Getting braces next week and refuse to live on milkshakes

DoxieLove10612

I am getting braces next Thursday. Oh the joy of adult braces. Everyone has been telling me "just forget the diet and enjoy ice cream". Well I am not on a diet, I changed my lifestyle. I will not be pounding shakes or ice cream cones anytime in my future but am looking for any guidance as to healthier options. *yes I do know that its only the first few days not the entire 18 months* ;-)

The other issue...I have a gluten allergy so I have to steer clear of soups and most broths.

I do have some protein powder (I need to check it for gluten) and I also have a personal blender so can make some healthier shakes but does anyone have any ideas?

I really appreciate any thoughts or suggestions!

seena511

how long do you think you're going to have to eat like this? just take some ibuprofen and chew slowly until you figure out how to eat with them on. you're not going to have to be on a liquid diet for the entire time you have them

camrunner

There's always apple sauce!

Honestly, I had braces 10 years ago and it didn't impact my eating that much. A day or two here and there, but it was hardly lifestyle-altering. I still ate pizza and candy when I got my braces tightened on Halloween.

corn63

lol you're going to be able to eat real food. Sometimes just after getting them tightened they'll be a little sore, but you're going to be able to eat REAL food. It'll all be okay You'll just have to stay away from the sticky stuff like taffy etc and maybe popcorn. I always ate it anyways when I had braces

LishieFruit89

I had braces for three years when I was younger (end of 5th grade to end of 8th grade).

It only affected my eating on days they were tightened.
And I would eat pasta that day.

Just stick to soft food and homemade soups/broths.

And beware of carrots - I broke a bracket that way lol

DoxieLove10612

I do realize that it will only be for a few days while the pain subsides and my teeth/gums/cheeks get adjusted but I want to be prepared for those short amount of days instead of taking a small hiatus from my macros/caloric intake. Thanks everyone!

LareishaH

I have adult braces, and trust me you will not be living on milkshakes. The first couple of days you may want to stick with smoothies; however, you will be able to eat basically anything.

girlfromOklahoma

I had braces as a teenager. The first day I got them on I couldn't eat anything that wasn't liquid. Within about 3 or 4 days I could eat regular food although I was very slow. It didn't take long though and I could eat normally. However, when I would go in monthly to have them adjusted, I would be sore for a day or so. But the soreness from adjustments was nothing compared to the soreness of having them put on.

I guess what I'm trying to say, is eat a mllkshake. It's high in calories so you won't starve and it tastes good. The soreness will only last a few days and you'll probably be resting a lot anyway. Chances are even drinking milkshakes, you'll lose weight.

Then once you're feeling better, go back to eating like you do now.

lydiacrowe

I have adult braces right now. Don't worry -- it's not as bad as you think it's going to be. I do miss popcorn -- my go-to healthy snack -- but I can eat most things. They said not to eat any chewy bread or crackers, but I still do - I just drink plenty of water and soak it so I don't have to chew it as much (I know, gross, but it works!) Probably the most annoying thing is that vegetables take more planning (most of them have to be cooked; you can eat salads that don't have too many crunchy things in them, but it's a pain because stems and leaves tend to snag on the braces). I probably haven't been eating as many vegetables as I should because I prefer them raw, but I throw spinach and celery into my fruit smoothie in the morning and I try to look for more cooked veggie recipes. If you really like raw vegetables and fruits, you should purchase a mandoline slicer - you can very quickly slice things paper-thin and enjoy them without a lot of crunching.

KalaMakaKoa

I have had braces twice. My eating habits didn't change when I had them. They told me to stay away from gum unless it was sugar free and no hard candy. I did however cut up my apples and anything else that would put pressure on the braces themselves by biting into them like normal. They have this thing you can get from them, it's a pressure reliever and it is shaped like a "U" and when you bite down on it the pain/discomfort will virtually disappear. Obviously you cannot eat with it in, but it helps in between meals. There really is no reason to change the way you eat already, you just have to get used to the new feeling of chewing with braces on.

boroko

I'm assuming that your concerns are two-fold - initial discomfort from braces and then not wanting to break them. For the first one you just need normal foods that don't need too much chewing.

