"Funny how our brains hold onto these little anxieties long after the braces are gone..."
This is exactly what I'm worried about! I'm scheduled to get my braces off next week, and instead of being excited, I'm already stressing about eating certain foods again. Reading your experience with caramel made me realize I haven't even thought about chewy stuff yet—I've been too focused on crunchy things like popcorn and chips. But now that you mention it, I remember the orthodontist specifically warning me about caramel and gummy candies when I first got my braces. I guess I internalized that fear without even realizing it.
It's weird because before braces, caramel was my absolute favorite treat. I used to love those chewy caramel squares you get around Halloween. But after nearly two years of avoiding them completely, I'm not sure how I'll feel when I finally try one again. Will it taste as good as I remember, or will I just be paranoid the whole time, waiting for something bad to happen?
Your story about pausing mid-chew made me laugh a little (sorry!), but honestly, I can totally see myself doing the exact same thing. It's funny how these little anxieties stick around even after the physical reason for them is gone. Makes me wonder—do you think the anxiety fades over time, or do you just get used to ignoring it? Did anyone else find that their fears went away after a while, or do you still hesitate before eating certain foods even years later?
Haha, trust me, you'll get over it pretty quick. I remember cautiously biting into an apple slice like it was gonna explode or something...but now? Caramel apples all day. Your brain just needs some convincing that you're safe again.
Totally agree, the hesitation fades pretty quickly. I remember feeling nervous about biting into anything crunchy at first too—I stuck with softer foods for the initial days just to ease into it. But before long, I was confidently munching raw carrots and almonds again. It's amazing how adaptable we are once our brains realize there's no danger anymore. Enjoy rediscovering all those foods you've been missing...it really is a rewarding experience.
"I stuck with softer foods for the initial days just to ease into it. But before long, I was confidently munching raw carrots and almonds again."
Haha, reading this brings back memories! I remember the day my braces came off—I was so excited but weirdly cautious at the same time. My orthodontist handed me a bag of crunchy snacks as a little congrats gift, and I just stared at it suspiciously like it was some kind of trap. 😂
Honestly, after spending so much money on braces (and being super budget-conscious about everything), I was paranoid about biting into anything remotely hard. The first few days, I stuck strictly to pasta, mashed potatoes, soups... basically anything that didn't require actual chewing. But then my best friend convinced me to celebrate by going out for pizza. I remember sitting there awkwardly nibbling on the crust like a mouse, convinced something terrible would happen.
But guess what? Nothing did. And soon enough, I was eating apples without slicing them into tiny pieces first—felt like such a rebel! It really is funny how quickly our brains adjust once we realize we're not going to break anything.
One thing that surprised me though: popcorn kernels still make me nervous even now. Maybe it's because my orthodontist drilled it into my head that popcorn was the enemy during treatment? Does anyone else still feel weirdly hesitant about certain foods even long after getting braces off?
Anyway, congrats on finally being brace-free. Enjoy rediscovering all those crunchy snacks—just maybe don't go too wild on popcorn right away... trust me on this one. 😉
Haha, I totally get the popcorn paranoia...my dentist scared me off caramel apples and toffee for life, even years later I still hesitate.
"I remember sitting there awkwardly nibbling on the crust like a mouse"
This made me laugh—exactly how I felt! Did anyone else have trouble shaking those dentist warnings?
