What Can One Eat in the First Week of Braces?
When one gets braces first, there’s a lot to get used to. The teeth feel weird. It takes a lot longer to brush. And then there’s the eating part. There are some foods that one can’t have until they get their braces off. Also, others might not want to eat when their teeth are feeling sore from their newly placed braces. The discomfort is temporary; eating foods you can easily chew is always a good idea.
Foods You Should Eat During the First Week of Braces
The reason why your braces hurt so much when you first get braces is that they are working. Braces can move your teeth by exerting constant pressure on them. At first, this may be uncomfortable, but one quickly gets used to it, and after a while, one won’t even notice it. Although there is some soreness after getting braces near you, it shouldn’t last long.
One way to keep your discomfort to a minimum is by eating a diet of soft foods and drinks until your teeth start feeling normal again. Here uSmile Orthodontics has listed meal-by-meal and talked about what that might look like:
Breakfast
During breakfast, you can take:
- Pancakes
- Scrambled eggs
- Cream of wheat
- Muffins
- Oatmeal
- Smoothies
Lunch
You can take:
- Mac and cheese
- Soup
- Jelly and peanut butter on soft bread
- Egg salad, chicken, or tuna
Dinner
During dinner, you’ll have:
- Pasta
- Mashed potatoes
- Polenta
- Baked sweet potato
- Quesadilla with beans and cheese
- Chili
Snacks
You shouldn’t take crunchy snacks. Instead, you should take:
- Yogurt
- Cottage cheese
- Pudding
- Avocado
- Soft fruits
- Apple sauce
- Ice cream
In short, any food that requires a little chewing is a good pick. One might want to start the week with soups, smoothies, and mashed potatoes and then work their way up to pancakes, pasta, and fruits, depending on their feelings. You won’t damage your braces or teeth by eating these foods. This means there’s no timeline for when to incorporate these foods back into your braces diet.
Foods You Should Avoid Until You Get Your Braces Off
There are some foods that one shouldn’t eat when they have braces from their orthodontics office and others that one can eat with modifications. They include:
- Carrots, apples, and other crunchy vegetables and fruits should be cut into bite-sized pieces.
- No caramels, popcorns, hard nuts like gummies, almonds, and sticky candies
- Never chew on ice even if you don’t have braces because the habit will damage your teeth
- You should remove the corn first if you’re going to eat corn-on-the-cob.
Other Tips for Your First Week of Braces
Some other tips for your first week with braces are:
Get a Head Start on First Week Braces Discomfort
People often ask whether braces hurt. The answer is no. Braces do not hurt. While one may experience some minor discomfort, they won’t feel any actual braces pain. The sensitivity goes away after a few days. One can jump on this by taking painkillers right before their bonding appointment or adjustments. This way, it’ll kick in by the time any sensitivity begins.
Embrace Orthodontic Relief Wax and Salt Water Rinses
During the first week with braces, one may experience irritation inside their cheeks and lips. After that, the mouth toughens up, and your wires and brackets don’t bother anymore after a while. One can relieve the irritation with a saltwater rinse during the acclimation period. You should add a teaspoon of salt to a glass of warm water and swish it around the mouth before spitting it out. One can repeat this several times during the day as required. If that is not helping, you can warm up a small piece of orthodontic wax between the fingers and place it on the sites of your braces that are bothering you.
You Should Become a Pro at Flossing and Brushing with Braces
You’ll feel strange flossing and brushing around the wires and brackets during your first week with braces. However, you’ll quickly get used to it like everything else. Our Phoenix orthodontist will show you how to floss and brush correctly. Some basic tips for braces wearers include brushing your teeth after eating and before bed. Also, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and apply moderate pressure while brushing.