Ever find a trick for eating salads without feeling like you’re chewing gravel?
I swear, that “gravel salad” feeling is too real. I used to think I was just being dramatic, but after getting a couple of fillings, even a gentle leaf of spinach felt like it was plotting against me. My “trick” is basically drowning everything in dressing and letting it soak for a few minutes—turns a crunchy salad into a soggy mess, but hey, at least my teeth don’t scream.
And those mouth guards at night? Total game changer. I used to wake up with jaw aches and a vague sense of dental doom. Now, the only thing I have to worry about is looking mildly ridiculous before bed. I still miss biting straight into apples, though. Slicing everything up like I’m prepping for a toddler snack plate is my new normal.
Pizza is my weakness, so figuring out how to eat it without wincing felt like unlocking a life achievement. Still can’t do ice cream without a little internal pep talk, though...
That “gravel” feeling with salads is no joke—sometimes I wonder if my jaw’s just going to give up halfway through. I’ve found a little workaround that helps, especially after getting a few crowns and realizing my chewing days aren’t what they used to be. Here’s what I do: I chop everything up small, even the lettuce. It feels a bit silly, but honestly, it makes a difference. I also let the salad sit with the dressing for a few minutes, like you mentioned, but I try not to drown it completely. Just enough to soften things up a bit.
Mouth guards at night were a weird adjustment for me too. At first, I felt like I was wearing a retainer from high school again, but waking up without that jaw pain is worth it.
I’m with you on apples—I haven’t bitten into one in years. Sliced fruit, sliced pizza, even sandwiches cut into smaller pieces... it’s like everything’s been toddler-ized, but hey, whatever works. Haven’t cracked the ice cream code either. If you ever figure out how to eat it without the zings, let me know.
Totally get you on the salad struggle. I swear, after my last crown, I started chopping everything so tiny it looked like bird food. Honestly, it’s a little embarrassing at restaurants, but I’d rather that than risk another chipped tooth. And I’ve just given up on apples—those are enemy number one now. Ice cream’s still a minefield for me too... sometimes I just let it melt and use a spoon, but it’s not quite the same.
I started chopping everything so tiny it looked like bird food.
That’s relatable—I’ve been “micro-chopping” veggies since I got my implant. It’s wild how dental work changes your eating habits. Have you tried those silicone mouth guards for cold stuff? They look odd but supposedly help with the ice cream sensitivity... not sure if they actually work though.
I actually bought one of those silicone guards after my second crown, thinking it’d solve my “brain freeze” issue. Honestly, it felt kind of awkward and didn’t help much with sensitivity. Maybe it’s just me, but I found using a spoon and letting things warm up a bit worked better... Not exactly high-tech, but it saved my dignity.
