The First Few Days
Your child’s mouth needs time to adjust after we place their braces. Teeth will feel sore or tender as they start responding to the gentle pressure, moving them into new positions. This discomfort typically peaks around day two or three, then gradually fades. Over-the-counter pain relievers help manage soreness, and eating softer foods for a few days gives teeth a break while they adjust. Think yogurt, smoothies, mashed potatoes, pasta, and scrambled eggs rather than anything that requires serious chewing.
The inside of your child’s cheeks and lips might feel irritated where the brackets rub against them. Orthodontic wax becomes your best friend here—just pinch off a small piece, roll it into a ball, and press it over any bracket causing irritation. The wax creates a smooth barrier that prevents friction. Within a few weeks, your child’s mouth tissue toughens up in these spots, and irritation stops being an issue.
Foods to Avoid
Certain foods can damage brackets, bend wires, or get hopelessly stuck in braces, which is why we ask patients to avoid them throughout treatment. Hard foods top the list—raw carrots, apples, hard bread, nuts, and ice can all break brackets off teeth. That doesn’t mean your child can never eat these foods again; they just need to cut them into smaller pieces rather than biting directly into them.
Sticky and chewy foods create problems, too. Caramel, taffy, gummy candy, and even some types of gum can pull brackets loose or get wrapped around wires in ways that are nearly impossible to clean. Crunchy snacks like popcorn, chips, and pretzels seem harmless, but can crack brackets or wedge kernels under wires.
Safe Food Choices
- Soft proteins: Chicken, fish, meatballs, eggs, tofu
- Cooked vegetables: Steamed broccoli, roasted squash, sautéed greens
- Dairy products: Yogurt, cheese, pudding, ice cream
- Grains: Pasta, rice, soft bread, pancakes
- Fruits: Bananas, berries, melon, applesauce
- Treats: Soft cookies, cake, smoothies, milkshakes
Keeping Braces Clean
Good oral hygiene becomes even more important during orthodontic treatment. Food particles and plaque accumulate around brackets and under wires, creating perfect conditions for cavities and gum inflammation if not removed properly. Your child should brush after every meal if possible, or at minimum three times daily. Brushing with braces takes longer than regular brushing—plan on spending three to four minutes to do it thoroughly.
Angle the toothbrush so bristles reach above and below brackets, and use small circular motions to clean around each bracket individually. An electric toothbrush can make this process more effective and easier. Flossing with braces requires patience and special tools. Floss threaders or orthodontic flossers help thread floss under the wire between each tooth. Water flossers offer an alternative that many kids find easier and faster, though they don’t completely replace traditional flossing.
Dr. Jones checks oral hygiene carefully at every adjustment appointment. If they notice consistent problems with plaque buildup or inflamed gums, they’ll work with you to improve cleaning techniques before issues become serious.
Regular Adjustment Appointments
You’ll visit our office every 4-8 weeks for adjustments throughout treatment. These appointments typically last 20-30 minutes. We’ll check the progress, make any necessary wire adjustments, and adjust the braces to continue moving teeth toward their final positions. Your child may experience increased soreness for a day or two after adjustments as their teeth respond to renewed pressure, but it’s usually less intense than the initial discomfort when the braces were first put on.
Missing adjustment appointments delays treatment and can allow teeth to drift in unintended directions, so keeping these scheduled visits is important. We understand that conflicts happen occasionally—just call us as soon as possible to reschedule rather than skipping the appointment altogether.
Handling Common Issues
Sometimes, brackets can come loose or wires break, despite your child’s best efforts to avoid problem foods. This happens occasionally during treatment and isn’t a crisis. If a bracket comes loose but remains attached to the wire, it’s usually not an emergency—just call our office to schedule a repair appointment. If a wire breaks or pokes into the cheek, try pushing it back into place with a pencil eraser or covering the end with wax until we can see your child. For any issue causing significant pain or that you’re unsure how to handle, call us right away. We’re always available to troubleshoot problems and get your child comfortable again.
Staying Motivated Throughout Treatment
Orthodontic treatment requires commitment, and motivation sometimes wanes halfway through. Dr. Jones tracks progress with regular photos so your child can see how much their smile has already improved. Celebrating milestones—such as switching to the final wire, getting chains removed, or reaching the halfway point—keeps enthusiasm high. Remind your child that every day with braces brings them closer to revealing their new smile.
Adjusting to life with braces gets easier every day. If you have questions or concerns during your child’s treatment, the team at Kaysville Pediatric Dental & Orthodontics is here to help. Contact us today—we’re committed to making your orthodontic journey as smooth as possible!