Eating Is Hard For How Long?

[Chicagogal]

I second apples still being difficult after months in braces.

However, I have to say that I was eating "solid" foods probably the next day. I think I had steak after about 3 days and it still had to be cut into tiny bites, but I could do it. I will pass on some advice I got in here that helped a lot. If they gave you one of those plastic bite plates, chew the heck out of it! If not, against orders, grab some gum and masticate away. I had no idea how much blood flow helps. The more you baby them the longer the tenderness will last. If it's too much to bear, take some ibuprofen or phenocanse (if you do the homeopathic route) and then chew chew chew. It seems so counterintuitive but i'm so glad someone told me that.

[Chicagogal]

It took a full month for me to get back to eating as normal. Reason it took so long I feel is because I wore dental spacers for two weeks which essentially made my back molars very painful to eat on. Coupled with all the pressure of the new braces it was too much. Now I eat everything with no problem at all.

agreed!!! spacers were so much more painful and difficult with eating than braces, maybe that's why braces almsot seemed free-ing after that.

I also agree with nervousenewbie that it takes longer to bite into things with your front teeth like you used to. I still cut up burgers and sandwiches to avoid pushing food into my braces by biting into it with the front 4.

[ChocolateKate]

I find it the hardest eating with those blasted spacers which takes about 2 weeks for me. With braces it took me about a week to eat regularly. i munched on soup and baked potatoes for the most part...by now you should be used to it.

[RedDress]

I ate an applle today. Was lazy to cut it and tried to bite. I was only worried to knock my braces off, so was carefull. Otherwise - no pain.

[Theresa48]

I still, after 6 months, find there are things that are just not worth the effort. I can eat a sandwich, but do I really want all kinds of food in my front braces? That stuff I eat at home, when out, I would never eat anything that required my front teeth.

I don't feel any pain when eating, just avoid foods that get all stuck in my braces.

[AnnR]

Yep I'm with Theresa on that one, avoid things you have to use front teeth for in public. I hate them bein clogged up with sandwiches etc. Especially as I have powerwire around the top now which food seems to love wrapping itself around!

However, at home I just eat whatever I want and don't have to worry, my husband is used to me being gross now LOL Although I did nearly choke to death on spaghetti.....swallowed it but some was caught on braces on molars so wouldnt go down properly.......was slightly amusing afterwards but alarming at the time!!

Doesnt hurt to eat anymore though which is good

[BraceFace2o1o]

I'm now into my 4th day with braces and have been unable to eat solid foods that I need to chew before swallowing. I could eat ok for the first 9 hours after the braces were fitted, but after that NO... Honestly, my back teeth feel SO sore trying to chew any kind of food (still quite a bit after taking pain medication). I really didn't expect that at all. I knew certain foods were off limits, or I had to be careful with just because of the fact that I could break off a bracket, but I never actually thought I'd just not be able to chew foods because of soreness in my teeth!

I've been eating less food, which I guess is good on the waist line... but the types of food I've been eating is mashed potatoes, soup and scrambled egg... oh and one evening I had some ice cream.

I've had discomfort in my teeth pretty much constantly since 9 hours after they were fitted, and it is somewhat relieved when I have some pain killers... but today I woke up without any discomfort, so maybe I will now be able to gradually add proper food back in.

I'm now going to eat some more mashed potatoes and soup and see how that feels, if it's ok I might be daring and try something harder/chewier

[andywired]

It will take about 3/4 days to chew...


About a week if you have the blue mold spacers on your back molars

[randirocks]

I think I noticed the pain a bit less than other people. It took me about 3 days to eat normally. My orthodontist did tell me that I shouldn't baby my teeth and I should chew normally even if there was pain, though. It helps "massage" the process.

Every adjustment I have one day or so where there is some pain for eating. The most recent adjustment that I had added rubber bands so taking them off to eat was like a vacation. I didn't notice any other pain.

[RHOyally Braced]

I've had my braces for about 5 months now. The first day, I actually had some pasta (cooked softer than Al dente) and it hurt a little. I just jumped into eating what I normally ate even through the pain the first few days though. It got easier to eat some things, but I still cut stuff up and stick it to the back of my mouth. I have the same front teeth problem, its a little too hard to bite into things unless they are really soft. Before this last ortho appt, I could eat some soft sandwiches like a human, but not anymore since things are moving around again.

[Kittykins]

I've had mine on for coming up to 5 weeks Tuesday and still have to cut every single piece up small. Although I have found that because I was told to eat on one side (to avoid bending the wire that is over gaps on the other side) that my chewing side is getting sore So isn't very good, so having to risk the possibility of bending the wire until my chewing side heals back up again XD

[Ksmilez]

I've had my braces on for about 4 weeks and it's still uncomfortable to eat, I literally have to force myself and most times I just give up. I hope things get better *crossing my finger*