Getting used to eating and talking with new teeth

My trick was to switch to “stealth foods”—think mashed potatoes, soup, even scrambled eggs. Takes the drama out of lunch.

Honestly, I get the appeal of “stealth foods,” but sometimes sticking with normal stuff (even if it’s noisy) helps you adjust faster. I’ve seen folks who avoid crunchy foods for too long end up with sore jaws when they finally go back. Little by little, your mouth gets used to it—just maybe not with apples on day one.

I totally get both sides. I was so nervous about eating at first that I pretty much lived on yogurt and instant mashed potatoes. But after a week, I tried a tiny piece of toast and realized my mouth just needed to relearn things. It hurt a bit, but honestly, the more I practiced with “real” food (carefully), the less awkward it got. Didn’t expect my jaw to get tired, but it did... guess it’s like working out any muscle.