All About Braces Care and Oral Hygiene
Getting braces is an exciting step toward a healthier, more confident smile, but it also comes with a few lifestyle adjustments. Here’s everything you need to know about caring for your braces and making your treatment as smooth and successful as possible.
Brushing and Flossing with Braces
Oral hygiene becomes even more important once your braces are on. Because brackets and wires create more places for food and plaque to hide, brushing and flossing regularly are essential for maintaining healthy teeth and gums during treatment.
Brush after every meal using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
Floss at least once a day using a floss threader or orthodontic flosser.
Consider using a water flosser or interdental brushes for added cleaning.
If you don’t maintain good oral hygiene, you may need more frequent cleanings at your dentist’s office. Adults with a history of gum disease should also see a periodontist during treatment.
Watch the videos below for tips on how to brush and floss properly with braces.
Eating with Braces
One of the most common questions we get is: “What can I eat with braces?”
Well, let’s start with what not to eat!
For the first day or so after getting braces, stick to soft foods while your mouth adjusts. Avoid tough meats, hard breads, and raw vegetables. Before long, you’ll be able to crunch into a cucumber or a juicy taco again—but for now, protecting your orthodontic appliances is key to staying on track with treatment.
Foods to Avoid
To prevent damage to your brackets and wires, stay away from these common troublemakers:
Chewy Foods: Barbacoa tacos, fresh bolillo bread, licorice
Crunchy Foods: Chicharrones, tortilla chips, ice
Sticky Foods: Cajeta, fruit chews, bubble gum
Hard Foods: Pecans, candied peanuts, lollipops
Foods You Bite Into: Elote (corn on the cob), whole apples, raw carrots
Also, avoid chewing on pens, pencils, or fingernails—these habits can cause just as much damage as the wrong foods. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer.
General Soreness After Getting Braces
Feeling sore after your braces are placed or adjusted? That’s totally normal! Your teeth may be sensitive to pressure for a few days, and your lips, cheeks, or tongue might feel irritated for a week or two.
Take over-the-counter pain relief like Tylenol (or what you’d typically use for a headache).
Use orthodontic wax to cover any brackets or wires that are bothering you.
Rinse with warm salt water to soothe sore areas.
Loose Teeth? Don’t Worry!
It may feel strange, but a little looseness in your teeth during treatment is a good sign—they’re on the move! Once your teeth reach their new positions, they’ll firm up again.
What to Do About a Loose Wire or Band
Wires or bands can occasionally come loose. If this happens:
Use a blunt object (like the eraser end of a pencil) to carefully tuck the wire under the archwire or out of the way.
Apply orthodontic wax or a piece of wet cotton if it continues to irritate your mouth.
Call our office so we can schedule a time to fix it.
Rubber Band Wear To Stay on Track!
Wearing your rubber bands as prescribed is crucial to the success of your treatment. Your teeth and jaws will only move as planned if you wear your elastics consistently.
Skipping days or not following instructions can delay your progress and extend your time in braces—so wear them exactly as directed by our doctors!
Playing Sports with A Mouthguard
If you’re involved in sports, let us know! We’ll provide you with a custom mouthguard to protect your teeth and braces during practices and games. Whether you’re on the field, court, or track, keeping your smile safe is just as important as winning the game. Safety first!
