Getting braces next week and refuse to live on milkshakes

fjrandol

I just got my braces off about 6 months ago (at age 38). :glasses:

Can I just say that for the first few days sweet potatoes, scrambled eggs, and green smoothies are your friend.

I had a rough time whenever I went in for an adjustment, and came to love burrito bowls as my food of choice. Brown rice, black beans, some nice soft onions and peppers, avocado, tomato, some greek yogurt on top and I was in squishy food heaven. ~> The big thing for me was having options that looked like they needed chewing, but really didn't.

Happy eating, metal mouth! :bigsmile:

Misty2024

I work in the dental field and I had braces as an adult....yes your teeth are sore the first few days but if you take Advil/ ibuprofen (3 or 4 tabs = 800 mg which is prescription strength every 8hrs) then you will have no problem at all eating regular food even the first few days....don't let people worry you you don't have to go with liquid it's not at all that bad as long as you take Advil....if you don't like to take Advil then you will be sore....so dont know what to tell you on that one...the reason your sore after fillings is due to totally different reasons then braces so you can't compare the two.....good luck

katy_trail

my niece has braces, and she eats almost everything as anyone else, she's still a kid, but still.
she doesn't eat nuts, most candy, popcorn, it doesn't seem to have limited her very much.

ashlinmarie

Shakes may be out, but homemade fruit smoothies? Just throw in some yogurt, a little milk, and whatever fruits you'd like! You can also add protein powder to them if you want. I lived on a lot of applesauce and soft fruits as well...It's been so many years that I can't remember what else....

katy_trail

i didn't have braces, but the last time i was having issues with my mouth, frequent mouth wash really helped.
numbs the area and helps with swelling if there is any, also an appetite suppressant, you don't want to constantly brush.

ash190489

When I had braces, I don't really remember having to change my diet very much at all... I remember no chewing gum, maybe no nuts (But back then I didnt eat nuts anyway)... Hard fruit, like an apple for example, can be very difficult to bite into, because of the brackets that are on the teeth. Unripe pears and peaches pose the same problem. Cut hard fruits into bite-sized pieces, so they can be chewed with the back teeth. Some goes with hard vegetables like carrot, broccoli and cauliflower before its cooked. Tough cuts of meat can be so difficult to chew. Choose lean meat.

ETA: Oh & no hard boiled lollies/candy.

katsmah

I had adult braces about 20 years ago and lost about 40 lbs. The first few days are rough, and also the days when they are adjusted. I ended up losing so much weight because I didn't snack. I was brushing after every meal to get food out of the braces and snacking meant another brushing.

Make sure you get plenty of dental wax to keep the braces from rubbing the inside of your lips. I remember that was a very sore area. Good luck!

ngressman

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!

I have a friend whose son has Celiacs and he has lost so much weight. Mainly because she is having a hard time figuring out how to adapt her recipes. So many foods have gluten in them. I don't envy your situation. Here's some ideas. Swanson chicken broth and Progresso broths are gluten free. Progresso has quite a few gluten free soups. V-8 splash and vegetable juices are gluten free. You could also make a homemade chicken soup (no noodles). Fruit smoothies. All varieties of Chobani yogurt are gluten free- not sure about the rest. Special K protein shakes are gluten free. (I had that on hand). I think most protein shakes are gluten free. Baby foods are already pureed and if you get the stage 1 or 2 it is usually nothing, but the fruit or vegetable. The fruits aren't too bad. (It's just a thought). Good luck, and Bravo for not giving up even if it's only a few days.

mandybee49

I had them as an adult, and (if your experience is like mine) the good news is that they'll never hurt as much after an adjustment as they do the first few days. I still remember trying to chew sauteed mushrooms the day after I got them on and wincing the whole time. Mushy vegetables, yogurts, applesauce, scrambled eggs, and the soups you've found should all be fine. It gets better pretty quickly. Good luck!

pbandz

If you love ice cream don't cut it out completely. I love ice cream and desserts so I've found low calorie frozen yogurt and fat free ice creams that are just as good but don't fatten you up!