Your Guide to the Journey.
Living Vividlywith Braces.
A temporary adjustment for a permanent change.
Life with Braces: What to Expect
Your mouth will go through a lot of changes during your orthodontic treatment, and you’ll probably experience some changes in your daily routines as well.
From oral hygiene habits and eating to social considerations and even athletics, your braces will probably impact almost every facet of your life while your condition is being treated. Knowing what to expect when you start your orthodontic treatment can really help to make the process go more smoothly for you.
The information below should help you start wrapping your head around what to expect on a daily basis during your braces treatment. For more details or personalized advice, be sure to talk to your orthodontist in Calgary.
Your Role in the Journey.
We design the movement, but you control the pace. Orthodontics is a partnership, and success happens between your appointments. From staying disciplined with your elastics to protecting your smile on the field, these daily habits are what turn a good treatment plan into a perfect result.
Adjustments
After your braces are adjusted, you can expect to feel some tightness, typically progressing to soreness that lasts for approximately 4 to 6 hours after your appointment.
This soreness is a direct result of the replacement wires tightening the teeth into position.
Over-the-counter pain relievers are suggested to help relieve this pain, which you will find is very similar to what you experienced when your dental braces were initially placed.
Elastics
Orthodontic elastics wear out over time. When they lose their elasticity, they can’t provide effective pressure to your teeth and jaws. For this reason, it’s important to change your elastics after every meal, even when they are not broken. Always carry some elastics with you in case.
If you forget to wear your rubber bands one day, don’t double up the next day to catch up — just continue to follow your regular instructions.
If your rubber bands break frequently, or if the hook for your rubber bands breaks off, call our office as soon as possible.
Mouth Guards
Having braces doesn’t have to stop you from playing the sports you love. You just have to take extra care to protect your orthodontic appliances and to protect the inside of your mouth from them, too. The presence of braces in your mouth can cause a lot of damage if you sustain a blow to the face, and they can be expensive to fix.
We recommend a protective mouth guard for playing sports to protect you from potential injury. With the use of an orthodontic mouth guard, most contact sports can be played with braces.
+30Days
The Cost of a Broken Bracket.
It is estimated that every broken appliance adds roughly 3 to 4 weeks to your total treatment time. Don’t let a moment of crunching delay your finish line. Here is how to eat safely to keep your plan on track.
Foods that Break Brackets.
Broken brackets extend your treatment time. Protect your appliances by avoiding:
Sticky & Chewy
- Caramel
- Taffy
- Gummy bears
- Gum (unless sugar-free)
- Licorice
Hard & Crunchy
- Ice cubes
- Nuts
- Hard pretzels
- Popcorn (kernels are dangerous)
- Hard candy
Biting Into
- Caramel
- Taffy
- Gummy bears
- Gum (unless sugar-free)
- Licorice
Modification Over Deprivation.
How to Eat Safely.
You don’t have to live on soup. You just have to change how you eat.
Cut it Up
Slice apples, carrots, and crusty bread into bite-sized pieces before eating.
Soft Options
Slice apples, carrots, and crusty bread into bite-sized pieces before eating.
The Golden Rule
If you have to fight to chew it, don't eat it.
The First 24 Hours.
Managing the Adjustment
Expect some tenderness immediately after your bonding appointment. This is normal—it means the pressure is working. For the first day, stick to soft foods like pasta, shakes, or yogurt until the sensitivity subsides. Going forward, you need to protect your investment by adapting your diet. Avoid tough meats, crusty breads, and raw vegetables that can snap a wire. If it requires force to chew, skip it to keep your timeline on track.
Precision Cleaning
Your brushing technique needs to change. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, angle the bristles down from the top and up from the bottom to clean completely around each bracket. We also recommend using a Proxabrush (interdental brush) to target the tight spaces your standard brush misses. Insert it vertically behind the wire and use several strokes to clear debris. Thorough cleaning is the only way to prevent permanent white spots.
Protecting Your Investment.
Retainer Protocols.
You did the hard work to straighten your smile. Now follow these steps to keep it that way forever.
Wear and Protection
Consistency is key so wear it exactly as prescribed to lock in your results. The golden rule is simple: if it is not in your face it belongs in the case. Never wrap it in a napkin or shove it in a pocket where it can be crushed or thrown away. Heat will ruin the precise mold so keep it far away from hot water, hot car dashboards, and the washing machine. Replacement is expensive so protect your gear carefully.
Hygiene and Habits
Treat it like your own teeth. Brush your retainer thoroughly once a day with lukewarm water and toothpaste to banish plaque and odors. Soaking tablets are a great bonus but they never take the place of physical brushing with a toothbrush. Your speech might feel clumsy at first but practice speaking, reading, or singing out loud and you will adapt quickly. Always bring your retainer to your appointments so we can check the fit.
The Hygiene Protocol.
Your hardware creates new hiding spots for plaque and bacteria. Your routine must evolve to reach every crevice to keep your enamel healthy and spot free.
Brushing Technique
You need to brush with fluoride toothpaste after every single meal or snack to prevent decay. Use a soft bristled brush and angle it down from the top and up from the bottom to clean completely around each bracket. We also recommend using a Proxabrush which is designed to slide vertically behind the wire to scrub the tight spaces your standard brush misses. Tools like a Waterpik or air flosser are excellent additions to flush out stubborn food particles that get trapped in the hardware.
Flossing Mechanics
Flossing requires a new approach now that wires block the traditional path. You must feed the floss through the space under the archwire first before sliding it between your teeth. Gently move the floss up and down each side of the two teeth to clean the gumline thoroughly. Be patient and careful to avoid pulling with too much force on the archwire itself. This step is non negotiable for healthy gums during treatment.
Faq
Navigating the Process.
We know you have questions about the daily reality of treatment. Here are the direct answers to help you manage your journey with confidence.
No. The actual application of brackets to your teeth is entirely painless and involves no needles. However you will likely feel soreness and tenderness for 3 to 5 days after the appointment as the wires begin to apply pressure. This is a normal sign that tooth movement has begun.
Do not panic as this is rarely a medical emergency. If a wire is poking you simply cover the sharp end with orthodontic wax to protect your cheek. Call our office during business hours to schedule a repair appointment so we can get your treatment back on track without delay.
You cannot push floss straight down between teeth due to the archwire. You must use a floss threader to guide the strand under the wire before sliding it between your teeth to clean the gumline. While water flossers are excellent tools for flushing out debris they do not replace the mechanical cleaning of manual flossing.
Yes and it is actually a sign of progress. Your teeth must loosen slightly from the bone in order to move through it. Do not worry as they will firm up completely once they reach their correct positions and the movement stops.
Yes. Rubber bands are responsible for aligning your bite and they only work with constant pressure. If you do not wear them 24/7 as instructed your bite correction will stall and your total treatment time will increase. Consistency is the only path to a timely result.
White spots are permanent decalcification scars caused by plaque sitting on the enamel around your brackets. The only way to prevent them is through impeccable brushing and limiting sugar intake. If you maintain excellent hygiene your teeth will look pristine when the braces are removed.
Still Have Questions?
Our team is always a phone call away. If you are unsure about a food or feeling discomfort, just ask.