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Life With Braces — Your Complete Patient Guide

Starting orthodontic treatment is an exciting step toward a healthier, straighter smile. Knowing what to expect — and how to take care of your braces every day — makes the entire journey smoother and helps you get the best possible result in the shortest possible time. This guide covers everything you need to know about living with braces, from what to eat to how to handle soreness and protect your appliances.

What Is It Like to Have Braces Day to Day?

For most patients, day-to-day life with braces is straightforward once you adjust to the first week or two. The key habits that make the biggest difference are avoiding foods that can damage brackets and wires, maintaining excellent oral hygiene, wearing any prescribed appliances consistently, and contacting ABSC promptly if anything breaks or feels uncomfortable. Patients who follow these guidelines consistently experience shorter treatment times, fewer emergency appointments, and better final results. Dr. Hessamfar and the ABSC team are here to support you at every step — do not hesitate to reach out between appointments if you have questions or concerns.

Patient Care Guides

Use these detailed guides for step-by-step instructions on the most important aspects of caring for your braces and appliances:

  • Brushing & Flossing With Braces — How to keep your teeth and braces clean, prevent white spots and cavities, and maintain healthy gums throughout treatment
  • Wearing Elastics (Rubber Bands) — How to attach, wear, and replace your orthodontic elastics correctly — and why consistency matters for your treatment timeline
  • Retainer Care Instructions — Everything you need to know about wearing and caring for your retainer after braces to protect your results for life
Dr. Ron Hessamfar DMD MS orthodontist at American Braces and Smile Center Northern Virginia

What to Eat (and What to Avoid) With Braces

Certain foods can bend wires, break brackets, and loosen bands — which means more repair appointments and a longer treatment time. Protecting your braces by making smart food choices is one of the most effective things you can do to keep your treatment on track. All restricted foods can be reintroduced once your braces are removed.

Foods to Avoid With Braces

  • Chewy foods — bagels, licorice, chewy bread rolls
  • Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, hard pretzels, crackers
  • Sticky foods — caramel candy, toffee, chewing gum, gummy bears
  • Hard foods — nuts, hard candy, ice, hard chocolate
  • Foods requiring hard biting — corn on the cob, whole apples, raw carrots, hard rolls (cut or cook these instead)

Foods You Can Eat With Braces

  • Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, yogurt, milk
  • Breads & grains — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins, pasta, soft rice
  • Meat & poultry — soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats, ground meat
  • Seafood — tuna, salmon, soft fish, crab
  • Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, cooked beans, soft cooked vegetables
  • Fruits — applesauce, bananas, soft berries, melon, fruit juice
  • Treats — ice cream, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake, soft cookies

Tip: Hard fruits and vegetables like apples and carrots are fine to eat — just cut them into small, bite-sized pieces rather than biting into them directly.

Dr. Hessamfar AAO American Association of Orthodontists member Northern Virginia

Pain and Soreness — What Is Normal?

Some soreness after getting braces and following each adjustment appointment is completely normal. Here is what to expect and how to manage it:

General Tooth Tenderness

Your teeth will feel tender when chewing or biting for approximately 2 to 5 days after braces are first fitted and after each subsequent wire change. This is caused by the pressure being applied to move your teeth and is entirely normal. During this period, stick to softer foods until chewing becomes comfortable again. Over-the-counter acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help manage discomfort. Avoid ibuprofen (Advil), aspirin, and naproxen sodium (Naprosyn) — these anti-inflammatory medications can slow down tooth movement and may affect your treatment progress.

Gum Soreness

Soreness in the gums is also common during the adjustment period. Rinsing with a warm saltwater solution provides effective, natural relief. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt into 8 ounces of warm water and rinse gently for 30 to 60 seconds. Repeat two to three times per day as needed.

Lip, Cheek, and Tongue Irritation

Braces can rub against the soft tissue of your lips, cheeks, and tongue — particularly in the early weeks of treatment while your mouth is still adjusting. Orthodontic wax is your best tool for this. Apply a small piece of wax over the bracket or wire causing irritation to create a smooth, comfortable barrier. ABSC will provide you with wax when your braces are fitted — ask for more at any appointment or visit any of our three offices.

When to Call ABSC

Contact our office if you experience any of the following:

  • Sharp or persistent pain that does not improve after a few days
  • A sore or ulcer developing on your gums, cheeks, or lips
  • Pain that is not relieved by acetaminophen or saltwater rinsing

Loose Teeth During Treatment — Is That Normal?

Yes — and it is actually a sign that your treatment is working. In order for teeth to move into their new positions, the bone surrounding the tooth root must temporarily loosen to allow movement. This means your teeth may feel slightly loose during active treatment, which can be surprising but is completely normal and expected. Once your teeth reach their target positions, the surrounding bone firms back up and the looseness resolves. If you are concerned about the degree of looseness you are experiencing, do not hesitate to call ABSC.

