Getting braces next week and refuse to live on milkshakes

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.

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!

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

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!

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

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....

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.

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.

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!