Just survived my first week with braces, and man, chewing was a nightmare at first. But ice-cold smoothies and gentle saltwater rinses really saved me. Curious if anyone else found something else that worked wonders?
Totally agree about smoothies—they're a lifesaver in those early days. Another thing that helped me was using orthodontic wax on the brackets causing irritation... it really reduced soreness and made adjusting way easier. Worth giving it a try if you haven't yet.
"Another thing that helped me was using orthodontic wax on the brackets causing irritation..."
Wax definitely helps, especially at first, but I found it kind of annoying to keep reapplying and buying more (it adds up!). Instead, rinsing with warm salt water a few times a day was a cheaper alternative that worked surprisingly well for me. It soothed the irritation and seemed to speed up healing of those little sores. Might be worth trying if you're watching your budget or just want something simpler...
