Modern orthodontic techniques are less painful than they used to be, but when you’re moving your teeth, there’s bound to be a little bit of discomfort.
After first getting your braces or having them tightened, you might feel a bit sore.
Chewing, then, might be uncomfortable.
Here are some recommendations on what to eat when your braces hurt:
Breakfast Foods for Sore Braces
If you’re used to having a bowl of cereal, a handful of granola, or even a thick piece of chewy bacon first thing in the morning, you might want to vary your routine a little when your braces are feeling a little tight.
Try these softer foods instead:
- Oatmeal
- Grits
- Smoothies
- Applesauce
- Eggs, especially scrambled
- Yogurt
- Bananas
- Soft biscuits and muffins
- Pancakes
Lunch Foods for Sore Braces
At work or school, finding lunch foods that are easy to eat with tight braces can be challenging.
Consider packing lunch, or look for one of these orthodontically appropriate lunch items in restaurants and cafeterias:
- Soups, either pureed or with soft vegetables
- Tuna salad
- Soft bread
- Rice
- Soft noodles
- Soft cheeses
- Thinly sliced lunchmeat
You may be able to bite through a soft sandwich comfortably, and if you can’t, try tearing into bite-sized pieces or eating the ingredients separately. Just skip the chips, because crunchy foods don’t go well with new braces.
Remember, the discomfort is temporary. An over-the-counter pain reliever might help, too.
Dinner Foods for Sore Braces
For most people, dinner is the largest meal of the day, and we’re accustomed to having things like hearty meats and crisp vegetables.
Preparing a meal without those toothsome components is easy, though.
Here are some dinner ideas that everyone will like – even your family members without braces.
- Chicken and dumplings
- Turkey meatballs
- Chili with beans
- Refried beans, guacamole, and soft tortillas
- Polenta
- Mashed potatoes
- Peas
- Meatloaf
- Green bean casserole
- Candied yams without nuts
- Cheesy casseroles with soft meats
- Parsnip and apple puree
- Bread-based stuffings without nuts
Sweet Treats for Sore Braces
It’s always important to eat a healthy diet, and with braces, it’s even more critical to limit your sugar intake.
Braces make it a little more difficult to keep your teeth clean.
Whenever you eat sugary or acidic foods, be sure to thoroughly brush your teeth and clean around your braces, because food particles can get trapped around your brackets and cause tooth decay.
With that in mind, here are some treats to indulge in while your braces are bothering you:
- Ice cream
- Jello
- Pudding
- Frozen yogurt
- Cake without nuts
- Whoopie pies
- Soft pies like chocolate creme and lemon meringue
Cold foods like ice cream and frozen yogurt may bother some people with sensitive teeth, but others find the cold soothing to a sore mouth.
As your mouth becomes less sensitive, you can gradually introduce chewier foods like grilled chicken, melon, and steamed veggies.
Until your braces are removed, though, stay away from hard foods like nuts, chewy things like licorice and bagels, sticky foods like taffy and gum, and anything that requires you to bite into it, including corn on the cob, raw carrots, or apples.
Taking care of your braces is an investment in your future perfect smile.
The small sacrifices you make now will be worth it for a long time to come!