What should you eat in the first days after braces are fitted?
The British Orthodontic Society (BOS) says a degree of discomfort is likely at the start, and the NHS notes that teeth may be sore for a few days after braces are fitted. According to Dorset County Hospital’s leaflet, the soreness is usually worst at bedtime and on waking the next morning, and usually lasts two to three days. Because biting can make it worse, avoid hard foods for the first few days.
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends softer foods after braces are fitted and after adjustments. Foods it lists as always safe with braces include porridge, scrambled eggs, soups, pasta, seafood, soft vegetables, mashed potatoes, soft cheeses, bananas and yoghurt. North Cumbria’s NHS leaflet also advises eating soft foods cut into small pieces to begin with.
In the first weeks, the brackets may rub against the inside of the lips and cheeks. North Cumbria’s leaflet says mouth ulcers are common and should clear up within a couple of weeks, and that orthodontic wax can be used where the brace rubs. If you plan to take a painkiller, ask your dentist or pharmacist which one suits you; Dorset County Hospital reminds patients that some people with asthma should avoid ibuprofen, and that ibuprofen should be taken with food.
Which foods should you avoid with braces?
The AAO’s general rule is that anything hard, sticky or difficult to bite into can break brackets, bend wires and prolong treatment. The main groups mentioned in the sources are:
| Food group | Examples | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Hard foods | Nuts, ice, hard sweets, crisps, crusty rolls and pizza crusts | The AAO says these put brackets and wires directly at risk; avoid them |
| Sticky and chewy foods | Toffee, caramel, chewy sweets, sugared chewing gum | The AAO says these can stick to braces; North Cumbria advises avoiding them |
| Popcorn | Kernels and husks | The AAO calls popcorn kernels one of the main enemies of braces |
| Raw, crunchy fruit and vegetables | Apples, raw vegetables | Dorset County Hospital advises cutting them into small pieces and chewing on the back teeth instead of biting with the front teeth; the AAO suggests cooking or steaming them until softer, or cutting them into manageable slices |
| Tough meat | Chewy or well-done cuts | The AAO recommends cutting meat into bite-sized pieces |
Some habits can damage braces too. Dorset County Hospital advises against biting your nails, chewing pens and using your teeth as tools, for example to open sports bottles.
According to North Cumbria’s leaflet, missed or cancelled appointments and repeated breakages make treatment take longer. If you live a long way from the clinic treating you, avoiding breakages matters all the more.
Why do sugary and acidic drinks matter more with braces?
Brackets create new surfaces where plaque can collect. North Cumbria’s leaflet describes white marks on the teeth as an early sign of tooth decay, and the Cochrane review summarised below describes these white or brown marks as early decay (demineralised lesions, also called white spot lesions). They are not rare: a meta-analysis combining 14 studies (Sundararaj and colleagues, 2015) estimated that 45.8% of patients treated with fixed braces developed new white spot lesions during treatment.
The NHS advises against eating too much sugary food and drink during treatment because it can cause tooth decay. The advice in NHS hospital leaflets can be summarised as follows:
- Between meals: North Cumbria recommends drinking only plain water or plain milk between meals.
- Fizzy drinks: North Cumbria advises against all fizzy drinks, including diet versions and those without sugar, and against sports drinks. Dorset County Hospital says fizzy drinks are the worst culprits and that even diet drinks are damaging because they still contain acids.
- Fruit juice: Dorset County Hospital advises drinking fruit juice no more than once a day and diluting it with water; North Cumbria advises avoiding fruit juices and smoothies between meals.
- Tea and coffee: Dorset County Hospital advises against adding sugar.
- Snacking: Royal United Hospitals Bath suggests sticking to three meals a day and avoiding snacks in between. Dorset County Hospital suggests having chocolate or sweets after a meal and reading food labels to spot hidden sugars.
- Brushing after acidic drinks: Dorset County Hospital advises waiting at least 20 minutes after a fizzy drink before brushing, and Royal United Hospitals Bath advises waiting 30 minutes after fruit juice.
How do you brush your teeth with braces?
The NHS says it is very important to keep your teeth and braces clean, and recommends brushing with fluoride toothpaste in the morning, at night and after meals. The steps in NHS hospital leaflets can be summarised as follows:
- How often and how long: Royal United Hospitals Bath advises brushing at least twice a day for at least two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste. North Cumbria recommends brushing after all meals as well, and Dorset County Hospital each time you eat something.
- Toothpaste: According to North Cumbria, toothpaste should contain at least 1,350 ppm fluoride; your dentist may advise a toothpaste with a higher concentration if you need it.
- Angle: North Cumbria advises tilting the bristle tips to a 45-degree angle against the gum line.
