How has your diet changed since getting braces?

[BracesChick]

I'm assuming that my diet will change a lot. I have a bad sweet tooth and snack rather then eat full meals currently. Is it safe to assume that after I get my braces on that I will more then likely sick to 3 square meals a day since I have to floss and brush after each meal? How did your diet change? I'm actually hoping this will help me control my weight.

[MrsCharisma]

When I got spacers, I literally couldn't chew. When I got braces on, I was sore for a few days. I lost 5 lbs in those couple weeks. I don't eat less now, just different things. Doing the whole cleaning routine does prevent night snacking.

Good luck!

[Tobilei]

I lost 5kgs in the first 2 weeks. But it didn't stop me for long. I'm back to eating whenever. I don't brush every time I put something in my mouth though, only 2-3 times a day.

[kiwibug]

I'm probably in the minority, but I have to say my diet has hardly changed. I only brush twice a day, floss once. Because of my work schedule it would be impossible for me to brush every time I ate something... and working in the food industry, there's a lot of little bits throughout the day that require tasting. I saw the orthodontist 3 weeks in and he was very happy with cleaning etc. I go tomorrow for my first adjustment, guessing it will be the same again. I just have a good swish and rinse with water after eating and make sure I have a christmas tree brush with me just in case I get anything stuck

[2XRound]

I dropped one entire dress size the last time I was braced. I have put the weight back on, but starting the day the spacers go in my new diet is going to start. My goal is to drop from a full 8 to a 6. For me the pain of the spacers killed my appetite completely and the sensitive teeeth brought on by the braces and the hassel of brushing and picking food out of my grille kept me on my diet. As you go along and get used to your braces the elastics come along and help you stay on your diet; The one good thing that happens before the braces come off. Braces are the ultimate diet program.

[klobird]

I think that I was so afraid of not being able to eat that I did just that. Ate, and ate,and ate--ice cream, pudding, soft cupcakes--all things I didn't eat very much of before braces. So ya, I have put on some pounds! I'd say about 10 pounds--and man, I cannot seem to drop them!

You won't starve!! You may be like most and lose weight, but you will find more and more that you can eat almost everything. (Except maybe the butter toffee caramel popcorn I plan to eat first thing when I get my braces off soon!)

[TMJJill]

I just cut up some things a lot smaller before I eat them. I've stayed away from really chewy stuff and found that I'd rather not clean some types of foods from my braces. For example things like canned spinach, I really have to want to eat to make it worth cleaning from the braces since it tends to wrap around the wires and brackets.

My treatment has been to adjust my bite and most of my treatment my molars haven't touched at all. Flat things like lettuce and fresh spinach are hard to chew. The same for things with "skins" like pickles and peppers are hard to chew through.

[BracesChick]

2XRound, I also plan to start my diet tomorrow when I get my braces on. I'm training for my 2nd half marathon and my diet has been really poor. I got really depressed over Christmas when I went back home and gained 10 pounds. I've only lost 3 of those so far. I'm an emotional eater so really hoping that braces will not only fix my smile, but might help me control my eating more. I eat a lot of chips/crisps and crackers. And I know that will need to stop. Now I do admit that I made some brownies last night and thats my breakfast today! :-)

[2XRound]

It depends a litttle on what precisely they put in your mouth. I found that once I got used to not eating (thank you spacers and elastics) regular food that my appetite went away. Hope it goes well for you. Drink lots of water.

[BraceFace2o1o]

In the very beginning my diet consisted of soft foods like scrambled egg, ice cream, mashed potato, soup etc because my teeth felt sore to bite down or chew on things. In time I gradually could eat normally again and I went back to my usual diet. So for me, my diet has not changed because of braces - only while my teeth were sore for maybe a few days after the first few adjustments.

[bemurray]

Your diet will definitely change in the first month, I've lost 15 pounds in 5-6 Weeks since getting mine fitted, and only this week have I been able to start chewing properly with the back molars, its a crap time, but it passes fairly quickly!

[WiredJon]

My diet is mostly the same, however I have more or less given up chocolate. I used to eat a lot, but in the 4 months I've been braced, I've barely touched the stuff.

[starfish88]

I just got a clear powerchain so no more curry for me for 8 weeks at least! Other than that my diet hasn't changed much. I can't chew properly but my bite was so bad before that I wasn't chewing properly then either! I've tried popcorn and nachos off the 'no eats' list but I suck them until they are soft rather than chew (gross!) and brush well after. I'm looking forward to chewing properly when these things come off!

[kennyandrew85]

I stopped eating curry when i got powerchains but other than that, the only thing I have stopped eating are chewy items such as chewing gum / sticky sweets / toffee as it really is too much hassle to get out the braces.

[starfish88]

I never enjoyed gum - there's not much point when only 2 teeth meet properly! Can't wait to enjoy gum!!