"Turns out she was just anxious about damaging her teeth again."
This is actually pretty common! I've seen a lot of kids (and even adults, honestly) get nervous about eating certain foods after braces come off. It's like your brain needs time to catch up with the fact that your teeth are finally free, haha. Usually, it just takes some gentle reassurance and patience—exactly what you're already doing. He'll probably be back to steak dinners before you know it...hang in there!
"Usually, it just takes some gentle reassurance and patience—exactly what you're already doing."
Yeah, patience definitely helps, but I'm curious—did anyone's dentist recommend specific foods or textures to ease back into normal eating? Wondering if there's a budget-friendly way to gradually build confidence again...
Totally get where you're coming from—after I got my braces tightened, eating felt like a minefield for a few days. My dentist didn't give me a specific list, but she did suggest starting with softer foods and gradually working my way up. I found scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, and soups were lifesavers at first. Then I slowly moved onto pasta, rice dishes, and steamed veggies—basically anything soft enough to chew without too much pressure.
One budget-friendly trick that worked for me was oatmeal. It's cheap, filling, and you can adjust the texture easily by adding milk or water. Plus, you can mix in fruits or peanut butter once you're comfortable. Another thing I did was cut sandwiches into smaller bites or strips, which made chewing less intimidating.
Honestly, it's all about trial and error. You'll quickly figure out what feels comfortable and what doesn't. Before you know it, you'll be back to eating normally without even realizing it...just hang in there!
"Another thing I did was cut sandwiches into smaller bites or strips, which made chewing less intimidating."
Good tip—I remember doing something similar, but honestly, sandwiches were still tricky for me at first. I leaned heavily on smoothies and yogurt...basically anything that didn't require actual chewing. Hang in there, it does get easier.
I leaned heavily on smoothies and yogurt...basically anything that didn't require actual chewing. Hang in there, it does get easier.
Smoothies were a lifesaver for me too, but did you ever try soups? Blended soups like tomato or butternut squash were filling and didn't require chewing at all. Might be worth a shot if you're getting tired of yogurt...
