How was your DC the day after having fixed braces?

[Thingsthatgo]

DS14 is having fixed braces put on next Monday, and DH wants to plan a day out with lunch on Tuesday. I am not sure if DS will be in much pain and I think he probably won’t be eating anything very hard or crunchy.
Please let me know your experiences - would your DC have managed/enjoyed a low activity day out with lunch the next day?

He was very upset the first night. Then got over it in about a week.
They did have bits of wire pop out a few times in the early weeks, necessitating more trips to the ortho to get them sorted. So definitely avoid hard and crunchy!

I don’t know if all kids find them as hard. Depends what they’re doing to the teeth iyswim.

My DD wouldn’t have fancied a long day out the day after her braces as she was still in discomfort and her food options were a bit limited.

Absolutely not to going out for a meal. It will be miserable for him. Braces are really painful for quite a few days after fitting.

My daughter found it a bit sore and distracting. She went to school but wouldn't have enjoyed a day out with a lunch.

Neither of mine would have enjoyed a lunch out for a few days. They made their mouth quite sore and took a bit of getting used to, both eating and talking.

Agree with all above - also consider that in addition to pain and difficulty eating, they may feel highly self conscious at first and DD found they affected her speech for a few days while she got used to them.

Definitely wait a few days at least.

In a fuckton of pain and eating soup and ice cream

Dd1 - absolutely fine. No issues. However, she was just having a standard fixed brace.
DD2 - swollen to the point of being unable to eat anything unless through a straw for 2 days. Lot of pain. She had extra wedges added at the rear of her mouth.

x post with Woozles 😁

Definitely not lunch and probably not an activity either - braces are horrible and really painful at first.

My DC was pretty upset the first night and struggled a bit the following day. They quickly got used to them but I don't think a day out the following day is a good idea really, particularly going to a restaurant before they have got confident about eating with the braces on and can probably still only eat soft liquid type things.

Stupid idea. Stock up on paracetamol and ice cream and plan a quiet day.

My dds both went to school ok, but eating was difficult so a meal out would not have worked.

As in bite guards? They are horrible aren’t they? As if the brace itself isn’t bad enough. DD was terrified she was going to smash her teeth for a week after having blockers put in.

She was a bit fed up, the wire popped off the first afternoon.
Definitely no hard/crunchy things, this is brace advice anyway.
I would say to DH - yes we’ll go but we’ll need to be prepared to be flexible if the brace comes off or is causing issues. If he can’t do that and is likely to get in a mood if the day out is spoiled it’ll be better not to go. I’d discuss that in advance knowing how childish men can be when their fun is spoiled.

Trip out - possibly, depending on what it is.

Lunch out - no way.

DC went to school but took painkillers and left some of her packed lunch as eating was tricky/sore. Think we had something with mash for dinner. She wouldn't have enjoyed a meal out.

I'm sure it varies a lot from person to person, but DS was awake most of the night in pain, and only ate porridge/yogurt/smoothie for nearly a week!

They hurt for the first few days. But not to the point you can’t eat…

I've had braces twice. My DS also had them. It's really hard to eat.

So everyone who’s saying otherwise is talking bollocks are they?

My three DC all had them (and I did too as a child). I think the next day may be tricky but should be ok by a day or two later.

I mean, technically you can eat, but not many things, you have to try to chew with your back teeth somehow, you look weird, it's sore and not enjoyable at all, and you feel self conscious and feel like it's almost not worth bothering. So that poster is not exactly wrong but also very wrong!

I would definitely leave it a few days or even a week just to be on the safe side. A new brace is likely to be a bit painful at first.

He will only be able to eat soup the day after, don’t go out for lunch. Braces are very painful for a day or two after fitting/tightening.