OT Braces: What CAN they eat??

[pbharris4]

DD got her upper braces today. All she was able to have was soft foods today. I have to send her back to school tomorrow. I have the list of stuff they can't eat, but they also said not to "bite" into anything and to cut everything up. What is she going to be able to eat? Should I pack her something? BTW, she's 12 and in 6th grade.

 

[wdw_girl_18]

The first week I had braces was horrible. They hurt so much. Soft foods would probably be the best.

After that, I ate everything. Even chewed sugarless gum (without my orthodontist knowing ). I never had any problems at all. And like you said, make sure all apples, carrots etc are cut up. Biting into an apple would be painful!

I would stay away from the sweets and soda. Almost all of my friends had cavities when their braces were taken off, from not brushing after eating because they were at school.

Good luck!

 

[nicolita3]

The only things that I couldnt really eat were, whole apples. I had to have them cut up. Sandwiches were a bit hard but I would just tear it into smaller pieces and eat it like that. But other than that, I could eat anything.

 

[Disney87]

delete

 

[Princessbaby]

I just had my braces off for 2 years- I remember I ate pudding, applesauce, jello, the hardest food I could eat was grilled cheese sandwichs and that was mostly gumming them. I lost about 10 pounds the first 2 weeks I had braces. Not the best weight loss plan but I wasn't complaining! Hope she feels better soon- lots of ibuprofen to help with the pain and any inflammation!
Afterwards, I had to be careful not to bite anything hard like carrots, apples, etc. I did not eat corn on the cob- I just cut it off, I did not eat nuts- too hard to clean- nothing really sticky like taffy- could pull brackets off. Good luck!

 

[sunshinemummy]

My DD has been in braces for a year now, the first week or two was horrendeous for her. Lots of soup, mashed potatoes, eggs, milkshakes/smoothies, mac and cheese, etc...

I hope it get better quickly for her

 

[pbharris4]

Thanks everyone!!! Eggs, Mac & Cheese, grilled cheese, etc. sound good. She had mashed potatoes, yogurt & pudding yesterday and Panera Broccoli Cheddar soup for dinner. She didn't complain all day yesterday until right before bed. I wonder how she'll do at lunch today at school. They have different al a carte items and calzones she can cut up. I'll find out soon and may have to pack her a lunch.

 

[TheDizMom]

Initially yes she should be careful because she is in pain and her teeth hurt like H-E- double hockey sticks, but after that have at it. They always say that because there are some foods that can get really stuck like popcorn shell and potentially cause a break as in the case of apples. I ate whatever I wanted when I had them and never had a problem. Let her eat what she wants and if you're worried cut up the apple instead of having it whole or whatever. Heavens if we all listened to what our orthodontist said we'd never have eaten anything.

 

[PrincessKsMom]

My DD12 has had hers on for just over a year. I always find that soup is a good option. BTW, each time the braces are adjusted your daughter will have more pain. I find that Advil has worked wonders for the pain. After a while, she'll adjust and eat just about everything. I would allow my DD to have popcorn at all and that's been really hard, but I did allow it for her one year anniversary. Also, the teeth can become noticeably loose when braces are put on (or adjusted), but don't panic -- it's completely normal and I think that's a major cause of the pain.

 

[MaeB]

I had braces for about 2 and a half years many years ago. The first thing I decided to eat with them? A Twix bar on my walk home from school. I had to gnaw on it. I don't remember what I ate for the first few days but I remember it being painful. What everyone else has said is good though. Soft stuff for now. From experience, the worst thing for getting caught in braces was stuff like white bread. But that's more just a nuisance than anything else. In all my time having braces I think I only broke 1 on a giant sucker.

If she has retainers or will be getting them, tell her to stay away from fruity gum. It's much worse than minty in terms of sticking.

 

[LoveKermit]

Oh the memories.....

I had to wear a headgear when I slept and my parents were on vacation when I got the final braces on! It was awful.

I too chewed gum eventually, in fact right after I would get them tightened because I could swear that helped loosen them up some. Also by the last couple months (after 2 full years) I even braved a taffy apple off the stick. But I never did corn on the cob--my mom always shaved it off.

Wait till she eats an Oreo for the first time. Be sure she can rinse or brush because they make a huge mess.

It will get better.

 

[goofyisinphilly]

I had braces many years ago and ate pretty much whatever I wanted. In fact, the ortho told me as soon as I left the office to eat a big meal before my teeth got sore.

After that I ate whatever I wanted. Including carmel apples on a stick! And I never broke anything. Just take it easy and it will all work out fine.

 

[pbharris4]

Thankfully, I never had to wear braces...so I feel bad for DD because I don't have that much advice to give her. She did manage to eat a chicken calzone or something similar for lunch. She just cut it up and chewed it in the back. Her BFF had her bottom ones put on last week so at least she's in good company and they can weather it together. She had a grilled cheese this evening, but I want her to eat a little better.

The Ortho made it sound like she should never bite into anything and everything should be cut up..including pizza. I get the apples or sticky stuff and popcorn, but a banana..that's soft. It's all worth it though. Her mouth is severly overcrowded and she has a "renegade eye tooth" that's almost horizontal and about to poke out the roof of her mouth behind her front teeth. Poor kid.

Thanks for your advice all!

 

[SunKat]

My dd11 has her top braces (and is getting her bottom braces in a few weeks). The first week with braces was a bit difficult - she ate yogurt, ice cream, mashed potatos etc. She eats pretty much whatever she wants now. However, she has a problem with spaghetti (it gets caught in the braces) raw carrots (a no no!) and bagels (she can't eat them at all, even if she breaks them into little pieces). She doesn't eat any of the foods on the "forbidden list", like popcorn or gummy type candy. Other than that, she has no trouble and eats everything! Good luck to your dd.

 

[MSSANDRA]

DS eats everything except sticky candy. He too had a lot of pain right after they where put on and some when they are adjusted but overall he has done well. He ate pata and sauce, ice cream, etc for a few days but was back to his regular food quicly. I think he does cut his apples but that is about it. Our ortho encourages sugar free gun but Ds is not a gum chewer.