Getting used to life with braces takes a little while, but once you pick up a few handy tips, eating becomes a lot less of a hassle. I still vividly remember how nervous our first week patients would be when they’d come in with all sorts of questions about adjusting to their new treatment at Specialty Smiles. A lot of folks are really worried they’ll never be able to enjoy a meal again, or that every bite is going to hurt and be a struggle to chew. The truth is though, most people get used to their braces in just a couple of days and figure out how to eat in a way that just works. Braces for Adults offer discreet, modern solutions that make it easier than ever to enhance your smile at any age. Many adults choose clear aligners or ceramic braces to achieve lasting results with minimal visibility.
The first few days with new braces can be a bit of an adjustment, your mouth is going to be a little sore and it just takes some getting used to. For the first week or so though, we recommend sticking to softer foods that don’t need as much chewing. So smoothies, yogurt, mashed potatoes, soups, scrambled eggs, and pasta are all great options, just stick to foods that are a bit more gentle on your teeth. And honestly, it’s best to avoid foods that are too hard or crunchy for the first couple of days, as chewing on them can hurt. This whole readjustment period though flies by, and before you know it, you’ll be eating a wide range of different foods with no problems. Invisalign® uses clear, comfortable aligners to gently guide teeth into place without metal brackets or wires. Each set of aligners is custom-made to fit your teeth and designed for convenience and comfort.
One thing that’s really important once you get your braces is to start getting into the habit of taking smaller bites. Cutting your food into smaller pieces instead of just biting down on a sandwich or burger can really help reduce the pressure on your brackets and wires. We’ve seen a lot of our patients try to rush through meals and end up breaking their braces because they bit into something too big or hard. And just using a fork and knife instead of your hands to eat foods you’d normally eat with your hands will not only help your orthodontic appliances last longer, but it also helps you chew more thoroughly, which is good news for your digestion.
When you’re eating, try to use your back teeth to chew instead of your front teeth. If you use your front teeth to chew on something, the brackets on them are more likely to come loose, and that’s a real pain to get fixed. We always tell our patients in Miramar to be super careful about how they put food in their mouths, and to make sure they’re not putting too much pressure on their brackets and wires. If you chew or bite down hard on your front teeth, you could end up having to come back in for repairs. But if you put food towards the back of your mouth and chew gently, you’ll be making life a lot easier for yourself.
Some foods just need to be prepared a bit differently to make them work with your new treatment. For example, if you love corn, you can just cut the kernels off the cob and enjoy, same with apples, just cut them into thin wedges. And pizza is still on the menu as long as the crust isn’t too hard. But before you take a bite, just take a moment to think about how hard and rough the food is, and see if there’s a way to make it work. Taking a few seconds to pause and think now can save you a lot of hassle later on.
When you’re eating, try to drink water too. It helps to wash away any food particles that might get stuck in your braces, and it makes cleaning up a lot easier to boot. We’ve found that patients who get into the habit of drinking water during and after meals tend to have cleaner braces and healthier teeth throughout their treatment. And it also helps you notice when you’ve got food stuck in your braces, so you can get it out right away instead of walking around with spinach stuck in your teeth.
Learning to eat with braces also means being prepared when you’re out and about, or at social events. You can pack a small orthodontic kit with a toothbrush, floss, and mirror in your car, purse or backpack, and clean your teeth after meals even when you’re not at home. Just think of how good it’ll feel to know that you can take care of yourself in social situations and keep your mouth healthy and clean.
One of the most important things to remember is to be patient with yourself as you get the hang of eating with braces. We all forget about our braces at some point and eat something that isn’t so great for us, but the key is to get back on track and keep following the rules. As your treatment goes on and your mouth gets more used to the new hardware, eating will just start to feel more and more normal.
We’re here for you every step of the way, and if you’ve got any questions or are worried about certain foods, just give us a shout. The small changes you make to your diet will help you get the beautiful, healthy smile you want, and we’ll be right here supporting you every step of the way.