I remember something similar happening to me. When my braces finally came off, I thought I'd celebrate by biting into an apple—hadn't done that properly in years. Big mistake... felt like my teeth were gonna snap right off. It wasn't painful exactly, just really uncomfortable and weirdly sensitive. Took about a week before I felt confident enough to try again, and even then, I cut it up first.
I think your idea of starting gentle and building up gradually makes sense. Maybe begin with softer versions of your favorite foods—like mashed potatoes before crispy roasted ones, pulled pork instead of tough steak, or pasta instead of thick-crust pizza. That way, you still get to celebrate the freedom of being brace-free without overdoing it right away. Worked pretty well for me, anyway.
Haha, reading this thread is making me a bit nervous—I get mine off next week and was planning a full-on popcorn binge to celebrate, but maybe that's not the smartest choice after all. Did anyone else find certain foods unexpectedly tricky even weeks after removal? I'd hate to end up staring sadly at my popcorn bowl...
Haha, your popcorn dilemma reminded me of my own brace-free celebration. I was so excited to finally bite into a crisp apple without slicing it first—seemed like the perfect symbolic snack, right? Well, turns out my teeth felt super weird and sensitive for a good two weeks after removal. I ended up awkwardly nibbling around the apple like a confused hamster...not exactly the triumphant moment I'd imagined.
Honestly, popcorn might be okay if you're careful, but I'd suggest having a backup snack just in case. Maybe something softer but still satisfying, like ice cream or brownies? I know it's not quite the same crunch factor, but at least you won't end up sadly staring at your bowl. Either way, congrats on getting them off soon—it's such a relief to finally feel your teeth again.
My daughter had a similar experience—she was dying to bite into corn on the cob again, but her teeth were surprisingly sensitive afterward. We ended up grilling the corn and slicing it off the cob for a while, which helped ease her back into crunchy foods. Maybe try something like that first? Curious if anyone else found certain foods unexpectedly tricky after braces removal...
Weirdly enough, my son had no issues with corn, but apples were a total no-go for weeks. Even sliced thin, he said they felt "weirdly sharp." Maybe it's just different sensitivities for different kids...?
