Life with braces: soreness, food, cleaning, loose brackets and poking wires
After braces are fitted, and after each adjustment, 3–5 days of aching and tenderness when chewing is normal and settles with painkillers and soft food. Brackets can irritate the cheeks and lips in the first weeks, and orthodontic wax reduces this. Avoiding hard, sticky and bite-into foods prevents brackets coming off. Because decay and white spots are more likely around brackets, cleaning matters more than ever.
The first days: soreness and irritation
- A feeling of pressure and tenderness when chewing for the first 3–5 days is normal.
- A painkiller taken as directed and soft foods (soup, yoghurt, pasta, mash) help.
- Put orthodontic wax where brackets rub your cheek; the tissue gets used to them within a few weeks.
- Rinsing with warm salt water soothes irritation in the mouth.
Which foods need care?
| Avoid | How you can eat them |
|---|---|
| Hard: nuts, ice, hard sweets, roasted chickpeas | Softer alternatives; nuts crushed |
| Sticky: caramel, chewing gum, Turkish delight | Best avoided |
| Bite-into: apples, carrots, corn on the cob, crusty bread | Cut into small pieces and chew with the back teeth |
| Very sugary and acidic drinks | Cut down; rinse with water afterwards |
How to clean teeth with braces
- Brush after every meal, at least twice a day.
- Angle the brush downwards over the top of the brackets and upwards under them.
- Clean between the wire and the teeth with an interdental brush.
- For flossing, use orthodontic floss or a floss threader; a water flosser helps a lot.
- Use a fluoride toothpaste, and add a fluoride mouthwash if your dentist recommends it.
If cleaning isn't thorough enough, white spots (enamel demineralisation) can form around the brackets. See white spots on teeth, electric brushes and water flossers.
If a bracket comes off or a wire pokes
- Loose bracket: usually not an emergency. Keep the bracket and call the clinic; you'll be given an appointment to re-bond it.
- Wire end poking your cheek: cover it with orthodontic wax, or gently push the wire in with the clean rubber end of a pencil; call the clinic.
- Broken elastic: fit a new one if you have spares; otherwise it's replaced at your next appointment.
- Severe pain, swelling or a break after a knock: call the clinic without waiting.
Check-ups and after treatment
Check-ups are usually every 4–8 weeks; keeping them is important for finishing on time. After the braces come off, a retainer keeps the teeth in place. See retainers after braces, clear aligners or braces, orthodontics in Beylikdüzü.
Booking
Dent32 is at Barış Mah., Ginza Lavinya, E-5 Yanyolu No:30 D:179, 34520 Beylikdüzü, Istanbul and is open seven days a week. To book, call or WhatsApp +90 555 011 33 68, or use our contact page. At the examination we share the findings, the options and the approximate cost in writing; you are under no obligation to start treatment afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do braces hurt?
Usually 3–5 days after fitting and after each adjustment, easing gradually. Painkillers and soft food help.
Can I eat apples with braces?
Yes, but cut into small slices and chewed with the back teeth rather than bitten into. Avoid hard and sticky foods.
A bracket has come off. Is it an emergency?
Usually not. Keep the bracket and call the clinic; if a part is poking, cover it with orthodontic wax.
Can I chew gum with braces?
It's not advised; gum can stick to brackets and wires and cause brackets to come off.
