How long did you find it difficult to eat for?

[LH2015]

Sorry if this has been posted before, I did a search but there were so many terms, I couldn't get a specific thread.

I've had my ceramics (top only) on for over a month now and I'm still finding eating really quite difficult. I can still only chew relatively soft foods, have no use of my front 4 teeth and cannot put much pressure at all on my remaining teeth. A chicken breast cut into small pieces and chewed only with my back teeth is about the hardest thing I can manage. Is this normal? I've spoken to loads of people who have/had braces and they say they were eating normally without pain after about 3 weeks. I don't think I've eaten a discomfort free, soft meal yet.

In the last week or so it really feels like my front teeth are moving A LOT, which means catching even a tiny bit on them really hurts.

Am I to expect this all over again for the same period of time after my adjustment or is it shorter in duration?

[Felina Grimm]

The first two times (since I didn't get top and bottom at the same time) it took about 9 days for me to eat normally. After that, it was 1-2 days after adjustments. Right now I'm back at square 1 after wire changes and getting power chains. Hang in there!

[Candyland]

It took almost a month after getting my braces before I could eat normal foods again. After each adjustment, depending on how much they change, I am usually on soft foods for 1-4 days. I get so frustrated at work because we all eat lunch together and I constantly have to explain why I can't eat certain things. There is always someone who wants to say "well I never had any problems and could always eat what I wanted". I think some people have a higher pain tolerance than others. Good luck, it will get easier.

[metalliKa]

I basically eat what I want, but that doesn't mean the food tastes better in my mouth or actually gets to my stomach. It's been almost four months since I got fitted and my mouth still feels bulky and chewing is not much better either. I think that as long as you have something foreign in your mouth, eating and chewing will never be right.

[newbite]

The worst pain I've had was when my top front teeth finally started to straighten (after 6 months and 6 wire changes!). I totally understand you not being able to eat normally when your front teeth are moving. I've had pain off and on throughout treatment, but it was somehow especially intolerable when it was my front teeth.

From what I've read "most" people seem to have less pain after about 10 days, but some people have pain pretty much the entire time. Have you tried icing or even just holding ice water in your mouth? That actually helped a bit for my front teeth.

Does your ortho offer Acceledent? I suspect I would have had longer lasting pain without it. It may be worth it for you if you can get your ortho to order one (you can't buy them directly from manufacturer).

Maybe once you get your bottoms on it will get better, or once you change wires. Good luck!

[jaime]

I got upper and lower at the same time in May 2014. I remember still having some difficulty in July. I don't think I ever went back to 100% because some stuff will always be difficult until the braces come off. That said, it was probably only about 2 weeks or so major difficulty, and then it slowly improved to about 95% by mid-July.

[bracefaceekimmie]

I've had Mines on since May, and I still can't eat right. I can't bite with my front teeth. Everything must be chewed with my back right side. It sucks. I've lost 9 pounds. I miss eating. But my front teeth have been moving alot, so I'm guessing that's the reason. But yes, it sucks. I've been living mostly on naked juices I buy in bulk at Costco.

[LH2015]

[quote="newbite"]The worst pain I've had was when my top front teeth finally started to straighten (after 6 months and 6 wire changes!). I totally understand you not being able to eat normally when your front teeth are moving. I've had pain off and on throughout treatment, but it was somehow especially intolerable when it was my front teeth.

From what I've read "most" people seem to have less pain after about 10 days, but some people have pain pretty much the entire time. Have you tried icing or even just holding ice water in your mouth? That actually helped a bit for my front teeth.

Does your ortho offer Acceledent? I suspect I would have had longer lasting pain without it. It may be worth it for you if you can get your ortho to order one (you can't buy them directly from manufacturer).

Maybe once you get your bottoms on it will get better, or once you change wires. Good luck![/quote]

Last time I saw him, he suggested I change to the silver wire instead of the white coated wire as he said it would likely speed up treatment and give more support to the teeth. How much more obvious is the silver wire to the white one?

