Getting Braces? Here’s What to Expect

The First Few Days After Getting Braces

Right after getting dental braces—whether metal braces or ceramic braces—you can expect some soreness as your teeth start to shift. Your entire mouth will need a few days to get adjusted to the new wires, brackets, and elastic bands which will require some patience on your part. 

During this time, our local orthodontist recommends that you stick to the more forgiving foods that are going to be easier to break apart and eat. There are plenty to choose from while your mouth is still sensitive so don’t feel like you have to select one or two and only consume those. For example, the following are great options:

• Mashed potatoes
• Yogurt
• Oatmeal
• Soft pasta (i.e., macaroni and cheese)
• Steamed or cooked vegetables (not raw)
• Applesauce
• Scrambled eggs
• Soft cheeses
• Bananas or other fruit that isn’t hard or crunchy
• Smoothies
• Soup (lukewarm, not piping hot)

These choices are gentle on sore teeth and reduce the risk of damaging your new dental braces. Chewing tougher foods too soon can cause unnecessary discomfort and might even lead to broken brackets or bent wires—delaying your progress.

Ideal Foods for the Rest of Your Treatment

Once the initial tenderness fades and you’ve had a few adjustment appointments inside our DeLand, FL, orthodontics office, your diet can broaden, but it still needs to be mindful. The best foods during orthodontic treatment for teens and adult orthodontic treatment are still those that are easy to chew and won’t stick to or damage your brackets. 

Yummy choices include:

• Cooked vegetables (soft and cut small)
• Soft fruits like bananas or berries
• Steamed fish 
• Cheese 
• Most types of soft bread
• Dairy products (cheese, milk, yogurt)
• Grains (rice, pasta, oatmeal)
• Tender, not stringy meat that’s cut up into pieces

If you’re wearing adult braces, you likely already know how inconvenient an emergency orthodontic visit can be. Sticking to braces-safe foods keeps your schedule—and smile—on track.

Foods to Avoid With Braces

There’s a long list of things that should wait until after your braces come off. Hard, sticky, crunchy, and chewy foods can all cause broken wires, loose brackets, or increased plaque buildup. 

As you work towards a straighter smile, try not to eat:

• Popcorn with kernels
• Nuts
• Ice 
• Caramel and sticky candy (licorice, taffy, peanut brittle, etc.) 
• Chewing gum
• Corn on the cob or hard fruit (i.e., biting directly into an apple)
• Hard rolls or pizza crust 
• Crunchy raw vegetables (unless sliced thin or cooked)

These aren’t just inconveniences. Damaging your braces can extend your treatment time and increase the cost of repairs. For families investing in orthodontic treatment for teens or adults paying out of pocket for wearing adult braces, keeping things in good shape protects that investment.

Not interested in having any dietary restrictions? Ask our orthodontist about clear aligners if you’re still considering treatment options. The aligners are removable which means you can eat the foods you want so long as you keep up with oral hygiene. 

Why Food Choices Matter

Food isn’t just about comfort—it’s about protecting your appliance and supporting oral hygiene. Braces make it easier for food to get trapped, which increases the risk of plaque, staining, and even tooth decay. Whether you’re seeing an orthodontist for traditional metal braces or clear aligners, oral care and smart eating go hand-in-hand.

For patients with ceramic dental braces, the stakes are even higher. Ceramic brackets have the potential to stain more easily, and their sleek appearance can be compromised by food choices like curry, coffee, or red sauces. It’s not just about damage—it’s about maintaining a clean, confident smile throughout treatment.