Bite Pads: Purpose, Eating Strategies, and Adaptation Tips

How to Eat with Bite Pads?

Adjusting to eating with bite pads requires patience and strategic food choices, focusing on softer textures and modified chewing techniques to minimize discomfort and facilitate proper orthodontic treatment.

Understanding Bite Pads: Purpose and Function

Bite pads, also known as turbos or bite ramps, are small, raised platforms typically bonded to the biting surfaces of the back molars or the lingual (tongue-side) surfaces of the front teeth. Their primary purpose in orthodontics is to prevent the upper and lower teeth from fully coming together. This is crucial for several reasons:

• Correcting Deep Bites (Malocclusion): In cases of a deep overbite, the upper front teeth significantly overlap the lower front teeth, sometimes even biting into the gum tissue. Bite pads create space, allowing the lower teeth to erupt or move into their correct position without being obstructed or worn down by the upper teeth.
• Protecting Brackets: For individuals with braces, bite pads prevent the upper teeth from biting down on and dislodging the lower brackets, especially during the initial stages of treatment.
• Facilitating Tooth Movement: By disoccluding the bite, bite pads reduce the forces that oppose tooth movement, allowing orthodontic appliances to work more efficiently.
• TMJ Considerations: In some cases, they can help alleviate stress on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) by repositioning the bite.

The presence of bite pads fundamentally alters your natural bite pattern, which directly impacts your ability to chew.

Initial Challenges and Adaptation

Upon first receiving bite pads, it's common to experience a period of adjustment. You may notice:

• A Feeling of Open Bite: Your back teeth might not touch, or only the bite pads will make contact, leading to a sensation that your mouth doesn't close properly.
• Difficulty Chewing: The altered bite mechanics will make chewing familiar foods challenging. You might find yourself biting your cheeks or tongue initially.
• Speech Changes: A temporary lisp or difficulty with certain sounds may occur, especially if the pads are on the front teeth.
• Jaw Discomfort: Mild soreness in the jaw muscles (masseter, temporalis) is normal as they adapt to the new chewing pattern.

This adaptation phase is a neuromuscular process, as your brain and muscles learn to coordinate movements around the new obstacles. Most individuals adapt significantly within a few days to a week.

Practical Strategies for Eating with Bite Pads

Navigating meals with bite pads requires a conscious effort and modification of your eating habits.

Food Choices

The most impactful strategy is to be selective about what you eat, especially during the initial adjustment period.

• Prioritize Soft Foods:
  • Dairy: Yogurt, cottage cheese, soft cheeses.
  • Grains: Oatmeal, soft bread (without crusts), well-cooked pasta, rice.
  • Fruits: Ripe bananas, berries, cooked apples (applesauce), soft melons.
  • Vegetables: Mashed potatoes, well-cooked steamed vegetables (carrots, peas, spinach), pureed soups.
  • Proteins: Scrambled eggs, soft fish, finely shredded chicken or beef (in stews), tofu, beans, lentils.
• Avoid Hard and Crunchy Foods: These can dislodge or damage the bite pads, or cause discomfort. Examples include nuts, popcorn, hard candies, ice, hard bread, raw carrots, and apples (unless cut into very small pieces).
• Steer Clear of Sticky Foods: Caramel, chewy candies, gum, and even very chewy bread can stick to the bite pads, making them difficult to clean and potentially pulling them off.
• Cut Food into Small Pieces: Even soft foods should be cut into bite-sized (or smaller) pieces. This minimizes the amount of chewing required and reduces the force applied to the bite pads.

Chewing Technique

Modify how you chew to accommodate the altered bite.

• Slow Down: Eat at a leisurely pace. Rushing can lead to accidental bites to the cheek or tongue.
• Take Small Bites: Overloading your mouth will make chewing more difficult.
• Focus on Mastication: Concentrate on the act of chewing. You may find that you need to chew food significantly longer than before to break it down sufficiently for swallowing.
• Bilateral Chewing (If Comfortable): If the bite pads are on your molars, try to distribute chewing on both sides of your mouth to balance jaw muscle activity, provided it doesn't cause discomfort.
• Utilize Front Teeth (Carefully): For some foods, you might find it easier to use your front teeth to initiate biting, then transfer the food to the back for more careful chewing, or simply swallow smaller, softer pieces.

Hydration

• Drink Water During Meals: Water can help moisten food, making it easier to chew and swallow, especially if your mouth feels dry or if food gets stuck.

Patience and Persistence

Remember that this is a temporary phase of your orthodontic treatment. Your body is incredibly adaptive, and with consistent effort, eating will become significantly easier.

Nutritional Considerations

While restricting certain foods is necessary, it's vital to ensure you maintain adequate nutritional intake.

• Balanced Meals: Focus on creating meals that are soft but nutritionally complete.
• Smoothies and Shakes: Excellent for incorporating fruits, vegetables, protein powder, and healthy fats.
• Soups and Stews: Nutrient-dense and easy to consume.
• Mashed and Pureed Foods: Offer variety and essential nutrients.
• Protein Sources: Opt for soft cooked chicken, fish, tofu, eggs, beans, lentils, and dairy products to ensure sufficient protein for muscle maintenance and overall health.

Oral Hygiene with Bite Pads

Bite pads can create additional surfaces where food particles can accumulate, increasing the risk of plaque buildup and cavities.

• Brush After Every Meal: Thoroughly brush all surfaces of your teeth and around the bite pads.
• Floss Regularly: Use floss or an interdental cleaner to clean between teeth, especially around the bite pads.
• Rinse: Use a fluoride mouthwash or warm salt water rinse to help dislodge food particles and promote oral health.

When to Consult Your Orthodontist/Dentist

While discomfort and difficulty are normal, certain signs warrant a call to your orthodontic or dental professional:

• Persistent or Severe Pain: If the pain is intense, doesn't subside, or worsens, it's important to get it checked.
• Dislodged or Damaged Bite Pad: If a bite pad comes off or breaks, contact your orthodontist immediately. It needs to be re-bonded to continue its function.
• Significant Difficulty Eating or Speaking: If you are unable to get adequate nutrition or your speech is severely impaired beyond the initial adjustment period.
• Weight Loss Concerns: If you find it so difficult to eat that you are losing weight unintentionally.
• Sharp Edges or Ulcers: If the bite pads are causing cuts or sores in your mouth that aren't healing.

Conclusion: Embracing the Adjustment Period

Eating with bite pads is an temporary challenge that demands adaptability and a strategic approach. By making informed food choices, adjusting your chewing technique, prioritizing oral hygiene, and maintaining open communication with your orthodontist, you can navigate this phase successfully. Remember that these small adjustments are crucial steps towards achieving your desired healthy and functional bite, making the temporary inconvenience a worthwhile investment in your long-term oral health.