How can I eat salad with braces?

[Henlib]

Does anyone have advice on how I can eat salad with braces? I used to eat one for lunch every day, but I don't have time to eat salad and then brush/clean my teeth and braces. I hate not getting my leafy dark veggies in my diet. Any advice on how to do this would be appreciated. Thanks!

[lambchop]

Maybe switch things around a bit and eat your daily salad with dinner? In the beginning, when I had molar buildups, salads were impossible, so I got creative with my smoothies...I added lots of spinach and shredded raw beets, along with berries, and they were really quite delicious. Also, if you cut up carrots, broccoli, spinach, etc, and steam them in the microwave till they're soft (and scramble with egg whites if you're at home) they'll be easy ( and relatively clean!) to eat. Happily, I'm back to my daily salad habit, now that the buildups and bite turbos are gone (along with vigorous swishing if brushing isn't possible!)

[Henlib]

Thanks, that is just the kind of information I was looking for!

[Snowglobe32]

I still eat salads all the time. If I run out of time at lunch to brush, I wait an hour or so then go take a "bathroom break" and brush my teeth.

If you choose to eat them at work, buy some proxy brushes to use until you can brush.

It is my experience, that I usually have a leaf of salad left behind, not usually a big mess. So, you should be fine.

[Ciara]

As time goes by, you'll get more used to eating with braces. Salads were a pain to eat for the first few months, now they are fine. Some things, such as bean sprouts, are still difficult (they wind themselves around the arch wire) but most other things are ok.
Interdental brushes an tooth picks will make sure you are "respectable" until you can brush properly. A small pocket mirror is also handy.

If you still have problems, switch to eating your salad for breakfast of dinner. Also, I put fruit through yogurt which is really delicious. My friend bought a juicer and makes vegetable juice drinks to get enough fresh fruit and veg. in her diet.

Good luck!

[BracedSurgeryStudent]

Hey you can switch what meal you eat the salad at like for example if you're eating it for your lunch break at work, I'd eat something else then get it in at dinner at home

[TMJJill]

I talked to my orthodontist about this. My bite has shifted and I didn't have teeth touching enough to allow me to actually chew the lettuce. My orthodontist recommended spinach/kale smoothies. In fact, he even serves green smoothies in his practice to encourage good nutrition.

[JumpTheDitch]

Your ortho serves smoothies in his practice??

[TMJJill]

Your ortho serves smoothies in his practice??

Yup. The green spinach or kale kind. My appointments are usually at the very end of the day though so they don't always have any left.

He is a holistic dentist and strongly believes in how good nutrition can help promote good oral health.