All About Braces: Caring for Your Smile During Treatment
New to braces? A little know-how keeps your treatment on track and comfortable. This guide covers the essentials - how to brush and floss around braces, which foods to avoid, how to handle soreness, and how to protect your braces during sports. Have a question we don’t answer here? Call the office nearest you.
Braces do their best work when you take good care of them. The habits below protect your teeth, prevent broken brackets that can slow you down, and help you finish treatment on schedule with a healthy, beautiful smile.
Your First Week with Braces
The first few days are the biggest adjustment - and they’re completely normal. Expect:
- Soreness - your teeth may feel tender to biting pressure for 3 to 5 days. Warm salt-water rinses and an over-the-counter pain reliever (like you’d normally take) help.
- Irritation - your lips, cheeks, and tongue toughen up over a week or two. Cover any bracket that’s rubbing with a pea-sized ball of orthodontic wax.
- Soft foods - for the first day or two, stick to soft, easy-to-chew foods: yogurt, soup, pasta, eggs, mashed potatoes, smoothies. You’ll be back to most normal foods quickly.
Brushing and Flossing with Braces
Keeping your teeth clean is the single most important thing you can do during treatment. Brush at least four times a day - after every meal and before bed - and floss daily to reach the spots your brush misses. Patients who don’t keep up with cleaning may need extra professional cleanings, and adults with a history of gum disease should also see a periodontist during treatment. We’ll show you how to floss around wires and may recommend a fluoride treatment.
Foods to Avoid with Braces
Hard, sticky, and sugary foods are the main culprits behind broken brackets and bent wires - and sugar raises your risk of tooth decay while you’re in braces. Use common sense, and steer clear of the foods below.
Sticky Foods
- Gum (regular and sugar-free)
- Caramels
- Toffee
- Licorice
- Tootsie Rolls
- Starburst
- Sugar Daddies
Hard Foods
- Ice
- Nuts
- Hard candy (Jolly Ranchers)
- Popcorn
- Chips
- Hard taco shells
- Pizza crust and French bread crust
- Bagels
- Corn on the cob, apples, and raw carrots (unless cut into small pieces)
Sugary Foods
- Cake
- Cookies
- Pie
- Ice cream
- Candy
Limit Sugary Drinks (once a day at most)
- Soda
- Sweetened tea
- Gatorade
- Kool-Aid and other sugary drinks
Also avoid chewing on non-food items - pens, pencils, and fingernails all damage braces and can add time to your treatment.
Rubber Bands (Elastics)
If your treatment includes rubber bands or other appliances, wear them exactly as prescribed. They do a big share of the work, and skipping them is one of the most common reasons treatment takes longer than expected.
Is It Normal for My Teeth to Feel Loose?
Yes - and it’s actually a good sign. Teeth have to loosen slightly before they can move into their new positions. As treatment progresses and finishes, they firm right back up, settled into their corrected spots.
Loose Wire or Bracket
If a wire or bracket comes loose, gently guide the wire back into place with the eraser end of a pencil and cover any poking spot with wax for comfort. Then call us to schedule a quick repair. For more on handling braces mishaps, see our Emergency Care page.
Braces and Sports
Stay active! Just wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and braces during sports, and let us know which activities you play so we can advise you. If your braces are damaged during a game, contact us right away so we can keep your treatment on schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I eat during my first week with braces?
Stick to soft foods for the first day or two - yogurt, soup, pasta, eggs, mashed potatoes, and smoothies are all easy on tender teeth. You’ll be back to most of your normal diet within a few days.
Can I chew gum with braces?
No. Gum - even sugar-free - is sticky enough to pull at brackets and bend wires, so it’s best avoided for the whole time you’re in braces.
Why do my teeth feel loose during treatment?
It’s expected. Teeth must loosen a little to move, then re-anchor firmly in their corrected positions as treatment wraps up. It’s a normal part of how braces work.
Do I need to wear my rubber bands all the time?
Wear them exactly as your orthodontist directs - usually most of the day and night. Consistency is key; skipping them is a leading cause of longer treatment.
Can I drink soda or Gatorade with braces?
Only sparingly - ideally no more than once a day. Sugary and acidic drinks raise your risk of tooth decay and staining around your brackets while you’re in braces.
Questions About Life with Braces?
We’re always happy to help you get the most out of your treatment. Reach out anytime, or book a free first visit.
Decatur Office - 2014 Danville Park Dr SW, Decatur, AL 35603 · (256) 355-5255 Hartselle Office - 220 Karl Prince Dr SW, Hartselle, AL 35640 · (256) 773-8613