That’s honestly such a big step. Pizza was the thing I missed most after getting my braces, and yeah, eating it without wincing or worrying about sauce getting everywhere felt like a mini celebration. The store anxiety is so real—I still catch myself wondering if people notice when I chew weird, but you’re right, most folks are just in their own world. Glad to hear you’re finding those little wins. They really do make the tough days easier.
Pizza was a nightmare for me too, honestly. The first time I tried eating it with my new braces, I ended up just picking off the cheese and nibbling at the crust like a mouse. Super embarrassing, especially since I was at a friend’s birthday party and felt like everyone was watching how weirdly I chewed. That store anxiety thing is so real—sometimes I still catch myself covering my mouth when I chew, even though most people probably don’t care or notice.
I remember one day after an adjustment, my teeth were so sore that even thinking about biting into anything made me anxious. But then, a few weeks later, I managed to eat a slice (with a fork and knife, but still) without tearing up from pain. It’s wild how those tiny victories can make you feel like you’re getting your life back bit by bit. Still not brave enough for crunchy crusts yet... maybe someday.
I ended up just picking off the cheese and nibbling at the crust like a mouse. Super embarrassing, especially since I was at a friend’s birthday party and felt like everyone was watching how weirdly I chewed.
This brought back memories. I remember after getting my partials, pizza felt like an impossible food. The cheese would get stuck, the sauce would sneak under the plate, and forget about biting into the crust—felt like trying to chew on a brick. I’d end up using a fork and knife too, even at home. Honestly, I still do sometimes, just out of habit.
The anxiety about people noticing is so real, but you’re right—most folks don’t care or even notice. I used to cover my mouth when I laughed or ate for years. Eventually, you just get used to it, and the self-consciousness fades (mostly).
Tiny victories really do add up. First time I managed a whole slice without having to pause or wince, I felt like I deserved a medal. Crunchy crusts are still a hard pass for me though... not sure I’ll ever be brave enough to go there again, but never say never.
The cheese would get stuck, the sauce would sneak under the plate, and forget about biting into the crust—felt like trying to chew on a brick.
That’s such a vivid way to put it—chewing on a brick is exactly how I’d describe my first attempt at pizza after getting my own dental work done. I remember eyeing everyone else just casually chomping away and thinking, “How are they not terrified of losing a tooth?” Fork and knife became my best friends for a while, and honestly, I still get a little nervous around anything with a crispy edge. Funny how something as simple as pizza can feel like a tiny Everest.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I found that using a fork and knife actually made pizza feel even more awkward for me. Maybe it’s just the way I grew up eating it—hands only, folded slice, the whole deal. After I got my braces, though, I had to rethink everything. For a while, I just avoided pizza altogether because the thought of cheese getting stuck in my brackets was too much.
Eventually, I started asking for thin crust or even those “personal pan” sizes that are softer and easier to manage. It’s not quite the same as a big, cheesy slice, but it helped me feel less anxious about biting in. The crunchy crust still makes me nervous sometimes, but I’ve found that letting it cool a bit softens things up. Not saying there’s one right way, but for me, adapting how I ordered pizza made a bigger difference than switching utensils. It’s weird how much dental work changes your relationship with food...
