Did you notice any tricks for making meals less of a hassle during that first month? We tried mashed potatoes and eggs but got bored pretty fast...
Yeah, the food rut hit me hard too. I remember living off yogurt and pudding cups for a while, but that got old quick. I actually started blending up soups—tomato with a little cheese melted in was a lifesaver. Did you ever try overcooked pasta? Not super exciting, but at least it’s something different. The cheek pain was rough, but I found cold smoothies helped more than popsicles for me. Funny how everyone seems to have their own “go-to” soft food...
I totally get what you mean about getting bored of the usual soft foods. I was so sick of mashed potatoes by week two that I started looking at baby food jars just to see if there was anything new to try. Honestly, the texture thing gets old fast—everything starts feeling like mush after a while. Did you ever try cottage cheese? I know it sounds weird, but I’d mix it with a little fruit or honey and it actually broke up the monotony for me.
One thing I noticed is how much my taste changed right after getting braces. Stuff I used to love tasted off, maybe because of all the metal in my mouth? Or maybe it was just the pain messing with my head. Either way, even ice cream stopped being fun after a bit. Did you have that too, or was it just me?
I tried overcooked pasta too, but then I got paranoid about bits getting stuck around the brackets. Rinsing my mouth constantly became a new hobby... not exactly fun. My mom suggested pureed chicken soup and at first I thought she was joking, but it wasn’t half bad if you add some herbs or a little hot sauce (if your mouth can handle it).
The smoothies were a lifesaver for me as well, especially with frozen berries and Greek yogurt blended in. But then again, cold stuff sometimes made my teeth ache more than warm things. Did you notice that? Or did cold actually help your cheek pain more? It’s weird how everyone’s experience is a bit different.
At one point I tried scrambled tofu just to mix things up—honestly, not my favorite, but at least it wasn’t another bowl of oatmeal. Looking back, that first month really felt like an experiment in creative eating... and patience.
Did anyone else get super tired of brushing their teeth after every tiny snack? That drove me nuts more than the food itself sometimes.
Cottage cheese with fruit actually sounds pretty good—I wish I’d thought of that when I was deep in my mashed potatoes phase. I totally relate to the weird taste changes after getting braces. For me, orange juice tasted super metallic for a while, which was a bummer since it used to be my go-to breakfast drink. I figured it was all the metal and maybe just my mouth being annoyed in general.
As for cold stuff, I had this love-hate thing going on. Ice packs felt amazing on my cheeks, but ice cream or cold smoothies sometimes made my teeth zing in a not-so-fun way. Warm soups were usually safer, but then you get tired of those too. Pureed chicken soup with hot sauce is a bold move—my mouth couldn’t handle spice for the first month, but I might try that next time I need comfort food.
Brushing after every snack drove me nuts too. I started carrying those little dental brushes everywhere, but honestly, sometimes I just wanted to skip it and risk the wrath of my orthodontist... Patience is definitely a skill you pick up with braces, right?
That metallic orange juice thing is real—your taste buds just go on strike for a while. I’ve seen folks get really creative with soft foods, but I’m with you: after week two, even the best soup starts to feel like a punishment. And those tiny dental brushes? Lifesavers, but I swear I’ve lost more of them than I’ve actually used. Patience is definitely part of the package, but hey, at least you get a killer smile in the end... eventually.
That metallic taste is honestly one of the weirdest parts for me—I kept thinking something was wrong with my juice or even my water. I’m still getting used to the idea that everything’s going to taste a bit off for a while. Soft foods are a struggle, too. I tried to get creative with mashed potatoes and yogurt, but even those get old real fast. I keep worrying about getting food stuck everywhere, so I brush after pretty much every snack. Those little dental brushes are useful, but I always feel like I’m going to poke my gums or drop them in the sink.
I haven’t hit that “killer smile” stage yet, so it’s hard not to second-guess if it’s all worth it. My anxiety spikes every time I feel a new ache or something shifts. I guess the patience part is what I’m struggling with most. I know people say it’s worth it in the end, but right now it just feels like a long, awkward waiting game.
