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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

What do I do, my teenage DD2 has just had braces fitted and now refuses to eat?

90 replies

PestoSpookissimos · 07/10/2013 17:59

DD2 has eating issues to start with, which has escalated since her dad passed away this April.

However, she was looking forward to getting braces and said she would follow all the orthodontist's guidelines. BUt, since having them fitted on Friday, she says she can't eat.

She's had nothing today apart from an ice lolly and won't agree to any of my suggestions for a 'soft' or liquid tea tonight. And she won't suggest any of her own alternatives either. We've reached a stalemate where I've said she could at least eat some of the waffles I'd bought her especially for breakfast this week, but which she went to school without eating!

I've said if she continues to not eat we'll abandon the orthodontic treatment and get the braces removed Sad

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 07/10/2013 21:19

Not helpful Coho.

Ireallymustbemad · 07/10/2013 21:27

Not actually always "entirely cosmetic", maybe in many cases but my DS has impacted teeth which will cause problems unless they are sorted.

OP - we found macaroni worked well as DS loves pasta but couldn't eat big bits. DS had his fitted a couple of weeks ago and can now eat nearly everything.

Sparklingbrook · 07/10/2013 21:29

DS1 has them to correct an underbite.

breatheslowly · 07/10/2013 21:37

I needed my braces - they aren't just cosmetic. I remember it took about 2 weeks for the initial pain to subside and then a few days (not too bad) when they were adjusted each time. I think you just have to ride with it.

Sparklingbrook · 07/10/2013 21:42

DS had elastic bands to start attaching at the last appointment. he went back to not eating for a bit, they kept pinging off.

Thants · 08/10/2013 05:54

Coho braces are not simply cosmetic. Straighter teeth are much, much easier to clean which leads to less problems with gum disease and cavities in the future. Braces would not be on the nhs if they were only cosmetic!

Original poster
PestoSpookissimos · 08/10/2013 07:48

Thank you all.

Well she's gone off to school having hd nothing to eat, no change there then.

Also hasn't taken a packed lunch and is refusing to eat from the school canteen. I don't know what I can do.

Maybe just ride with it and ignore, I think it's partly to try & upset me Sad

OP posts:
Horsemad · 08/10/2013 09:48

Dreading this as DS2 (14) is having a brace fitted next month & he's a very fussy eater at the best of times. Sad

He loves cereal, so I'll stock up & hope he eats that if he's struggling.

Sparklingbrook · 08/10/2013 09:53

I can't lie the first week or 2 DS1 (14) had his braces (Summer 2012) he was so upset, tearful and very fed up. he begged for me to take him back to have them removed. I honestly thought he would never eat properly again. We had tears at the dinner table.

But we persevered and as he got used to them he started eating little bits and now apart from the banned list he eats fine.

Horsemad · 08/10/2013 10:00

What's on the banned list please Sparkling?

Sparklingbrook · 08/10/2013 10:09

Horse this is the list we have-

No biting whole apples/fruit-need to be cut into pieces and eaten with back teeth.

Chewing Gum/Toffee/Chewy sweets/jellies

Fizzy/sugary Drinks

But DS also avoids crusty bread/french stick. Really anything reasonably hard that you bite into can break the brace, and that has to be paid for. So he is mindful.
He does have pop every now and again I have to confess to that.

Horsemad · 08/10/2013 10:15

Thanks, I sort of knew fizzy drinks would be on the list & had said as much to DS who blithely told me 'EVERYONE at school drinks fizzy stuff' Hmm

He eats no fruit, so that won't bother him Grin

DH is a devil for buying chewy wine gum type sweets and Pepsi so will have to be threatened to stop so as to remove the temptation. Wouldn't hurt him to reduce his sugar intake either!

Sparklingbrook · 08/10/2013 10:17

Yes, it sort of cuts out the crappy stuff doesn't it Horse? Grin

The teeth cleaning four times a day doesn't always happen-he tried to get three in but refuses to take a toothbrush to school.
The keeping it clean is a huge deal-the Orthodontist stressed it a lot and said at the beginning if it isn't kept clean it wouldn't end well.

Horsemad · 08/10/2013 10:26

Yes, our orthodontist said the same. He's got an appt with the hygienist in half term & brace fitted following week.
I'll let him have what he wants in half term & then once brace is on it'll be pop once a week (mean mother alert).

With a bit of luck, it might cure him of his sweet tooth Smile

Sparklingbrook · 08/10/2013 10:28

You do feel for them. he has a mouth full of metal. he had top braces only until Feb this year then the bottom one was put in. Now he has the rubber bands to contend with. it can't be very nice.

Horsemad · 08/10/2013 11:05
Horsemad · 08/10/2013 11:15

He's having an upper fixed appliance, then retainers which must be worn every night for at least 3 yrs but preferably indefinitely. Shock

Sparklingbrook · 08/10/2013 11:16

Oh yes, we have the indefinite retainers too when the braces come off.

lljkk · 08/10/2013 11:25

Teenagers are such finicky creatures, will use the slightest excuse to go off on one. A persian cat is easier to live with. I love the milking the "Ooh it's so painful!" bit only until chips are on offer, though. That's a classic.

I bet the poor thing could manage to choke down a bit of chocolate cake too. Try pizza next time.

Ireallymustbemad · 08/10/2013 11:30

We were told he was allowed fizzy drinks and fruit juice twice a week through a straw.

DS also won't take a toothbrush to school. He were originally told 3 times a day including lunch but he is just doing it very thoroughly twice a day, morning and night. With his 3 different toothbrushes each time!!

The booklet we got says chipshop chips are good as they are quite soft.

Horsemad - my DS couldn't eat cereal the first few days unless it was mushy as he couldn't bite on anything. Have a couple of alternatives there if you can.

For those with experience, is each time they are tightened as bad as the first time?

Sparklingbrook · 08/10/2013 11:33

No Ireally. The first time seemed worse. He is now so used to it that it seems better.
Nightmare getting any appointments for tightening out of school time. I have now more or less synched the tightenings with school hols so he doesn't have to go back to school with painful teeth

the rubber bands are bizarre. i am finding them everywhere..

EeyoreIsh · 08/10/2013 11:37

She has my sympathy. I got braces last year at 32, and it really does hurt for longer than a few days, and painkillers don't really help that much.

pasta can be too hard, as can sandwiches, chips etc. Even soup or ice cream can set off a sensitive teeth reaction.

soup blended up very thoroughly is really the only way to go. Let her play with her food, a year on and I still have to pull sandwiches apart to eat them.

they'll be worth it though, my teeth have moved so much in just a year.

Sparklingbrook · 08/10/2013 11:38

How much longer have you got to go Eeyore? DS1 was told 2 years. if that's the case he has 9 months left.

Ireallymustbemad · 08/10/2013 11:42

Yes sparkling, all our appointments have to be in school hours as they only do private patients after school hours. We are not quite synced with the holidays unfortunately.

Horsemad · 08/10/2013 11:49

Have just been reading about braces and it sounds horrible Sad

DS has an overjet of 7mm (no idea if that's bad or 'really' bad tbh).

Ireally thanks for the tip re. cereal.

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