Loose Wires, Broken Brackets, and Damaged Appliances

Broken or damaged braces components extend your treatment time — every day a bracket is off or a wire is bent is a day your teeth are not moving as planned. Contact ABSC as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:

  • A bracket that has come loose or is no longer attached to the tooth
  • A wire that is poking, protruding, or has slipped out of a bracket
  • A band that feels loose or has come off completely
  • Any component of your braces that looks bent, broken, or out of place

While waiting for your appointment, you can use orthodontic wax to cover any sharp or protruding wire ends to prevent irritation. If a wire is causing significant discomfort and cannot be covered with wax, you may carefully use a clean pair of nail clippers to trim the very end — but only as a temporary measure. Always let Dr. Hessamfar make any permanent adjustments.

Remember: Your treatment is only effective when your appliances are intact and functioning correctly. Wearing your elastics, headgear, retainer, and all prescribed appliances consistently — exactly as instructed by Dr. Hessamfar — is the most important thing you can do for your treatment progress. Visit our orthodontic appliances guide for more detail on each appliance type.

Metal braces clear braces and Invisalign options at ABSC Orthodontics Ashburn VA

Keeping Your Teeth Clean During Treatment

Maintaining excellent oral hygiene with braces is more important — and more challenging — than without them. Food and plaque can easily become trapped around brackets and wires, increasing the risk of cavities, white spot lesions, and gum disease. Brush after every meal and floss at least once a day throughout your entire treatment. For full step-by-step instructions, visit our dedicated brushing and flossing with braces guide.

Wearing Your Elastics Consistently

If Dr. Hessamfar has prescribed elastics (rubber bands) as part of your treatment, wearing them exactly as instructed is critical. Elastics apply the directional force needed to correct your bite — without them, that part of your treatment simply does not progress. Most patients need to wear their elastics 22 hours a day, replacing them daily. For full instructions on how to attach and care for your elastics, visit our elastics wearing guide.

Frequently Asked Questions — Life With Braces

Most patients experience tenderness when chewing for 2 to 5 days after getting braces and after each adjustment appointment. Sticking to soft foods during this period and taking acetaminophen as needed will manage discomfort effectively.

Yes. Patients with braces can participate fully in all sports. We strongly recommend wearing an orthodontic mouthguard for any contact sport to protect both the braces and the teeth from impact. Ask ABSC for a mouthguard recommendation at your next appointment.

Yes. Most patients adapt within 1 to 2 weeks. Wind and brass instrument players may notice a brief adjustment period immediately after getting braces or after major wire changes, but most return to normal playing quickly with practice.

Apply orthodontic wax over the end of the wire to create a smooth barrier and prevent irritation. Contact ABSC to schedule an appointment to have the wire trimmed or adjusted. If the wire is causing significant pain and cannot be covered with wax, it may be carefully trimmed with clean nail clippers as a temporary measure only.

No. Chewing gum — including sugar-free gum — is one of the foods to avoid during treatment. Gum sticks to brackets and wires and can pull components loose, potentially extending your treatment time.

Adjustment appointments at ABSC are typically scheduled every 4 to 8 weeks. These brief visits allow Dr. Hessamfar to check your progress, change or tighten wires, and replace elastic bands. Keeping all scheduled appointments is essential for staying on track.

Contact ABSC as soon as possible to schedule a repair appointment. If the bracket is still attached to the wire but loose, leave it in place and apply wax if it is causing irritation. Do not attempt to reattach it yourself.

Patients Across Northern Virginia Trust ABSC

“The team at ABSC always made sure I knew exactly what to expect and what to do at home between appointments. Any time I had a question about foods or soreness, they responded quickly and clearly. It made the whole treatment feel easy.”

— ABSC Orthodontics patient, Ashburn, VA

At ABSC, patient education is a core part of every treatment plan. Dr. Ron Hessamfar and his team ensure that every patient — and every parent — leaves each appointment with a clear understanding of what to do at home, what to watch for, and when to call. With 20+ years of experience and three offices serving Northern Virginia, ABSC combines clinical excellence with genuine, ongoing patient support. Read more patient reviews here.

Dr. Ron Hessamfar orthodontist Northern Virginia personal photo family
Happy patient with straight teeth after braces treatment at ABSC Orthodontics in Ashburn Virginia

Questions About Your Braces? We Are Always Here to Help.

Whether you have a question between appointments, a broken wire, or just want to know what to expect next — the ABSC team is available at all three Northern Virginia offices. Do not wait if something does not feel right. Early attention always leads to better outcomes.

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