Make your own soups, then you know what's in them. Blenders aren't just for shakes. I can't eat gluten and I eat loads of soup.
Also try lentil dhal as that's nice and soft to eat. Fish, rice, pasta, mashed potato, cooked vegies, minced/ground meat. Anything in small pieces or cooked till it's soft. Snack on homous but not carrot sticks.

Once any discomfort has passed, the main issue is not breaking your braces. Basically stay away from hard or sticky foods that need a lot of biting/chewing. You can still eat things like apples, just cut them up rather than chomping right in. Avoid whole nuts and seeds as they get stuck in the brace - use ground ones instead.

palmerar

Use the blender to make your own gf soup or veggie puree. I'm sure there are a plethora of recipe on the interwebs. Also your mouth will just be sore for maybe a week then you can pretty much get back to your regular healthy eating habits. My only suggestion would be to give yourself a little bit more time to eat and invest in some floss and a toothbrush for work as well as at home so you don't have to worry about food getting stuck in those pesky braces.

corn63

Isagenix has many healthy protein filled shakes and soups to go with what you are looking for.

healthierlife.isagenix.com


Message me if you have any questions or need help.

Do NOT do this. Scam city.

tcunbeliever

1 cup juice, 1 scoop protein powder (I use a Love & Peas or Inca Meal, but not sure if they are gluten free), 1 T flax oil, 1 cup frozen fruit...blend and enjoy

The wires used in braces are temperature sensitive...so cold things will make them soft (and pull less on your teeth)...that's why everyone says go for milkshakes and ice cream, but anything cold will have the same effect, and fruit is an easy healthier alternative...you can even use a vegetable juice instead of a fruit juice if you want to get some veggie nutrition in there too...good luck!!!

DoxieLove10612

I have had braces twice. My eating habits didn't change when I had them. They told me to stay away from gum unless it was sugar free and no hard candy. I did however cut up my apples and anything else that would put pressure on the braces themselves by biting into them like normal. They have this thing you can get from them, it's a pressure reliever and it is shaped like a "U" and when you bite down on it the pain/discomfort will virtually disappear. Obviously you cannot eat with it in, but it helps in between meals. There really is no reason to change the way you eat already, you just have to get used to the new feeling of chewing with braces on.

This is something I can get at the ortho? I am ordering this like guard thing from Dentakit today but that U thing sounds awesome!

audreys03

I have braces. I even had to have a palatal expansion, which basically means they break the bones just under your cheek bones next to your nose, to widen the upper jaw to make room for your teeth. I only had to eat soft foods for the first 3 days after having the palatal expansion. Eat what you always eat, just take a motrin and chew slowly. If you feel like you cant eat well the first day or so, try sugar free pudding, jello, pasta, oatmeal, yogurt ect...

Angylgrrl

I had braces through middle school and I remember the first day or two being the worst, and then a bit of soreness when you had them tightened, but this is definitely not something you really need to worry about for more than a few days.

For those days you have soreness or pain, stick with soft foods that don't require lots of chomping and chewing- you can try cauliflower mashed potatoes (pureed cauliflower), rice and beans, green smoothies, sauteed spinach, maybe something like soft beef tacos, protein shakes, pasta and noodles, homemade soups, applesauce, peanut butter, or scrambled eggs.

