Eating is supposed to be an enjoyable experience.  However, certain dental and mouth conditions can make eating not only a nuisance but also a painful task.  While not eating isn’t an option, choosing what you eat can lessen both issues and pain.

  • Braces.  Eating can be quite a challenge during the first few painful weeks in. Brackets are poking into your gums and cheeks, and you just can’t seem to chew properly.  How long will eating be a challenge? Most people find that they are more comfortable and can chew food more properly in 2 to 3 weeks after the braces go on.  In the meantime…
    • Slow down. Chew slowly and carefully, and cut your food into small pieces. Forget about taking big bites of anything, or wolfing down your food.
    • Stick to soft foods like over-steamed veggies, applesauce, and nutrient rich smoothies.
    • Stay away from nuts, seeds, and popcorn.  These will get stuck in the brackets and can be difficult to remove.
    • Treats should be cold to temporarily dull the pain of the braces – ice cream, popsicles, or frozen yogurt.
  • Dry mouth.  Certain treatments, medications, and other diseases can cause dry mouth.  Talk to your dentist or doctor if your dry mouth is not due to a known source.  There are some foods that can mitigate dry mouth issues.
    • Chew sugarless gum or suck on sugarless candy to stimulate saliva flow.
    • Limit your caffeine intake because caffeine can make your mouth drier.
    • Sip water regularly to keep your mouth from getting too dry.
  • Dental Erosion.  Erosion is the loss of tooth enamel caused by acid attack. Enamel is the hard, protective coating of the tooth, which protects the sensitive dentine underneath. When the enamel is worn away, the dentine underneath is exposed, which may lead to pain and sensitivity.
    • Acidic foods and drinks such as fruit and fruit juices – particularly citrus ones including lemon and orange – contain natural acids, which can be harmful to your teeth.
    • Fizzy drinks, sodas, pops and carbonated drinks can cause erosion. Even the ‘diet’ brands are harmful.
    • Chew sugar-free gum after eating. This will help produce more saliva to help cancel out the acids which form in your mouth after eating.
    • Try to finish a meal with cheese or milk as this will help cancel out the acid.
  • Sore mouth or throat.
    • Eat soft, bland, creamy foods high in calories and protein, such as cream-based soups, cheeses, yogurt, or pudding.
    • Chop your food. Chop up your meat, poultry, or fish into small pieces or put it through the blender. You can mix it with a sauce or low-fat gravy.
    • Avoid rough foods such as dry toast, pretzels, and granola.
    • Avoid tart, acidic, spicy, or salty foods. Stay away from citrus and tomato-based foods.

Eating is an activity that cannot be avoided – keeping your body strong by feeding it proper nutrients and vitamins will allow mouth issues to heal as well.