First Week With Braces: Soreness, Foods, Wax and When to Call Us

The first few days after braces go on are usually the biggest adjustment of treatment. Your child may say their teeth feel sore when they bite, a bracket is rubbing the inside of a cheek, or lunch suddenly takes much longer than usual.

Most of these early changes are expected. The teeth and mouth are getting used to something new, and things usually become much easier as the first week goes on.

At Kids Dental Castle and Orthodontics, we prepare families before they leave the bonding appointment. Patients go home with orthodontic wax, interdental cleaning supplies and written instructions so they have the basics they need at home.

Here is what to expect during that first week, what usually helps, and when we want you to call us.

The First Night: Pressure and Tenderness

Having braces placed is usually not painful. Tenderness often begins later that day as the teeth start responding to the orthodontic wire.

For many children and teens, the first few days are the most noticeable. The teeth may feel tender when chewing, and several teeth may feel pressure at the same time.

For the first day or two, we recommend softer meals and warm salt-water rinses if the cheeks or gums feel irritated. For soreness, acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used when appropriate, following the label directions and any guidance from your child's physician or dentist.

If the discomfort is sharp or severe, or the soreness is not beginning to improve after several days, contact us so we can help determine whether something needs to be checked.

What to Eat, and What to Skip

Yogurt, scrambled eggs, pasta, soup, smoothies, mashed potatoes and bananas can make the first couple of days much easier while the teeth are tender.

Your child does not need to live on soft food for an entire week. As the tenderness settles, normal meals can gradually return with the usual precautions for braces.

The main goal is protecting the brackets and wires. Hard, sticky and very chewy foods can damage orthodontic appliances. Ice, hard candy and sticky caramel are best avoided.

Apples and carrots do not necessarily have to disappear. Cut them into smaller pieces rather than having your child bite directly into them.

A simple rule for kids is: avoid foods that make the braces do the tearing, cracking or pulling.

Orthodontic Wax

One of the most common first-week complaints is not the teeth themselves. It is a bracket rubbing against the inside of a lip or cheek.

That is why orthodontic wax goes home with our patients.

Dry the bracket as much as possible, roll a small piece of wax between your fingers and press it over the area that is rubbing. The wax creates a smooth surface while the mouth adjusts to the new braces.

Wax can be replaced as needed. If one spot continues to hurt despite using wax, or a wire feels sharp or begins poking the cheek, contact us rather than simply waiting for the next regular appointment.

If a Wire Is Poking or a Bracket Comes Loose

A poking wire or loose bracket is usually uncomfortable rather than dangerous, but it is worth calling us rather than waiting and wondering what to do.

Contact Kids Dental Castle and Orthodontics, explain what happened and how your child is feeling, and our team will guide you on the appropriate next step and when the issue should be addressed.

If wax helps with the irritation, it can be used temporarily while you wait for instructions. If a bracket has become loose, avoid hard and sticky foods and do not try to glue anything back onto the tooth at home.

A loose bracket can interfere with the planned tooth movement if it remains unaddressed, so we would rather hear from you and determine what needs to happen.

Our phone line is available for braces-related concerns from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Brushing Will Take Longer at First

Braces create extra places for plaque and food to collect, especially above and below the brackets, underneath the wire and along the gumline.

The interdental cleaning supplies we provide can help reach areas that are harder to clean with a regular toothbrush alone.

During the first week, the routine may feel slow. That is normal. The goal is to clean carefully around every bracket rather than simply brushing across the front of the braces.

Plaque that repeatedly collects around brackets can contribute to white spots on the enamel, which is why establishing good brushing habits from the beginning matters.

For more information about treatment and caring for braces, visit our Braces page.

School and Lunch

Most children and teens can return to their normal school routine after getting braces.

The biggest adjustment may simply be lunch.

For the first day or two, packing softer foods can make eating more comfortable. Keeping some orthodontic wax and a travel toothbrush in the backpack can also be useful.

Make sure your child knows that if a wire starts poking or something feels loose or broken during the school day, they should tell you when they get home instead of waiting until their next orthodontic appointment.

Sports and Mouthguards

Braces do not mean your child has to stop playing sports.

For sports where there is a risk of being hit in the mouth or face, however, protecting the teeth, lips and orthodontic appliances becomes especially important.

Because braces change the shape of the tooth surface and the teeth continue moving throughout treatment, an ordinary mouthguard may not provide the most appropriate fit.

At Kids Dental Castle and Orthodontics, we can make a custom braces-compatible mouthguard. We take an impression with the braces in place and have a dental laboratory fabricate the guard around the patient's existing orthodontic appliances.

If your child plays a contact or collision sport, ask us about having one made.

The American Association of Orthodontists also recommends appropriate mouth protection for athletes wearing braces.

When to Call Us

Call us if a wire is poking, a bracket or band is loose, an appliance breaks, the soreness is severe or not beginning to improve after a few days, or you simply are not sure whether something is normal.

We will help you determine the appropriate next step and when the issue should be addressed.

Significant facial trauma, a knocked-out permanent tooth, heavy bleeding, or difficulty breathing or swallowing are not routine braces problems. Our Dental Emergencies page explains what to do for common dental emergencies. Difficulty breathing or uncontrolled serious bleeding requires emergency medical care.

Braces Care at Kids Dental Castle and Orthodontics

Braces at Kids Dental Castle and Orthodontics are provided by Dr. Lyndon Tran, a board-certified orthodontist.

Our Braces page explains treatment options, costs and payment plans, while our Orthodontics page explains how orthodontic treatment is planned and what families can expect from our program.

You can also meet Dr. Tran and the rest of our dental team.

If your child already has braces with us and something does not feel right, call 909-741-7052. Our team will help you determine what to do next.