Eating = ouch!

[JWoods38]

So It's only been 18 days, but it still hurts to eat normal food. I tried eating a hot dog today and there was minimal pain, but it still bothered me. I know there will be pain with braces, and my willpower is like iron, but Im just wondering if I will feel comfortable eating firmer softer food in the next couple of weeks? I know it probably takes different amounts of time for different people, but im just eager to start eating pizza again :P, and my adjustment is coming up on the 2nd.

[Sunny]

Hopefully you'll feel more comfortable eating within a few days. We tell patients it may take between one and two weeks to feel comfortable eating, but they only have to wait two hours before eating their usual diet. We recommend eating their usual diet, as most people adjust easier that way. There are a few suggested eating changes in the book we give to our young patients, this mostly relates to very hard, very sticky and very sugary foods.

The first time I ate pizza after my b-day ... I think about a week after, I cut it up into small pieces and thoroughly enjoyed the pizza, but not the way I was eating it. From then on, I've managed to pull pieces of pizza off with my teeth ... not a great sight, but with teeth that rarely meet, I've found that 'where there's a will there's a way' ... has worked for me.

You may find that cutting hard food into smaller pieces is easier for you for a week or two, but the most important thing to do is to get back to eating the foods you enjoy. Also remember that if your teeth are feeling tender on one side, then you're best to chew on your other side. Same goes for the front teeth, as I think it was a few months before I felt confident enough to chew with them.

With a will of iron ... you'll definitely get this sorted! Good luck!

[SouthernGirl]

You should be fine and able to eat normally within three days to a week so either something isn't right or your problem is pretty bad.

Hopefully in a couple days you'll be able to eat more comfortable again.

im just eager to start eating pizza again :P

Took me a couple days and after that I just ate pizza and threw the crust away.

What Sunny said is correct.

[zeocin]

I dunno, my teeth were so painful when I was first braced that I didn't really chew anything for 3 months or so. Supposedly, chewing increases blood flow to the teeth and should relieve pain, but mine hurt too much to even try. You could try taking painkillers before you eat, personally I thought that was overkill when I could just as easily eat soft food.
Eitherway, it should eventually ease up and stop being painful. Just don't let anyway make you feel bad or guilt trip for not chewing while it hurts too much to chew!

[mariahfromchicago]

That stinks that you still can't eat like normal. Well, it does take some people weeks to get used to eating. Hope it has gotten better, or will soon.

[JWoods38]

Well thanks everyone for your replys. I am doing better at eating now, and I appreciate all the advice. Cheers!

[Zoso]

That's good.

[Sunny]

Great news JWoods!

[mariahfromchicago]

Glad you are doing better jwoods!