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Teenagers

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

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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

OP posts:

EeyoreIsh · 08/10/2013 11:51

my teeth are almost in the right place, but I've got to have double jaw surgery (ouch ouch ouch), and I think braces will stay to stabilise things for six months after. surgery would be in new year but I'm pregnant so it's having to wait.

It'll so be worth it though, I can't wait to be able to bite properly and chew like normal people!

Sparklingbrook · 08/10/2013 12:06

Ooh Eeyore that sounds a bit scary but think of the end result.

I wish we hadn't been told 2 years. If those braces don't come off next July DS1 will be so mad.

Horsemad · 08/10/2013 12:23

I've stopped googling now.

Thants · 08/10/2013 12:26

I ate everything on the banned list lol. It doesn't make a difference. The rules don't need to be that rigid. Brushing 4 times a day! Crazy.
The thing that knocked of a bracket for me was chewing on a pen lid!

Sparklingbrook · 08/10/2013 12:30

I refuse to pay for a replacement brace though Thants so I make him stick to the rules.

Horsemad · 08/10/2013 12:31

I think if the teeth can't be cleaned properly due to metalwork being attached then eating the wrong stuff CAN be harmful, Thants. Stands to reason, surely?

mumtosome61 · 08/10/2013 12:32

It is also worth mentioning that my four year, really bizarre experience with braces (I had a disjodged tooth as well as one that was stuck in a sac of water, so this is definitely not normal) was one of learning and relearning.

I remember them giving me the list of foods I couldn't eat and I was absolutely terrified that I wasn't going to be able to eat, full stop. For a few days I was too scared to eat from pain (normal) and fear of breaking the braces.

Has your DD mentioned an aversion to taking painkillers before? I hate taking them, but does she have a specific reason?

Ultimately it is trying time - identity, school life and her age means it is sort of a melting pot of upheaval. Lots of soft foods and foods she enjoys; and patience! If she's feeling fearful of breaking the braces, tell her a stranger on the internet had braces for four years and ate all the things I was supposed to avoid, including hard rock (as in the sweets) and apples without any issue whatsoever. I imagine dental products have made many more advances since my era!

Horsemad · 08/10/2013 12:37

Sparkling, does your DS wear a gum shield for footy?

Sparklingbrook · 08/10/2013 12:54

Let's just say he has one Horse. But no he doesn't wear it. It's a boil and bite one-not a posho meade to measure one.

I have never seen anyone with braces wearing a gum shield at footy-rugby yes, but not footy.

lljkk · 08/10/2013 13:17

DS only had small moans after tightening (I hope that I have made it clear that DS can moan for England). Big complaint was the initial fitting.

He said the scraping glue off at very end was probably the worst, but at least that was only bad while he was sat in chair.

DS probably only brushed twice daily & never the little interdental thingies, BUT he got real fear of God in him about black teeth from sweets & fizzy. So was excellent at having almost none of them for the 18-24 months.

Sparklingbrook · 08/10/2013 13:19

Ds found the moulds the worst bit. He said he felt like he was suffocating and was flailing around in the chair.

Gilbertus · 08/10/2013 13:53

Dd1 had a really tough time for the first week. Tears, pain etc. Chewing gum really helps weirdly and also rinsing the mouth with plain warm water. Hers are off tomorrow

OddBoots · 08/10/2013 16:10

My poor dd (10) needs to have a twin-block appliance for 9-12months to stretch her jaws then a brace for 2 years, she had moulds taken but they had to do it three times as her jaw is too tiny for the smallest tray so it didn't make a good impression. I'm dreading the appliance being fitted early December. I'm trying to feed her up a bit now ready as she is already on the cusp of being underweight.

nomorecrumbs · 08/10/2013 16:18

Is the twin-block appliance one of those where stretchy bands are put between the top and bottom teeth on each side, OddBoots? I had those. I don't remember it affecting eating much except they kept snapping!

MargeSimpson · 08/10/2013 16:26

We had all these problems with my DD and found the solution was to use Gishy Goo -fantastic - I got it on Amazon. it was suggested by the orthodontist. Its like a sticky blue tack but very effective.

OddBoots · 08/10/2013 16:29

I don't think there are stretchy bands but I might be wrong, it's like this only hers will have springs in the middle to stretch her jaw wider too as it's too narrow.

nocarsgo · 08/10/2013 16:47

I daresay you're going to have to treat this rather like you would a toddler: ignore and she'll eat when she's hungry.

Unless you think she has an eating disorder and this is an excuse to starve herself?

I had braces for YEARS and yes it hurts (but ibuprofen is effective) and yes eating feels very strange, but you get used to it in a few days.

lubeybooby · 08/10/2013 17:55

Don't know what painkillers she has had but paracetamol is pretty wank for teeth. She needs ibuprofen and lots of it.

Ireallymustbemad · 08/10/2013 18:23

DS has a gun shield from the orthodontist. It's massive and made me want to gag when I tried it so no wonder he won't wear it. It is a standard top and bottom big one that goes over the braces.

We were told not to get boil and bite as it puts pressure on the brace.

I haven't got an answer except to ask the orthodontist if they do smaller ones when we go next. There was no mention of sizes before though so I am doubtful.

Gilbertus · 08/10/2013 18:32

Dd1 has a silicon gumshield top only from orthodontist. Didn't know you could even get bottom ones

She wears it for hockey

Sparklingbrook · 08/10/2013 18:35

The Orthodontist sells custom made gum shields for about £70, but he has never tried to sell us one.

Gilbertus · 08/10/2013 18:52

Dd1s was 15. It's just a silicon shock doctor one.

Horsemad · 04/11/2013 21:35

DS2 getting his brace fitted tomorrow He seems to think this entitles him to the whole day off though!!

Horsemad · 05/11/2013 15:08

It is done! His face was a picture when they told him no fizzy drinks/crisps etc, even though I'd pre-warned him!

He's got lime green attachments to it; looks cool & not as bad as some I've seen. Hope he doesn't have any pain with it though.

OhYouBadBadKitten · 07/11/2013 22:19

Dd had twin blocks. First few days weren't great but she persisted and learned how to eat with them. Then she had train tracks with added elastics at various times. Now she has retainers at night and for her it's just the same as putting pjs on. It was really worth it, she has lovely teeth.

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