Totally get where you’re coming from about the crunchy foods—my kiddo basically lived on mashed potatoes and yogurt for a week after her braces got adjusted. We tried the saltwater rinse too, but she complained it stung, so we switched to a super gentle kids’ mouthwash and that seemed to help. I think a lot of the swelling is just the gums reacting to all the new pressure and hardware, but if it sticks around or gets worse, I’d probably check in with the orthodontist. It’s such a learning curve figuring out what works for each person.
That sounds so familiar—my daughter was all about soft foods after her first adjustment, too. She actually hated the saltwater rinse, said it made things worse, which surprised me since it’s usually recommended. We switched to a mild, alcohol-free mouthwash and that was way more tolerable. Swelling did go down after a few days, but I’ve heard from our ortho that sometimes the gums just need time to get used to the brackets and wires. If it drags on or looks really red, I’d be a bit more concerned, but a little puffiness seems pretty common in those early weeks.
Swollen gums after braces…oh, I remember that all too well. When I first got mine (and yes, I was well past my teenage years—never too late for straight teeth, right?), my gums puffed up like little pink pillows. I was convinced something was wrong, but my ortho just smiled and said, “Give it a week or two.” Easier said than done when you’re wincing every time you chew.
Funny you mention the saltwater rinse—everyone swears by it, but honestly, it made my mouth feel even more raw. Maybe it’s a generational thing or just personal taste, but I switched to one of those gentle kid’s mouthwashes and it was way less harsh. My gums calmed down after about five days, but they’d flare up again after each adjustment. Kind of like they were protesting the whole process.
I did get a bit paranoid at one point because the swelling looked worse on one side. Turns out I was favoring that side when chewing and not brushing as thoroughly because it hurt. Once I got braver about cleaning around the brackets (those little proxy brushes are a game-changer), things improved.
It’s tricky because some swelling is normal, but if it’s really red or starts bleeding a lot, I’d say that’s worth checking in with the ortho. I wouldn’t rush to panic over mild puffiness though. Braces are just rude guests in your mouth at first—they need time to settle in.
Honestly, eating soft foods helped, but I missed crunchy stuff way more than I expected. Mashed potatoes get old fast. Anyone else find themselves dreaming about biting into an apple again?
My daughter just started braces last month, and I swear, the first week was rough for both of us. Her gums puffed up so much I thought we’d missed some major step in cleaning. The ortho said it happens, but watching her try to eat soup with a spoon like she’d forgotten how to chew was... something. We tried the saltwater rinse too—she hated it, said it tasted like old pool water. Switched to one of those bubblegum kid rinses and that seemed to help.
I noticed she was barely brushing the sore spots at first, which made things worse. Those tiny brushes are a lifesaver, but getting her to use them? That’s another battle. I remember when I had braces as a teen, I’d just power through the pain, but she’s a bit more dramatic about it all. Anyone else’s kids get super picky about what they’ll eat during this phase? She’s lived on yogurt and scrambled eggs for days. Wondering if there’s a trick to getting them back on regular food sooner or if it’s just a waiting game.
My son was exactly the same—he basically survived on mashed potatoes and applesauce for the first week. I honestly think it’s just a waiting game until their mouths adjust. We tried all sorts of soft foods, but he still complained. The only thing that helped was lots of patience and, weirdly, cool smoothies (he hated warm stuff). I get wanting them to eat “normal” food again, but I wouldn’t push it too hard right now. Their mouths really do need time to toughen up.
