That chicken nugget story is cracking me up—been there, just with braces instead of a pulled tooth. I swear, every time I get something adjusted, it’s like my whole diet goes out the window for a week. Tried eating pizza too soon after getting wires tightened once... let’s just say, cheese and brackets don’t mix.
I totally get the “paranoia” thing. I’ve spent way too much time in front of the bathroom mirror with a flashlight, checking for food stuck in my brackets. Sometimes I wonder if my teeth are actually cleaner than ever or if I’m just obsessing.
Smoothies and applesauce were basically staples for me during rough patches. Never thought I’d have strong opinions about yogurt textures, but here we are. And yeah, rinsing your mouth becomes this weird ritual—my family definitely gave me side eyes for all the swishing.
Honestly, you end up getting creative out of pure necessity. Still, I kind of miss biting into an apple without thinking twice...
I’m right there with you on the food paranoia—after my first adjustment, I spent way too long checking every bracket in the mirror. Honestly, I thought I’d be fine eating regular stuff, but even bread felt like chewing gravel for a while. I started carrying those little dental picks everywhere, just in case. The weirdest part is how quickly your priorities change; suddenly, all I cared about was finding soup that wasn’t too chunky. It’s a hassle, but it does get easier once you find your go-to soft foods. Still miss crunchy carrots though...
That bread/gravel comparison is spot on. After my last redo, I swear I became a mashed potatoes connoisseur—could probably write reviews on which ones go down easiest. Those dental picks are basically my security blanket now. And I never thought I'd miss salad until lettuce started feeling like razor blades... The way your whole menu changes overnight is wild, but hey, at least ice cream is still on the table.
I totally get what you mean about the menu changes—never realized how much I’d miss crunchy stuff until I couldn’t eat it. I’m gearing up for my first redo soon and honestly, reading this makes me feel less alone. It’s weird how something as simple as mashed potatoes can become your new comfort food. And yeah, ice cream being “safe” is a tiny win, but I’d trade it for a salad any day. Hang in there.
Mashed potatoes are great and all, but am I the only one who kind of loves the excuse to eat way too much pudding? I get missing crunchy stuff—chips used to be my go-to snack—but honestly, not having to worry about lettuce getting stuck in my teeth has been a weird perk. Have you tried roasted veggies cooked till they’re super soft? They’re not a salad, but at least you can pretend. And hey, I’d take “safe” ice cream over trying to chew steak with a numb mouth any day…