- Above and below each bracket: North Cumbria advises brushing above and below the brackets on every tooth, and the inner surfaces of the teeth need the same care. Royal United Hospitals Bath reminds patients to pull the lips out of the way while brushing.
- At night: Always brush before bed, then spit out the toothpaste without rinsing.
The NHS also advises keeping up regular dental check-ups during treatment, and the AAO recommends continuing to see your family dentist for regular cleanings. If you are having orthodontic treatment abroad, these routine check-ups and cleanings can usually be done by your dentist at home.
How do you clean between the brackets and under the wire?
A toothbrush cannot fully reach under the wire and between the brackets. Royal United Hospitals Bath advises using small interdental brushes to clean under the wire and between each bracket. The sources recommend:
- Interdental brushes: Dorset County Hospital and North Cumbria advise using them at least twice a day. Dorset County Hospital suggests the widest brush that fits each space, and North Cumbria reminds patients to change the brushes when the bristles become worn.
- Disclosing tablets: These stain any plaque left behind so that you can see it. Royal United Hospitals Bath calls them a very good way to check your brushing and suggests using them about once a month, after brushing; Dorset County Hospital suggests once a week, or more often if your orthodontic team asks.
- What to keep to hand: The AAO suggests carrying a travel toothbrush or using a water flosser, and keeping a small braces kit with orthodontic wax, floss and a spare interdental brush. Dorset County Hospital advises always taking your wax with you when you go away.
Do you need a fluoride mouthwash or a high-fluoride toothpaste?
North Cumbria’s leaflet says your dentist may advise a toothpaste with a higher fluoride concentration if you need it, and recommends a fluoride mouthwash once a day at a different time from brushing, for example after lunch.
The evidence for these products is limited, however. A Cochrane systematic review published in 2019 (Benson and colleagues) looked at fluoride measures for preventing white spot lesions during treatment with fixed braces; it included 10 studies, with data from 1,798 participants. In a single study, new lesions developed in 18% of people using a high-fluoride toothpaste (5,000 ppm) and in 27% of those using a standard toothpaste (1,450 ppm). For fluoride varnish and fluoride mouthwash, no clear difference was shown. The authors rated the certainty of the evidence as low. Which product suits you is therefore decided by your dentist after assessing your risk of decay. These products are used in addition to good brushing and limiting sugar, not instead of them.
What should you do if a bracket comes off or a wire pokes?
According to the AAO, most problems that come up during treatment are uncomfortable but not dangerous. A loose or broken bracket or a poking wire still needs to be reported: call your orthodontist, explain what happened, and they will tell you whether you need to be seen straight away. North Cumbria advises not waiting for your next appointment if your brace breaks. Dorset County Hospital notes that, unless the broken brace is digging in and hurting, most repairs can wait a few days.
- A poking wire or a bracket that rubs: The AAO says orthodontic wax can cover the spot. Dorset County Hospital explains that the wax does not actually stick to the brace, so it needs to be moulded around it, and that swallowing it by accident does no harm.
- A bracket that has come off: Keep the piece and let your orthodontic team know.
- Away from home: Dorset County Hospital’s leaflet says it is very rare to need a repair by another orthodontist. If the brace is very uncomfortable, an emergency dentist can sometimes help; otherwise, contact your orthodontic team as soon as you are back. If you are treated in a different country from where you live, agree before treatment starts how breakages between visits would be handled.
- Emergencies: The AAO lists bleeding that will not stop, difficulty breathing or swallowing, a suspected broken jaw and a knocked-out adult tooth as emergencies that need immediate care. Call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department without delay.
How is oral care followed up during treatment with braces at Rönesans?
Orthodontics is one of our clinic’s departments. Before treatment starts, your teeth, gums and bite are assessed at the examination, and any tooth decay or gum problems are planned to be treated first. During treatment, plaque can build up around the brackets, so professional cleaning may be needed. Our clinic has a cleaning device that sprays a mixture of air, water and fine powder to remove plaque and staining from the tooth surface; whether it is used is decided by the dentist after the examination.
If treatment is needed, we give you a written treatment and cost plan showing the procedures and the unit and total costs, and you know from the start which dentist will look after you. The cost is confirmed after the examination, based on your treatment plan. Follow-up after treatment runs as a defined process at our clinic. If a bracket comes off or a wire pokes, you can message us on WhatsApp during opening hours: Monday to Friday 10:00–22:00 and Saturday 10:00–19:00, Türkiye time. We answer messages in English and German within 15 minutes during these hours.
Orthodontic treatment takes months, so if you live outside Türkiye, ask us how check-ups would work before you decide. You can send photos and X-rays on WhatsApp for a preliminary assessment or write to us through our contact page. Our page on aftercare and follow-up explains how to stay in touch with us once you are home.