"Did anyone else's kid complain about texture more than taste?"
Yep, totally normal. Mine was exactly the same—texture was a huge deal. Mashed potatoes had to be silky smooth, or forget it. Maybe try freezing smoothies into popsicles? Worked wonders here...
My grandson was the same way—texture trumped taste every time. He'd chew meat forever if it wasn't tender enough, drove us all crazy at dinner. Popsicles worked here too, but have you tried soups or broths? Easier on sensitive mouths, especially after braces adjustments. Wonder if texture sensitivity eases up once the braces come off...
Interesting thought about texture sensitivity easing after braces removal, but from what I've seen, it might be a bit more complicated. My niece had similar issues—super picky about textures well before braces, and honestly, things didn't change much afterward. Sure, the braces made her mouth extra sensitive temporarily, but her aversion to chewy or tough foods persisted long after they were off. It seemed to be more of a sensory thing rather than directly related to orthodontics.
One thing that did help (oddly enough) was gradually introducing foods with mixed textures—think smoothies with bits of fruit or soups with small chunks of veggies—to slowly get her comfortable with variety. It wasn't an overnight fix, and she still avoids steak like it's poison, but there's definitely been progress. So, while braces adjustments can amplify texture sensitivity temporarily, addressing the underlying sensory preferences might be key in the long run.
"One thing that did help (oddly enough) was gradually introducing foods with mixed textures—think smoothies with bits of fruit or soups with small chunks of veggies—to slowly get her comfortable with variety."
This is actually really reassuring to hear. My son just got his braces off a couple months ago, and I was hoping his texture issues would magically disappear...but nope, still avoiding anything remotely chewy or crunchy. I guess I was being overly optimistic, haha. But your niece's experience makes sense—maybe it's more sensory than orthodontic after all.
We've been trying similar things, like adding granola bits into yogurt or tiny pasta shapes into soups. It's slow going, but he's definitely less hesitant now than before. Steak is still a no-go here too, though...he acts like I'm serving him shoe leather or something. 😂 Anyway, thanks for sharing your niece's story—it helps knowing we're not alone in this!
Honestly, it might not just be sensory or orthodontic—could be psychological too. When my daughter got her braces off, she acted like popcorn was a ticking time bomb for months. Turns out she was just anxious about damaging her teeth again. Took some gentle nudging (and a lot of patience) before she finally relaxed. Maybe your son's hesitation with steak is partly mental too? Just something to consider...kids can be weirdly stubborn about food sometimes, haha.
