With braces, you should not eat foods that can break brackets, loosen wires, or get stuck in hard-to-clean places. That includes popcorn, nuts, hard candy, caramels, taffy, ice, hard chips, pretzels, hard pizza crust, bagels, hard rolls, and crunchy raw fruits or vegetables unless they are cut or cooked into a braces-friendly texture.
The best soft foods for the first week with braces are foods that are easy to chew and less likely to put pressure on sore teeth. Try oatmeal, scrambled eggs, soups, smoothies, yogurt, pasta, mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, soft cheeses, bananas, berries, and soft-cooked proteins like fish. As soreness improves, you can gradually return to more of your usual braces-safe foods.
Right after getting braces, choose soft foods that are gentle on your teeth and require minimal chewing. Good options include yogurt, smoothies, scrambled eggs, oatmeal, soup, pasta, mashed potatoes, soft vegetables, bananas, soft cheeses, and flaky fish. Your teeth may feel sensitive at first, so softer foods can make eating more comfortable while your mouth adjusts.
Avoid foods that are hard, sticky, crunchy, or chewy, because they can damage brackets, bend wires, or get stuck around your braces. Common foods to avoid include hard candy, sticky candy, popcorn, nuts, ice, hard pretzels, crunchy chips, crispy pizza crust, bagels, hard rolls, and chewy cuts of meat unless they are cut into small pieces.
Yes. Vaping can be harmful to your teeth, gums, and orthodontic treatment. It may contribute to dry mouth, gum inflammation, tooth decay, and gum damage, all of which can make it harder to maintain a healthy smile during braces or aligner treatment. AAO recommends avoiding e-cigarettes and vaping products for both oral health and successful orthodontic care.
A fluoride mouth rinse is often used after brushing and flossing, especially for people wearing braces who need extra enamel protection. However, your orthodontist or dentist may recommend a specific routine based on your cavity risk, gum health, or appliance type.
The best way to floss with braces is to use a tool that helps you clean under the wire and between each tooth. Floss threaders, orthodontic flossers, interproximal brushes, and water flossers can all make it easier to clean around brackets and wires. Your orthodontist can show you which tool fits your teeth and appliance best.
The order can matter, but consistency matters most. Flossing first may help remove more plaque and improve fluoride contact with the teeth, which is why many orthodontists recommend a floss-then-brush routine. However, either order is acceptable as long as you clean thoroughly between teeth and brush properly.
Flossing first is generally the better order. Research has found that flossing before brushing can help reduce plaque between teeth and may leave more fluoride in the mouth after brushing. If you have braces, flossing first can be especially helpful because brackets, wires, and other appliances create extra places for food and plaque to collect.
For the most effective routine, floss before brushing. Flossing first helps loosen plaque and food particles from between teeth, and brushing afterward helps sweep those particles away while allowing fluoride toothpaste to reach more tooth surfaces. That said, the most important thing is that you brush and floss thoroughly every day.
