Your Guide to Living with Braces
Getting braces is an exciting step toward a healthier, straighter smile. At The Kids' Dentist and Orthodontics, we want your child to feel confident and prepared throughout their orthodontic journey. This guide covers everything your family needs to know about eating, brushing, managing discomfort, and taking care of braces from day one through the day they come off.
Foods to Enjoy with Braces
Your child can still enjoy many of their favorite foods. Soft foods are always safe, and many regular foods are fine when cut into small pieces:
- Soft fruits (bananas, berries, peeled apples cut into slices)
- Cooked vegetables and steamed broccoli
- Pasta, rice, and soft breads
- Yogurt, pudding, and smoothies
- Soft meats and fish (cut into small bites)
- Cheese, eggs, and soft-cooked beans
Foods to Avoid with Braces
Some foods can damage brackets, bend wires, or get stuck in braces. Help your child avoid:
- Hard foods: ice, hard candy, nuts, popcorn kernels, raw carrots (unless cut thin)
- Sticky foods: caramel, taffy, gummy bears, chewing gum
- Crunchy foods: chips, pretzels, hard taco shells, croutons
- Biting into hard items: corn on the cob (cut off the cob), whole apples (slice them)
- Chewing on non-food items: pens, pencils, fingernails, ice
Brushing and Flossing with Braces
Braces create extra surfaces where food and plaque can collect. Your child should brush after every meal (including snacks) using a soft-bristled toothbrush. We recommend:
- Brush above and below each bracket at a 45-degree angle
- Use an interdental brush or proxy brush to clean around brackets and under wires
- Floss daily using a floss threader, orthodontic flosser, or water flosser
- Rinse with fluoride mouthwash to strengthen enamel around brackets
- Spend at least three minutes brushing to cover all surfaces thoroughly
Managing Discomfort
Mild soreness after getting braces placed or after adjustments is normal. Most discomfort lasts two to five days and can be managed with:
- Over-the-counter pain relief (as directed by your pediatrician)
- Soft foods for the first few days after adjustments
- Orthodontic wax applied to brackets that rub against cheeks or lips
- Warm salt water rinses to soothe irritated gums
- Cold foods like ice cream or cold water to reduce inflammation
Handling Orthodontic Emergencies
Most braces issues are minor and can wait until your next scheduled visit. However, contact our Renton office if your child experiences a broken bracket causing significant pain, a wire poking into the cheek that cannot be covered with wax, or any injury to the mouth or teeth. We reserve time for orthodontic emergencies and can usually see your child the same day.
Life with Braces FAQs
Initial soreness typically lasts three to five days. Discomfort after monthly adjustments is usually milder and shorter, lasting one to three days. Soft foods and over-the-counter pain relief help manage this comfortably.
Ready to Schedule Your Child’s Visit?
Our friendly team is here to help your child feel comfortable and confident.