"Even after my ortho gave me the green light, I kept slicing them up for months because I was convinced I'd chip something."
Funny, I had the opposite experience—apples were my go-to test food right after braces. I figured if my teeth could handle that crunch, they'd handle anything. Popcorn, though... still makes me pause. Maybe it's less about the food itself and more about what we mentally associate with it? Either way, interesting how differently we all process these things.
I totally get the anxiety around apples. My ortho said I was good to go too, but honestly, biting into anything crunchy still freaks me out a bit. I tried an apple slice first—just one slice—and chewed super carefully, convinced I'd hear a crack or something. Nothing happened, but even now, months later, I still slice them up out of habit.
"Popcorn, though... still makes me pause."
Popcorn is another story entirely. I haven't even tried it yet, and I'm not sure I ever will. Every time I think about those little kernels getting stuck or cracking something, I just can't bring myself to risk it. Maybe you're right, and it's more mental than anything else. But honestly, after all the time and money spent on braces, I'm not really eager to test the limits.
Funny how braces change your relationship with food, huh?
Same here, popcorn is honestly in a category of its own. I did eventually try it, but only after months of being brace-free—and even then, I was picking through the bowl, carefully avoiding any suspicious-looking kernels. It's funny because intellectually I know everything should be fine, but the anxiety around damaging something after all that effort just lingers. Braces definitely create some lasting food paranoia... guess it's just part of the experience now.
Totally relate to that lingering anxiety around certain foods post-braces. Popcorn is definitely a common culprit, but I've noticed people also feel cautious about biting into apples or crunchy veggies even months after braces removal. It's understandable—after investing so much time and effort, the fear of undoing progress sticks around. Gradually reintroducing these foods in smaller, manageable bites can help ease the anxiety. Eventually, your confidence will catch up with your intellect... just takes some patience.
I get the anxiety around crunchy foods, but honestly, for me it wasn't apples or popcorn that freaked me out—it was chewy stuff like caramel or gummy candies. I remember the first time I tried a caramel candy after getting my braces off, I literally paused mid-chew, convinced I'd feel that dreaded tugging sensation again. Weirdly enough, crunchy foods felt safer because I could control how hard I bit down, but chewy stuff felt unpredictable and risky.
I guess everyone's different though. Maybe it's less about the texture itself and more about whatever food caused you trouble during braces? Like, if popcorn kernels got stuck constantly, you'd probably be wary of popcorn. For me, caramel was the enemy number one, so even now I still hesitate a bit before eating it. Funny how our brains hold onto these little anxieties long after the braces are gone...
