Life With Braces — Tips for Bristol, Rocky Hill & Waterbury Patients
Getting braces is an exciting milestone on the way to a healthier, more confident smile. But once your braces are on, knowing how to care for them properly makes a significant difference in your comfort, the health of your teeth, and the overall success of your treatment. At Mbraces, we want every patient at our Bristol, Rocky Hill, and Waterbury offices to feel fully prepared for life with braces. Here is everything you need to know.
Eating With Braces
Most of your favorite foods are still completely fine to eat with braces — you will just need to avoid a specific category of foods that can damage your brackets, bend your wires, or become stuck in hard-to-clean areas. The good news is that the restriction list is shorter than you might think, and following it will keep your treatment on track and your teeth healthy throughout the process.
Foods to avoid with braces:
- Chewy foods — bagels, licorice, tough bread crusts
- Crunchy foods — popcorn, hard chips, ice
- Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum, toffee
- Hard foods — nuts, hard candies, hard pretzels
- Foods that require biting directly into — corn on the cob, whole apples, raw carrots (cut these into small pieces instead)
Foods you CAN enjoy with braces:
- Dairy — soft cheese, yogurt, pudding, milk-based drinks
- Breads — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts
- Grains — pasta, soft-cooked rice, oatmeal
- Meats and poultry — soft-cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats, fish
- Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes
- Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, cooked beans, soft-cooked carrots
- Fruits — applesauce, bananas, berries, fruit juice, soft melon
- Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake, pudding
Managing Soreness from Braces
It is completely normal to experience some tenderness or soreness after your braces are first placed and after each subsequent adjustment appointment. Your teeth may feel slightly sensitive to biting pressure for three to five days. This is your mouth adapting to the new forces being applied to move your teeth — it is a sign your treatment is working.
To relieve discomfort, dissolve one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of lukewarm water and gently swish and gargle for a couple of minutes. Do not swallow the solution. If soreness is more severe, you may take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol). Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), and naproxen sodium (Naprosyn) during treatment, as these medications can actually slow the movement of teeth.
Your lips, cheeks, and tongue may also feel irritated for one to two weeks as they adjust to the new surface texture of your braces. We can provide orthodontic wax to place over any bracket or wire that is causing irritation — just ask at your next visit or call any of our offices.
Loose Teeth — Is That Normal?
If your teeth begin to feel slightly loose during treatment, do not be alarmed. This is a completely normal and necessary part of the orthodontic process. In order to move your teeth into their correct positions, the braces must first slightly loosen them within the bone. Once your teeth have reached their final positions and your treatment is complete, they will stabilize and firm back up. Wearing your retainer as directed after treatment is key to keeping them in place long-term.
Loose Wires and Broken Brackets
Occasionally a wire may come loose or a bracket may pop off. If this happens, contact our office as soon as possible so we can schedule a repair appointment. Leaving a damaged appliance unaddressed for too long can delay your treatment progress.
In the meantime, if a wire is poking your cheek or lip, use the eraser end of a pencil or the back of a clean spoon to gently push it back into a more comfortable position. You can also place a small piece of orthodontic wax over the irritating area. Save any piece of the appliance that comes off and bring it with you to your next appointment.
Playing Sports With Braces
Having braces does not mean giving up the sports and activities you love. Athletes throughout Bristol, Rocky Hill, and Waterbury continue their games and practices throughout treatment without any problem. We do strongly recommend wearing a properly fitted mouthguard during any contact or collision sport to protect both your teeth and your appliances.
If you experience any injury to your mouth during sports, check your appliances carefully for damage and contact our office right away. You can temporarily relieve discomfort by applying orthodontic wax or rinsing with warm salt water until you can be seen. Our team at all three locations is here to help. Call (860) 589-3316 for Bristol, (860) 563-6563 for Rocky Hill, or (203) 754-7822 for Waterbury.
Also be sure to explore our pages on brushing and flossing with braces and what to do in case of an orthodontic emergency for additional guidance throughout your treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions — Life With Braces
What foods are completely off-limits with braces?
Avoid anything sticky, chewy, crunchy, or very hard. This includes caramel, chewing gum, popcorn, hard candies, ice, nuts, bagels, and foods you bite directly into like whole apples or corn on the cob. These can break brackets, bend wires, or become trapped in areas that are difficult to clean, all of which can delay your treatment.
How long will my teeth be sore after getting braces?
Most patients experience soreness for three to five days after braces are first placed and after each adjustment. Warm salt-water rinses and over-the-counter acetaminophen can help manage discomfort. The soreness is a normal sign that your teeth are being gently moved into position.
What should I do if a bracket comes off or a wire breaks?
Call our office to schedule a repair appointment as soon as possible. If a wire is poking you, use the eraser end of a pencil to gently push it into a more comfortable position and place orthodontic wax over the sharp area. Save any piece of the appliance that comes loose and bring it to your appointment.
Can I still brush and floss normally with braces?
You will need to adjust your oral hygiene technique. Brushing after every meal is essential, and flossing requires a floss threader or orthodontic flosser to navigate around the wires. Our team will demonstrate the proper technique at your first appointment. Learn more on our brushing and flossing page.
Can I play sports with braces?
Yes. We encourage all patients to stay active. Always wear a properly fitted mouthguard during contact sports to protect your teeth and appliances. If you sustain any injury to your mouth, check for damage and contact our office promptly.
Is it normal for my teeth to feel loose during treatment?
Yes, this is completely normal and expected. In order to move teeth into new positions, the orthodontic forces first create slight mobility within the bone. Once treatment is complete and you begin wearing your retainer, your teeth will stabilize and firm up again.
What is orthodontic wax and when should I use it?
Orthodontic wax is a soft, pliable material you can press over a bracket or wire that is irritating your lips or cheeks. It creates a smooth surface that prevents rubbing and gives the tissues in your mouth time to toughen up. Simply ask our team for wax at any appointment, or call any of our offices to pick some up.