As someone who had to wear braces at one point, things got pretty difficult at times. Having all those wires in your mouth and making monthly trips to the dentist was hardly a walk in the park. You had to deal with constant mouth sores, bad breath, changing face shapes, and so much more.

And, of course, there were those days when you could hardly move your mouth at all because of how sore everything was! When you first get your braces installed and every single time you have your braces adjusted afterward, you go through a lot of pain as your teeth adjust to the new set-up, especially when eating foods.

So, if you’re planning on getting braces soon or you already have them installed, then buckle in—it’ll be a while before you’re fully adjusted. Luckily, there are a few foods you can try eating even with your teeth in braces. Here is a list.

1. Scrambled Eggs

Eggs are a rich source of phosphorus, which promotes the growth and strengthening of tooth enamel. They both help protect your teeth and reduce cavity-causing acids in your mouth. On top of that, there are so many ways you can cook eggs—from scrambled to boiled to poached to fried, eggs are a tasty and healthy ingredient with numerous health benefits.

For someone with new braces and struggling with foods, scrambled eggs are where it’s at. They melt in the mouth and don’t require a lot of chewing. You just have to make sure the eggs are cooked perfectly—not too undercooked that they’re raw while not too overcooked that they have a bite.

2. Ice Cream

It might seem counterproductive to eat ice cream when every dentist would recommend you lay off the sweet foods, but ice cream actually helps to relieve any pain and swelling you get when braces are first installed. Brace installments, tooth extractions, and root canals are probably the only situations where a dentist would recommend you have this icy, sweet treat!

Just keep in mind that you want to stick with plain ice cream—no add-ins like cookies, chocolate chips, nuts, or anything that won’t easily melt.

3. Oatmeal

You’re probably not going to be eating very well the first few days after your braces are installed, so we highly recommend eating oatmeal. You can get a ton of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals with just one bowl of oatmeal. It’s not too hard on the teeth either.

Oatmeal might sound a little boring, but it doesn’t have to be! Dress it up with other teeth-friendly ingredients like powders (e.g., peanut butter, chocolate), milk (e.g., coconut, almond), and mashed fruits (e.g., banana, strawberries, avocado) to spice things up.

4. Bananas

Speaking of mashed fruits, bananas are pretty awesome just as is! Unlike other fruits like apples and melons that are big on the crunch, bananas can be soft and mushy. They’re also great sources of teeth-friendly minerals like potassium, manganese, and magnesium that strengthen tooth enamel.

Bananas are perfect if you want to actually chew on something. Trust me, eating liquid things like soup or yogurt or oatmeal can get tiring quickly because you’re basically just drinking both food and water. Chewing is something a lot of us take for granted!

5. Yogurt

Yogurt is another great option for newly-braced people. Not only is it gentle on the teeth, but it’s also extremely rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals like calcium that promote healthy teeth and bones. Most yogurts also have probiotics that aid in digestion and nutrient absorption.

Like oatmeal, there are plenty of ways you can dress up yogurt. Yogurt comes in a ton of different flavors from fruity ones (e.g., strawberry, mango) to sweet ones (e.g., key lime pie, chocolate). You can also have add-ins like mashed fruits.

6. Grains

You’re probably not going to be reaching for spaghetti and meatballs or Chinese fried rice the first few days with braces, but don’t fret. You can start eating grains like rice, noodles, and pasta as soon as you feel comfortable doing so, usually around two weeks. You just have to make sure that the grains and all other ingredients are nice and soft so your teeth won’t run into any problems chewing it. Think of things like mac and cheese, porridge, and chicken noodle soup.