Eating with braces
So...the story is, I'm a 26-yr. old adult with new braces. I can't begin to tell you how much fun this is.
I miss being able to eat whatever I want!!
Maybe I'm being a baby, but I don't want to subsist on soup and smoothies!
Does anyone have any soft-food recipes to share? (Soup and smoothies will be accepted. I have to face facts.)
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12 Comments:
Unless your orthodontist has told you differently, you don't really have any food restrictions. You can still eat apples if you slice them, and corn if you cut it off the cob. Yes, food will get stuck in your braces, but that's what floss-threaders and picks and Waterpiks are for. I do feel for you, though. The whole process can feel like medieval-style torture. Keep smiling!
juliec at 12:28PM on 07/29/08
I had braces when I was young and the pain will subside after a few days... but the pain of missing out on fresh corn on the cob for a few years still hurts. As far as food you can eat now, start with food you can "chew" with your tongue, like pancakes, potatoes and pasta (slightly over-cooked, small noodles). Kraft mac and cheese may not be what your used to but it works really well and is one of my comfort foods.
jlweber at 12:31PM on 07/29/08
Use it as an excuse to make this - I could eat this "soup" forever.
savecara at 12:52PM on 07/29/08
poor thing! you can still eat whatever you want, you just have to change the prep. like others said, no biting into whole apples and eating corn on the cob. things like fresh carrots just bite down on your back teeth or cut them into thin match sticks.
i'm thinking you might want to stay away from beets because they could stain the rubberbands (if you have clear ones). but really, eat your normal stuff! just always keep a pocket mirror and some floss on your body at all times. you'll be fine!
ceforrester at 12:55PM on 07/29/08
As everyone else said, you CAN eat pretty much everything you normally do, but the pain will probably keep you to soft stuff immediately following your adjustments/appointments. I would recommend taking things you really enjoy and reworking them, if necessary, to be eaten with a fork in small bites - this will help avoid things that you would normally bit into (like sandwiches) from getting overly crammed into the braces. Also, for your comfort, you might want to do take-out from your favorite restaurants instead of dining out so that you can take care of the stuff-in-your teeth issues that come up in the comfort and privacy of your home.
Good luck - I had braces through hs and my freshman year of college - they hurt like a *&(%#.
joyyy at 2:17PM on 07/29/08
I just got my braces off a few months ago and I feel your pain (wore them through college and into the first year of my adult life--blech). Mashed sweet potatoes got me through the first couple days, as did smoothies...any regular smoothie recipe will work.
pbisNOTmyname at 3:34PM on 07/29/08
When I had braces, I think I ate pretty regularly. Definitely cut my corn off the cob and sliced fruits (just like juliec already said). I guess it just takes some getting used to! Maybe try making some heartier soups...or soft quesadillas? Also, fish is usually pretty soft. Why not make some salmon?
Hillary
Chew on That
Chew on That at 4:41PM on 07/30/08
I've had braces twice and didn't change my diet much, except for switching to sugar-free gum and chewing longer after they tightened things up in my mouth. Also, no Tootsie Rolls! Trust me on this one...
woodenspoon at 9:25PM on 07/30/08
When I first got my braces on I ate a lot of gefilte fish. (The combination of the two may have explained my lack of dates in junior high.)
My husband finished with his last year - he was a big fan of the mac & cheese and just about any kind of pasta.
Good luck!
QueenHerm at 10:35PM on 07/30/08
Mac and cheese on appointment days, but other than that, cut things up small. The absolute worst part of braces was no sandwiches. I LOVE sandwiches! But they were too much work.
amanda0730 at 11:51PM on 07/30/08
Aww i had braces several years ago in high school and I would eat a lot of cheese omelets, mashed sweet potatoes (or twice baked), baked salmon, burritos, soft sauteed eggplant, baked macaroni, grilled veggie wraps, chicken salad wraps.
There are many things that will not cause you to save leftovers in your brackets. Veggies can be a bit precarious, but if you cook them well enough it is no prob! I totally relate.
JacquelineS at 2:17PM on 07/31/08
How are you doing with the braces? I had them last year and I'm 53; now I'm in my retainer. If you're still looking for recipes and hints, two good websites are www.braces.org (the American Association of Orthodontists) and www.DentaKit.com, where they have braces recipes and they offer great little tools and kits for keeping your braces clean when you're on the road.
PamJane at 11:27PM on 01/14/09