Advances in Dental Research and Technology Are Fascinating

Today's new clear, removable braces are much less noticeable and cumbersome than the traditional metal braces, and they also make it easier for you to enjoy your favorite foods while your teeth are being straightened. However, when you're first fitted for your new braces, your mouth may still feel sore for the first few days, and you'll need to find a way to nourish yourself while avoiding aggravating your teeth. But that doesn't mean you have to live on applesauce and ice cream.

Take a look at some tips for getting through those first few days without sacrificing healthy nutrition.

Breakfast

The most important meal of the day is also the easiest. Standard breakfast fare like yogurt and oatmeal are good for your body and won't hurt your teeth. Soft fruits like bananas, melons, and grapes are usually easy to eat, and harder fruits like pears and apples can be cooked to make them soft enough for your teeth to handle. Stay away from hard and crunchy cereals and sticky fruits like raisins and dates.

One of the best things you can eat the morning after you get your braces is a plate of fluffy scrambled eggs. Eggs are a good source of phosphorus, a crucial mineral healthy teeth need, and the dish will be easy on your sore mouth. For extra flavor, melt some cheese over the eggs – this will give your teeth some extra calcium as well.

Lunch

Lunch can be one of the more difficult meals to plan. If you head off to work after breakfast, you'll either need to pack something soft that won't be soggy and unappetizing by lunchtime or figure out what you can grab on the go that won't hurt your teeth.

If you're packing your own lunch, try a cold pasta salad. Use a vegetable peeler to add thin, easy-to-chew slices of carrots and cucumbers to the salad. You can also dice a tomato in small pieces, and add shredded chicken for protein. Tuna salad is a good choice as well; just leave out the celery. (Avoid tuna sandwiches if you're taking the lunch to work – a sandwich will almost certainly be soggy by lunchtime.)

If you're grabbing fast food or eating out, consider a meatball sub or a barbecued pulled chicken or pork sandwich – the meats are soft and won't give you any trouble, and the sauces will soften the bread and make it less chewy.

Dinner

Spaghetti is a simple choice for an end of the day meal. The pasta is easy to eat, and you can puree vegetables in a food processor and add them to the spaghetti sauce to help yourself get a full serving of vegetables even if you don't feel like chewing them. Another good option is to prepare chili in the crock-pot in the morning. By the time you arrive home at the end of the day, you'll have a soft but hearty and nutritious meal ready to serve.

If you're looking for something a little more creative for dinner time, how about a baked potato bar? Baked potatoes are don't require a lot of chewing, and you can set out a variety of toppings like cheese, sour cream, chives, and soft bacon pieces. If you want a healthier alternative, consider making it a sweet potato bar. Sweet potatoes are not only healthier for you, they're a good source of Vitamin D, which is an important component of strong teeth. Top the sweet potatoes with soft but healthy toppings like mushrooms, quinoa, ricotta cheese, kale, diced and baked apples, or cinnamon with sugar.

Snacks

What makes a good, filling snack when your mouth is sore from a recent braces fitting? A smoothie, of course! A smoothie is a great way to hold yourself over until the next meal, and they also make a good meal substitute when you're in a hurry. For a tooth-healthy smoothie, blend apples, kiwis, avocados, orange slices, and mint leaves together. The acid in the apples will help kill any bacteria on your teeth, the avocados are full of tooth-friendly calcium, and the mint will freshen your breath.

Another good smoothie recipe for your mouth is a blend of pineapples, mangoes, honey, bananas, oranges, and peaches. The manganese in the pineapple will help strengthen your teeth, and the other fruits provide a powerful amount of vitamin C, which is great for your gums. And the honey is a natural antiseptic that will help keep any germs in your mouth at bay.

These meal ideas will not only come in handy right after you get your new braces, they'll also come in handy if you have soreness after being fitted for tighter braces as the straightening process goes on. Just don't forget you still have to brush your teeth after every meal, even if the meal is good for your teeth. 

Check out sites like http://www.dentistryoffayetteville.com for more info.