My daughter got braces at the end of April. Everyone told us that she would be sore for days after they put on the braces. She needed Tylenol once, and then she was fine.
And then we had to go back so that the orthodontist could install her palate expander. And we came home. And she was sore.
Then night came. And it got worse. She couldn't chew. Couldn't open wide. I made her a Muscle Milk shake.
The next day, she was still very sore and couldn't eat much. More Muscle Milk. Poor kid.
It's day 3 now and she's still sore. This is expected and normal. Some folks have suggested I should take her in and demand that they remove the appliance. However, this is for her benefit and it's important that we carry on. She has teeth impacted because her mouth is so crowded. Braces and the "roof rack" as I call it are important to her oral health (which is important to her physical health) and her self-esteem as she grows up. Sometimes, we have to do things that aren't any fun. Sometimes, we have to do things that hurt.
Healthy Peanut Butter & Chocolate Pancakes (No, really. They're healthy!)
- 2 1/2 cups flour (I used equal amounts of whole wheat, white, and soy)
- 4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 Tbsp sugar
- 3 cups of milk (almond, soy, rice, cow, goat, you choose!)
- 2 eggs (I used Ener-G egg replacer though)
- 1/4 cup natural peanut butter melted with 2 Tbsp coconut oil
- Preheat your griddle or skillet.
- Stir together the dry ingredients, then incorporate the wet ingredients.
- Put melted peanut butter and coconut oil (mixture will be thick, like frosting) in a piping bag or a plastic baggie which you've snipped the corner off of.
- Pour batter by 1/3 cupfuls onto griddle or skillet.
- Make a design on each pancake using the piping bag.
- Flip after 2 minutes, and cook another minute or so.
- Serve with more peanut butter, maple syrup, or honey.
My son wore one of those! He hasn't had braces yet. Hoping to not have to do that! I cannot imagine braces and an expander at the same time. No wonder she's so sore! Poor thing. And, poor you. It stinks to feel helpless in making our little ones feel better. Does Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen help?
ReplyDeleteGood luck! I'm sure it will get better. And, you're right to not have it taken out.
It helps a little bit. It's more of just waiting out the first week and getting over the big hurdle of discomfort. :(
ReplyDeleteCauliflower can be hidden in mash potatoes. And when I was a kid my mom sometimes would put soft boiled eggs on our mash potatoes. It was really good!
ReplyDeleteToday We went to the orthodontist. My daughter will get her braces on beginning of August...but first she has to get 2 teeth pulled due to over crowding(ouch!) and 6mths into treatment she has to go to an oral surgeon to dig into her gums to find a tooth to pull down. My daughter has zero pain tolerance. This will be tough on her. Orthodontist estimates 34 months of treatment.
Our orthodnotist estimates only 24 months for our kiddo, but we'll see. It's not an exact science, this timing of braces. I hope your kiddo does well. And I hope you'll share your experiences when the time comes. It seems like I'm the first in my social circle to have a kid in braces so I'm the go-to gal with NO information! lol
ReplyDeletepoor girl! hope she is on the road to no soreness very soon!
ReplyDeleteI was going to suggest mashed cauliflower, turnip, broccoli(with cheese)
and the pancakes sound great too!
I completely sympathize with your little one! UGH! The pain!!!
ReplyDeleteYour pancakes sound delicious.. when you commented on my cookies, I couldn't wait to get over here and see what you had whipped up! YUM!!!
My oldest son went through pure misery with his braces and expander. He also had surgery to remove two teeth that were coming in through the roof of his mouth. He was on pain medication for almost a week. Breaks your heart to feel to helpless I know. Have you called the dentist to ask about something else for pain managment? Good luck to the little lady. All these years later my son has a beautiful smile. (he is now 37) Blessings Roxie
ReplyDeleteOh, I know the pain! I wore a palate expander for FIVE years before they would even put braces on me, but it was worth it in the end because I didn't have to wear my braces nearly as long. It does hurt at first, but you get used to it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog and becoming a follower. I am now a follower of yours. Hope your girl gets to feeling better soon. It will pay off in the long run.
ReplyDeletePoor thing. I hope she's not getting headaches from it too. Maybe a quick call to the orthodontist would be good to make sure this level of pain is to be expected. I would give her nutritious shakes, soups, & juice some vegetables. Also soft foods like avocados, eggs/omelets, soft fish, cooked/mashed sour kraut (rinse out the vinegar), tomatoes, carrots, cauliflower. For soups/cream of: leaks, mushroom, broccoli, clam/fish chowder (whirl in the mixer). Maybe lasagna when she's a bit better. Of course broth. For dessert: pudding, ice cream, apple sauce.
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