I ate most of the things that they say to stay away from (baby carrots and popcorn come to mind), but the only major problem I had involved salt water taffy. I pulled out a bracket while I was on vacation and had to wait for 2 days to get it fixed while I got poked in the cheek with a wire. I learned my lesson. :ohwell:

Asharee011

You don't have to live on milkshakes. When I had braces sure the first few days are horribly painful BUT it does get better. There are certain foods you shouldn't eat but the dentist will tell you that. So basically you can live completely normal after the first few days. Good Luck!

newdaydawning79

When I got braces I ate everything I wanted to, including everything I was told was forbidden. When they were tightened it was uncomfortable for a day or two (when I got a wire across the roof of my mouth I was on potatoes and applesauce for 3 days - that was by far the worst) but it wasn't that bad...and I am a wuss!

Just make sure your raw veggies (if you eat those) are in smaller pieces, slice apples and other harder fruits, and everything else should be pretty easy! Cut corn off the cob if you eat that! That's the thing from my braces I still do to this day!

briabner

Most likely eating will only be a problem for the first few days and for maybe a couple of days whenever you get the adjusted. I am allergic to wheat and have to be on a gluten free diet too.

Some meal suggestions would be greek yogurt with applesauce or other softer fruit.
spoonfulls of peanut butter and if you can tolerate it some gluten free bread (unfortunately from personal experience gluten free bread isnt that soft.)
oatmeal prepared with milk for extra calories
Progresso's chicken tortilla soup (its wheat free)
most name brand (more expensive) prepared broths (swanson's) is gluten free
meal replacement shakes (ensure, boost, slim fast)

Just a few that I can think of right now...

adriadawn19

I had braces for 6 years and it's really not that bad. The first week or so is pretty uncomfortable to eat but after that you should be able to eat fine. You aren't supposed to eat a lot of crunchy things with them but thats only because they don't want them to pop off. I ate crunchy stuff the whole time i had my braces and chewed gum and not once did any of the brackets fall. Just eat like you would normally within limitations of course. For example if you are going to eat an apple just cut it up before you eat it.

Chameleone

I have had braces for almost 2 years now... It is gonna suck when they are fresh, and whenever they decide to put in a weird new wire or appliance (depending on how your teeth are). I never went strictly liquid diet because liquid is not food... but anything soft should be alright. Mashed potatoes, beans, fish, and eggs are your friends and of course some kind of pain killer an hour or so before you eat! Or you can make some baby food (blended veggies and meat) if your into that sort of thing....It will become easier to find things after a few days, you'll realize what's soft enough for you to handle. But after the initial pain goes away you can eat pretty much anything.

Good luck!
I hope your not in tooo much pain!

rbn_held

I got braces in my late 20's and could eat pretty much anything with a few exceptions. I couldn't eat anything chewy (caramels, gum, gummy bears etc...) and I couldn't eat corn on the cobb, had to cut in off the ear. or if I ate chicken I had to pull the meat off the bone. And steak was hard to do depending on how tough it was.. And they warned me against drinking anything that would stain my teeth. The only time I was sore was when I would get them tightened, and I wasen't always sore after that even, just depended on how much they tightened them. So you may have a few times where you won't feel like chewing anything but for the most part you shouldn't have to change your diet much.

dmdeschamps

Honestly it's only the first 2 days that you feel any pain. After that it's more just getting use to eating differently, cut your food into smaller pieces and chew slower. Things that can be cooked extra to be softer are also great.

Good luck, and trust me it is so worth it!

Finnegan1330

I too had braces as an adult - and the first week was AGONY as I got adjusted to the movement of my teeth. As others have said, soup is a good option - since you have allergies, make it out of things you are able to eat. I lived on Campbell's Soup at Hand - all the veggies, etc were small so I could basically swallow them without having to chew. Foods that come to mind that were satisfying, but easy to eat were mashed potatoes (white or sweet), carrots - cooked so they were soft and mashed - almost like a souffle, etc.

