubarb Pie and Buttermilk Honey
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5. Graley’s Creamery & Confections – 147 N. Washington Street, Papillion
We’re so excited about this new addition to our downtown! Byron and Joanna Compton plan to open their Papillion ice cream shop sometime this month. Their ice cream is handmade from a family recipe and all of their syrups and toppings will be made from scratch too.
6. eCreamery – 5001 Underwood Ave, Omaha
eCreamery has gotten some buzz (they appeared on Shark Tank!) for selling personalized pints of ice cream that you can order online. They create ice cream gifts in customized flavors and deliver them to the recipient’s doorstep. However, lucky for us, we can also get their gelato and ice cream in Omaha at their brick-and-mortar store. The 16 flavors rotate daily. Our favorite flavors: Raspberry and Cream Gelato, Chocolate and Lemon Cookie Crunch
7. Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers – 11674 S. 73rd Street, Papillion
Freddy’s has all kinds of classics like burgers and fries but their frozen custard is where they really shine. It’s also a convenient place to get ice cream in Papillion since you can go through the drive-through. It comes in standard chocolate and vanilla flavors that are tasty on their own but who can resist the toppings? Our favorites: Chocolate Brownie Delight, PBC & B (vanilla custard, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, banana) and vanilla with chocolate syrup and whipped cream
8. Freezing – Aksarben Village, 1918 S. 67th Street, Omaha
Freezing makes Thai rolled ice cream by hand, to order right in front of you. It’s a unique experience and kids – and parents – will love it. The ice cream base is poured on an ice grill then crafted into rolls of ice cream and adorned with the toppings of your choice. The Omaha ice cream shop is in Aksarben Village and while the lines can be long, if you have time to spare, it’s worth the wait. Our favorite flavors: Strawberry Banana, Monkey Business and Morning Latte
9. Petrow’s – 5914 Center Street, Omaha
Last, but not least, in our go-to places for ice cream Omaha is Petrow’s. The family-run restaurant makes its own ice cream on the premises and it has been serving up meals in Nebraska since 1903! The homemade ice cream sundaes are amazing (skip the nuts if you’re wearing braces) and there isn’t a better chocolate malt to be found in the city. Our favorites: Banana Split, Fremont “Original” Clown Sundae and Chocolate Malt Shake