I'm not having bottom braces unless my bite changes significantly. My bottom teeth are really straight.

[LH2015]

[quote="bracefaceekimmie"]I've had Mines on since May, and I still can't eat right. I can't bite with my front teeth. Everything must be chewed with my back right side. It sucks. I've lost 9 pounds. I miss eating. But my front teeth have been moving alot, so I'm guessing that's the reason. But yes, it sucks. I've been living mostly on naked juices I buy in bulk at Costco.[/quote]

Yes, this is how it is a lot for me. I thought I was just imagining my teeth moving so much but I took a picture and compared it to the one I took before I had them on and it looks like they've moved a lot. I'm kind of hoping the more it moves now, the more pain free I'll be later.

[djspeece]

You might want to take some ibuprofen to reduce that discomfort -- you'll need to take it with some food to help avoid stomach upset. It is especially helpful for dental (and orthopedic) pain, targeting specific chemical intermediaries related to the pain in those areas. Maybe drink wine with some of your meals as well .

[newbite]

Last time I saw him, he suggested I change to the silver wire instead of the white coated wire as he said it would likely speed up treatment and give more support to the teeth. How much more obvious is the silver wire to the white one?

I'm not having bottom braces unless my bite changes significantly. My bottom teeth are really straight.

I have clear Damon's on top (front 6) and metal everywhere else including metal wires, and almost no one notices my braces-- the only people who notice know me well and are very observant (those 2 don't always go together!). When I smile only my top teeth show, so that helps). I've had metal wires the whole time and they blend in very well. Even now that I'm on the thickest finishing wire (pretty darn thick) it's not significantly more noticeable than the first tiny round wire. I was just editing some photos from an event I had and was amazed at how my braces were basically invisible. I smile all the time now, too, since my teeth are straight!

If I were you I would absolutely switch to a metal wire. I've read that the coated ones chip anyway so the metal shows through eventually.

You are lucky you won't need bottom braces!

I hope you feel better soon!

[tartanhabit]

I'm so sorry, that sounds rough. I only have top ceramic too. I'm on week 5 and although I see progress, I hardly feel much at all. They are a bit sensitive and I'm a very cautious eater but I don't seem to be experiencing what a lot of people have - YET. Who knows what lies ahead for me when I graduate to stronger wires, lower braces etc. I am using Acceledent daily, maybe that's helping. Ibuprofen definitely gave me relief the first couple of days. They also advised me that my wire was heat activated so when experiencing discomfort, cold drinks would help as the wire would be less active. Wonder if it's worth trying an iced drink before you eat? I wish you luck. I was so worried about the whole eating thing before I started.

[autumn9285]

I have had my braces for almost two months (just had my second adjustment today) and its still rough for me to eat. Every day I have different sore teeth so it can be a struggle. I am sure its different for everyone. I have never know the struggle of eating a burger until these braces haha I mean who pulls apart their burger into tiny pieces?? lol needless to say I eat those at home to avoid looking like a weirdo lol...but hey it will all be worth it when these bad boys come off!

[currystained]

I've had mine since late April, and they've been adjusted once a month since then (ceramic upper and lower, metal wire). Yes, it was incredibly sore for around two weeks after 'installation', but it calmed down a bit; only to flare up again after every adjustment. Good job I didn't know this before getting them, it would have had an effect on my decision!

I take ibuprofen before an adjustment, and try to eat a decent meal beforehand. Stock up on some nice soups, or rice dishes. It tends to go after 2/3 days, but I have also noticed some pain when the teeth have a big moving around day. I think they're having a party in there....

[gabriella36]

I've had my braces for going on three weeks and chewing is still difficult. I've lost 4 pounds, and am sticking to a homemade soup that I'm bulking up with lots of veggies and beans and olive oil for healthy fat. I made turkey burgers tonight and squash with tomatoes, which was successful. Smoothies or muesli in the morning. Just remember to be kind to yourself. It'll take a while!