A word to the wise if you are prone to getting mouth ulcers - invest in a Kanka-Aid mouth sore gel stick - it's a little twist wand with a brush on the end that allows you to rub the numbing medicine wherever you have ulcers - unfortunately, that was the main complaint I had when I first got my braces from the brackets rubbing the insides of my mouth / cheeks. It's only about $6 - but WELL worth it!

hazymary

I don't understand why you think you need to live on milkshakes...I have braces, I have rubber bands in...heck I even had a tooth pulled last week. Didn't stop me from eating "normal" maybe had to go with soft foods for a day, but other than that some Motrin should be all you need.

DoxieLove10612

invest in a Kanka-Aid mouth sore gel stick - it's a little twist wand with a brush on the end that allows you to rub the numbing medicine wherever you have ulcers - unfortunately, that was the main complaint I had when I first got my braces from the brackets rubbing the insides of my mouth / cheeks. It's only about $6 - but WELL worth it!

Great tip! I will look for it thanks!

DoxieLove10612

I hate asking questions on here bc people are so unnecessarily judgmental and literal. Do I actually think people drink smoothies and milkshakes for the first few days? Sure. Is it something I am going to do? No that is why I posted the question. I was simply looking for those who have braces that could offer ideas such as GF broths or vegetable/fruit smoothies.

Everyone's pain tolerance is not the same and my mouth happens to be quite sensitive so I know for the first few days I will need to have softer things. I had a handful of fillings today and can barely open my mouth much less eat. I do not take any pharmaceuticals for personal reasons so relying on aspirin will not be an option for myself personally. I sincerely thank every one who offered advice and mouth/food ideas!

For anyone who finds this in the future and is interested, here is a current list of soups and such from Campbells that is GF. Should help with those first few days of braceface. Cheers!

http://www.campbellsoupcompany.com/pdf/US Gluten Free Products List_Jan 2013.pdf

rosered93

I felt the same way when I got my wisdom teeth out--I was already feeling crappy, I didn't want to compound that by downing sugar and fat all day ha. If you don't have an immersion blender, I recommend getting one (not just for this, it's a great tool in any kitchen).
I made a lot of curries with red lentils, then pureed that down (try to avoid using vegetables with a lot of seeds if you're worried about them getting stuck in the new braces.)
Polenta, grits, gf porridge--endless options there, both sweet and savory. Cook in some egg whites/whole eggs for extra protein boost. One of my favorites was polenta cooked with tomato paste, broth, and some herbs until it was a nice porridge; stirred in some egg whites; topped with goat cheese and a bit of balsamic. Delicious . Another delicious one was oat bran cooked with smoked paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, liquid smoke, and old bay; stirred in egg whites then blended in (using the immersion blender) some cilantro and cauliflower that I had steamed then sautéed in a bit of butter.
The perennial favorite of protein ice cream: protein powder, frozen fruit, a bit of milk, some ice, all blended together (as you're gf you might have xanthan/guar gum around--throwing a small pinch of those into your smoothies makes the texture amazing).
Blending frozen bananas in a food processor gives you the texture of soft serve ice cream. If you're looking for something a bit more substantial you can blend peanut butter and cocoa powder in with them.

There's lots you can do--milkshakes are certainly not the only thing

Phoenix2024

I'm three months into my adult braces. I eat everything! It's just a matter of picking it out of your teeth later lol.

Though my friends (who had braces) all look at me in envy since I've had very little pain throughout the process so far. I guess it's different for everyone, depends on how much your teeth need to move!

tararocks

didnt read all the other responses...i think each person can have different experiences so yeah maybe you will be ok but maybe not, my daughter could not really eat for about a week...it was that painful. for her milkshakes werent even an option as it hurt to suck in. so with that in mind, you might have to give up the notion of "full meals" and stick to hodge podge meals:

baked potatoes
mashed potatoes
oatmeal
applesauce
cottage cheese
pasta, like elbow macaroni where it is small and doesnt reuire necessarily biting
very ripe kiwi
bananas (cut up)
cuties
frozen greek yogurt
smoothies (although again my dd needed a spoon couldnt use a straw)
scrambled eggs
good luck!