I just got braces on Tuesday morning (Damon kind). After having spacers for a week they seemed like an improvement. I’m 56 so this is quite new. Inside on my mouth is horrible from the metal rubbing. Hurts all the time even to talk. I’m not eating anything except chicken noodle cup of soup essentially broth. When I initially tried to eat anything stuff gets stuck so just plain easier not to eat.
No of this is practical when trying to train for a marathon Oct 4th. Leaving on Cycle Oregon in another week too. Riding 500 miles with little food wondering what’s best.
Never had braces, but when I had my jaw wired shut I put dental wax over the parts that really rubbed the inside of my mouth. I recall my brother and sister doing the same when they had braces. Should be able to get it either from your orthodontist or possibly Walgreens.
I spent years with those bastards when I was younger. Give it a few days, you’ll get used to it. As the previous poster noted, you can use that wax to cover any sharp spots that are still bugging you. You’ll find that some foods are a hassle to eat and yes, stuff gets stuck in there, but for the most part, I bet you’ll be back to normal in no time.
I can imagine that something like Cliff Shot Blocks won’t be the best on bike nutrition option :-). When in doubt, you can use a lot of gels and it’s pretty easy to make high calorie liquid nutrition options for the bike.
9 yr olds figure it out… it shouldnt be that hard
Your orthodontist should have given you a little packet of wax for the areas that rub the most- just pack a bit on, and it should eliminate most rubbing.
Your mouth will adjust to the metal in there, it may be a bit raw for a week or two, but you’ll be fine.
and just eat. dont worry about shit getting caught- as soon as you leave the ortho’s office, the braces are about as stuck to your teeth as they’ll ever be. aside from avoiding things like jolly ranchers, chewing gum (which is BS by the way), hard apples, carrots… you shouldnt have to adjust anything about your diet
fwiw- I got braces going into high school- the metal kind. I played the trombone. literally days after i got them on, i was back in the band- laugh it up… but even the constant pressure on the mouthpiece just got to be the norm, and didnt change nearly a thing. aside from a soccer ball to the face, i never broke any of the hardware in my mouth, and if i can remember, aside from the first couple days, i never bled from them either.
in short:
HTFU
Be careful with on-the-core apples. These and candies like jolly ranchers were the only thing I couldn’t eat. I got out of braces less than three years ago. Talking will be weird for a couple of days, but really, it’s just a minor annoyance.
As for nutrition: really shouldn’t be a hassle. I was racing high-school cross, running 50 miles a week, and eating everything I could find. Gels will definitely be easier than shot bloks tho.
I just got braces on Tuesday morning (Damon kind). After having spacers for a week they seemed like an improvement. I’m 56 so this is quite new. Inside on my mouth is horrible from the metal rubbing. Hurts all the time even to talk. I’m not eating anything except chicken noodle cup of soup essentially broth. When I initially tried to eat anything stuff gets stuck so just plain easier not to eat.
I remember as a teenager my first evening with my new braces putting a pizza in the blender because it hurt so much to chew.
It will get better fast. Just stick with it. I have them for the second time around. I thought I would loose some weight in the first week I put them on. Here is a list I suggest:
Follow doctors instructions on foods to avoid.
Brush after every food intake
Get Rincinol at Walgreens, It will give relief to sore spots and prevent them from escalating, less pain in your mouth
Wax on sharp spots
Eat within restrictions, but chew slower and eat all the food you would normally-restricted stuff
I still do cliff bars, z bars…no gu chomps as I can’t chew those they get all over my braces and 15mi into an 18mi run I don’t have the energy to move my tongue around to clean it, stick with gels.
I still eat pizza with a fork and knife because I got used to it when I was a teenager with braces. You learn to get food in the back teeth for pain purposes and to keep stuff out of your grill.