Braces Care & Maintenance

Congratulations on your new braces! Proper care during your orthodontic treatment is essential to keep your smile healthy and your treatment on track. Here’s everything you need to know about eating, managing soreness, and maintaining excellent oral hygiene while wearing braces.

Eating with Braces

Foods to Avoid While Wearing Braces

  • Sticky and chewy items: like gummy candies, taffy, and bagels

  • Hard and crunchy snacks: such as popcorn kernels, tortilla chips, and ice cubes

  • Tough or sticky sweets: including caramel treats and chewing gum

  • Foods that are hard to bite into: like whole apples, raw carrots, and corn on the cob

  • Nuts and hard candies that could damage your braces

Safe and Braces-Friendly Foods

  • Dairy options: soft cheeses, creamy puddings, and milk-based beverages

  • Soft breads: such as flour tortillas, pancakes, and nut-free muffins

  • Grains and starches: including well-cooked pasta and tender rice

  • Proteins: like tender chicken, meatballs, and deli-style lunch meats

  • Seafood: such as flaky tuna, salmon, and crab cakes

  • Vegetables: mashed potatoes, steamed leafy greens, and cooked beans

  • Fruits: applesauce, ripe bananas, and fruit juices

  • Desserts: smooth ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, gelatin desserts, and moist cakes

Managing Soreness

It's normal for your mouth and teeth to feel tender during the first few days after getting braces or after adjustments. To relieve soreness:

  • Rinse your mouth with a warm saltwater solution: dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of lukewarm water, then swish for a few minutes (do not swallow).

  • If needed, take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed.

  • Use orthodontic wax to cover brackets or wires that irritate your lips, cheeks, or tongue. We’re happy to provide wax—just ask!

Dealing with Loose Wires and Bands

Sometimes, wires or bands may come loose or break. If this happens:

  • Contact us as soon as possible to schedule a repair.

  • Save any broken pieces and bring them to your appointment.

  • For temporary relief, gently push the wire back into place with a spoon handle or pencil eraser.

  • If the wire irritates your mouth, apply wax or a wet cotton ball over it.

Oral Hygiene Tips

Keeping your teeth and braces clean is crucial to prevent cavities, gum disease, and treatment delays.

Brushing

  • Brush after every meal for at least two minutes using a soft-bristled, small-headed toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.

  • You can also use a powered toothbrush to improve cleaning.

  • Hold the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line and use gentle circular motions on the outside and inside surfaces of your teeth.

  • Brush chewing surfaces and the inside of your front teeth with short back-and-forth strokes.

  • Pay special attention around brackets and wires.

Flossing

  • Floss after every meal to remove food and plaque between teeth and braces.

  • Use a floss threader or special orthodontic floss to get under the wires.

  • Wrap floss ends around your pointer fingers, leaving a taut section to slide between teeth with gentle back-and-forth motion.

  • Floss beneath the gum line carefully.

  • If flossing is difficult, ask us about water flossers for easier cleaning.