Haha, I totally feel you on that popcorn paranoia... Ever tried sneaking a bite of something crunchy and then immediately regretted it, mentally calculating the cost if something breaks? My wallet can't handle bracket replacements right now, so soft snacks it is.
Haha, been there with the crunchy snack regret... I once risked it with tortilla chips at a party—spent the whole night silently panicking I'd snapped something. Lesson learned, yogurt and bananas are my braces-friendly besties now. Hang in there, it'll be worth it eventually.
"yogurt and bananas are my braces-friendly besties now."
Haha, yogurt and bananas are great, but don't you get bored of them after a while? Have you tried smoothies instead? I found blending frozen berries with yogurt or almond milk was a lifesaver—cheap, tasty, and zero crunchy snack anxiety. Plus, you can switch up flavors easily. Braces feel endless sometimes, but mixing things up helps keep the frustration down... Have you experimented with other soft snacks yet?
"Braces feel endless sometimes, but mixing things up helps keep the frustration down..."
Totally agree with this. It can feel like forever, especially with an underbite—I know from experience. Yogurt and bananas are definitely classics, but smoothies were my go-to as well. Honestly, soups became a staple for me too. Not just the boring ones either; creamy potato leek, tomato basil, or even blended veggie soups with a bit of cheese melted in. It sounds weird, but it made meals feel less repetitive and kept me feeling full longer.
Also, scrambled eggs and soft pasta dishes were lifesavers. Just gotta be careful with tomato sauces staining the bands (learned that the hard way, haha). Hang in there though; it feels endless now, but you'll be surprised how quickly the time goes by once you're nearing the finish line. You've got this.
"Honestly, soups became a staple for me too. Not just the boring ones either; creamy potato leek, tomato basil, or even blended veggie soups with a bit of cheese melted in."
Soups are definitely underrated when you're stuck with braces. I was skeptical at first because I thought they'd never fill me up, but turns out I was wrong. Potato leek was a lifesaver for me too, especially after adjustments when chewing felt impossible. Did you ever try blending chili? Sounds weird, I know, but it actually tastes pretty good and feels like you're eating something substantial.
I totally get the frustration though. I'm about 8 months into braces for my underbite, and some days it feels like nothing's changing. Did anyone else notice their bite actually feeling worse before it got better? My orthodontist said that's normal, but it's still nerve-wracking. Also, did you guys have elastics from the start or did they add them later? I'm supposed to get mine next month and honestly, I'm a bit anxious about how much they'll hurt or if they'll make eating even harder.
Scrambled eggs were my go-to breakfast too, but after a while, even those got old. I started making overnight oats with mashed bananas and peanut butter—sounds mushy (and it is), but it kept me full longer than yogurt alone. Pasta was great too, but yeah, tomato sauce stains are no joke. Learned that lesson after my first spaghetti dinner post-braces... not fun.
Anyway, glad to hear I'm not alone in feeling like this process is dragging on forever. It's reassuring to hear from people who've made it through.
