When you first get braces, you may feel pretty sore. Your mouth is going to be pretty sensitive, and certain foods will only make the pain worse. Also, braces are not comfortable to wear, and in the first week or so, you are going to try to get used to the feeling.
The best way to limit your pain and sensitivity is to make sure you are eating and drinking the right things. If you want to know what to eat with braces the first week, don’t worry, this article has 30 foods and drinks that you can enjoy pain-free.
Foods You Can Eat with Braces in the First Week
While braces don’t necessarily hurt, they can make you feel pretty sore. It can also be difficult to get used to eating and talking with them, so sticking to easy foods where you are less likely to hurt yourself or your braces is key during that first week.
Harder foods can make your mouth more sore and uncomfortable. So until you get used to the feeling of your braces, it is a good idea to stay away from hard foods.
That doesn’t mean you can only eat soup and smoothies though. There are plenty of foods considered soft enough that you can enjoy in that first week.
1. Scrambled eggs
2. Muffin
3. Pancakes
4. Soaked cereal
5. Oatmeal
6. Deli meats
7. Refried beans
8. Hummus
9. Soft bread, like white bread
10. Chicken salad
11. Mac and cheese
12. Mashed potatoes
13. Jello
14. Soft fruit like melons and bananas
15. Egg salad
16. Pasta
17. Baked potato
18. Apple sauce
19. Avocado
20. Steamed veggies
21. Ice cream
22. Fish
23. Tofu
24. Pudding
25. Yogurt
Things like popcorn, ice, apples, carrots, nuts, gummies, and sticky candies are best to avoid. They can hurt your teeth, and easily get stuck in your braces if you don’t know how to eat them properly.
Some of these, like gummy and sticky candies, should be avoided entirely while you have braces on, or you risk damaging them. Things like carrots and apples can be eaten after the first week but should be cut into small pieces instead of eaten as-is.
What You Can Drink with Braces in the First Week
With braces, especially in the first week when your teeth are very sensitive, it is best to avoid anything too hot or cold. This means you want to stick with room-temperature drinks.
Many people tend to find that they are okay with colder drinks and food and it might help soothe some of the soreness. So start with room-temperature water and you can slowly try adding more cold drinks throughout the week to see if it helps you.
1. Room temperature water
2. Iced herbal or green teas
3. Liquid yogurt
4. Smoothies
5. Milkshakes
After the first week, you can move on to hot drinks like black tea and coffee, but remember that these drinks will also increase noticeable staining once you take off the braces.
Certain drinks should also be avoided the whole time you are wearing braces. These are usually sugary drinks like energy drinks and juices.
How to Handle Sensitivity
For the first week, and perhaps longer, your teeth are going to be sensitive with braces. Braces put pressure on your teeth and while it won’t necessarily hurt, it can be sore. Sometimes, that soreness does get pretty strong and can leave you with an aching mouth.
Thankfully there is a lot you can use to reduce sensitivity and pain. Some good practices include:
• Make sure you brush properly after every meal
• Follow the hygiene practices your doctor told you, such as flossing
• Rinse with salt water to protect from any infection
• Use brace wax to create a protective barrier between your braces and your mouth
• Using ibuprofen to take the edge off when the pain gets bad
• Be patient, because the pain will go down after some time.
Practices to Follow When Wearing Braces
Your dentist will tell you a lot about how to take good care of your mouth and your braces, but it can get overwhelming. If you are worried you might have forgotten something here is a list for you to check back on to make sure you are doing things properly.
• Brush your teeth after every meal using a soft-bristled toothbrush. Focus heavily on cleaning around your braces and removing any chunks of food.
• Floss your teeth at least twice a day, focusing on every tooth. When you are done flossing, rinse your mouth out to get all the particles.
• Wear a mouthguard when doing anything that may cause damage to your mouth. Some people wear them at night while sleeping, but it is most important to wear them when participating in sports.
• Don’t eat any foods that are chewy, sticky, or hard. These can pull your braces out of place, cause pain, and get stuck behind your braces which can lead to cavities.
• Go to regular appointments with your orthodontist so they can check up on your braces and make sure nothing is damaged or ill-fitting. You should visit about every six weeks, and still visit your dentist every six months for the best practices.
• Smile! While that may seem silly, smiling helps to align your teeth correctly, and stretch your teeth. Weirdly enough, smiling can also help keep your breath fresh.
When to See a Dentist
Besides the regularly scheduled appointments, there are times you should schedule an emergency appointment with your dentist or orthodontist.
Any time your braces come loose, don’t fit, or break, that is a good time to schedule an appointment with your dentist. Additionally, if your braces are causing you pain, or you have pain that is more than usual, it is a good idea to visit your dentist or orthodontist as soon as possible.
In the meantime, you can try and use wax for your braces to see if you can protect your mouth a little.