Can´t chew with my mouth closed!

[SueAsh5]

Since getting braced I simply cannot chew (the little I do!) with my mouth closed. So far I haven´t had to eat in front of many other people other then my hubby, but I have a conference next weekend and wonder if I´ll spend every meal with a napkin in front of my mouth. I had a lower central extraction which is still slighty tender due to complications but I don´t know if this is the cause. Any ideas?

[Huggypillow]

I can't chew properly either i feel a bit like a horse chewing on a bale of hay.

[44AndWired]

As your teeth shift, your bite will change. It's normal. Your bite will change many times during this journey. Sometimes better, sometimes worst.

[kamor]

thank you for this post!! I too, can not chew with my mouth closed, i feel like there is just too much metal and hardware in my mouth. I have been eating at home only, so am OK with my family. I have not eaten in a restaurant yet, and am getting a bit nervous, as i am going on vacation next week and will be with a group of people. Expect to be eating in the presence of others for a majority of the trip.

does anyone have any tips or advice on how to deal with this? I also have an issue with small bits of wax, becoming dis-lodged at the most in-opportune times. I could really use some tips, as my trip is next week and i'm getting anxious.

[tarabears]

I know how you feel! I gave up on trying to eat with my mouth closed because every time I did I would end up accidentally crunching down on my gum (ouch! ) I don't even pay attention to my eating habits anymore to be honest. I have braces, and if anyone has an issue with me eating funky then that's their problem! If you're in a work function just make sure you eat slow. I'm sure you don't sound or look as bad as you think

[44AndWired]

The easiest way is to chew small pieces at a time. Also I chew on whatever side feels best. Gone are the days of being able to chew on both sides during meal. SMH.

[benj]

The one thing i defiantly will not miss is the between one and two weeks it takes me to "find" my new bite after every adjustment. Ugh, it never seems like it gets any easier and my treatment has seemed to get more and more bulky as its progressed (double powerchains, wires, hooks, TAD's, more elastics and more)... And the teeth feel SO much bigger, at the moment they teeth feel like skyscrapers in my head!