Greek yogurt was a lifesaver when my son first got braces. He was pretty miserable at first, but smoothies and yogurt bowls really helped. Honestly, kids bounce back quicker than we think...she'll be crunching apples again before you know it.
"Honestly, kids bounce back quicker than we think...she'll be crunching apples again before you know it."
That's very true. I remember when I first got braces myself—initially, it felt like I'd never eat normally again. Greek yogurt and smoothies were definitely my go-to as well, but I also found mashed potatoes and soups incredibly helpful during those first uncomfortable days. It might sound boring at first, but you can get pretty creative with toppings or seasonings to keep things interesting.
One thing that really helped me was rinsing my mouth gently with warm salt water a couple of times a day. It seemed to ease the soreness significantly and sped up the healing process for any minor irritations from the brackets. Also, orthodontic wax became my best friend for a while—I kept some in my bag at all times just in case.
And you're right about bouncing back quickly; after about a week or two, things started feeling surprisingly normal again. Before long, I was back to eating most foods comfortably (though popcorn stayed off-limits for obvious reasons!). It's amazing how adaptable we are, especially kids—they seem to adjust even faster than adults do.
Just keep reminding her (and yourself) that this discomfort is temporary and will be worth it in the end. In fact, she'll probably forget all about these early struggles once she sees her beautiful new smile emerging...
Reading this brings back memories of my own braces experience, and honestly, I wish I'd known about the salt water trick back then. I was pretty anxious about the whole thing, and I remember being convinced I'd never eat pizza again (dramatic, I know). But you're right, after a couple weeks, things did start to feel normal again.
One thing that caught me off guard though was how sensitive my teeth felt after each adjustment. Just when I thought I'd gotten used to it, they'd tighten things up and I'd be back to square one with soft foods. I ended up relying heavily on scrambled eggs and oatmeal during those times. Not exactly exciting, but at least they were filling and easy to eat.
I also remember being super cautious about biting into anything hard even after the initial soreness wore off. Apples were definitely sliced for months, and carrots were steamed until they were practically mush. Even now, years later, I still hesitate a bit before biting into something crunchy—old habits die hard, I guess.
Did anyone else find themselves overly cautious even after their braces came off? Or is it just me being overly anxious as usual...
"Even now, years later, I still hesitate a bit before biting into something crunchy—old habits die hard, I guess."
Haha, totally relate to this. My braces came off ages ago, but I still catch myself slicing apples out of habit. Weirdly enough, popcorn was my biggest fear—I avoided it religiously during braces, and even now I eat it super carefully, like I'm expecting a bracket to pop off any second. Funny how those little anxieties stick around long after the braces are gone...
Haha, same here. I still catch myself breaking chocolate bars into tiny pieces before eating them—it's like my brain hasn't fully accepted that I'm brace-free yet. Weirdly, carrots were my biggest paranoia food. Even now, I subconsciously chew them super slowly, half-expecting something to snap or pop loose... It's funny how braces train us into these cautious little rituals that stick around way longer than necessary.
