What happens the week you get braces, from the appointment to the first meals?

What happens at the bonding visit

Braces go on in a sequence of small steps that the AAO describes this way: a retractor holds the mouth open and keeps it as dry as possible, a mild solution etches the tooth surface and is rinsed off after a few seconds, adhesive goes on each tooth with a bracket on top, and a special light cures the adhesive before the wire is threaded through the bracket slots.

Depending on the type of braces, the AAO says the wire is held either by a clip built into each bracket or by tiny rubber bands called ligatures, which come in many colors.

Spacers sometimes come first: the AAO says an orthodontist “may insert” spacers between the back molars about a week before braces are applied, to make room for the bands that go around those teeth.

Before you leave, the AAO says a team member explains how to brush and floss with braces, reviews the hard, sticky and chewy foods to avoid so the braces are not broken, and goes over what to do if a problem comes up. The daily routine is laid out on the brushing and flossing with braces page.

How the mouth feels that evening and through the week

Pressure or tenderness around the teeth is the usual feeling in the first few days, and the AAO explains the cause: each tooth is held to the bone by tiny ligaments, and as braces shift the teeth those ligaments stretch and compress, which brings a sense of tightness and discomfort.

The AAO adds that lips, cheeks and tongue may feel irritated where brackets and wires rub, especially early on, and that most people describe the soreness as “a dull ache rather than sharp pain.”

For relief, the AAO says rinsing with warm salt water or taking an over-the-counter pain reliever usually helps, with any pain reliever taken “as directed by your medical provider or package instructions,” and orthodontic wax can cover a spot that rubs.

Ongoing or severe pain is not expected, the AAO says, so if something does not improve after a few days, call your orthodontist. For a wire that pokes or a bracket that comes loose, let your orthodontist know right away, as the AAO advises; the orthodontic emergency guide covers what to do at home in the meantime. Adults wondering whether this feels different at their age can read whether adult braces are more painful than teen braces.

Soft meals while the teeth are tender

Soft food is the AAO’s advice for the days right after braces go on, because the teeth may feel sensitive at first and softer foods make eating more comfortable while the mouth adjusts.

For the first week the AAO names oatmeal, scrambled eggs, soups, yogurt, pasta, mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, soft cheeses, bananas, berries and soft-cooked proteins like fish, and it says cold soft foods such as ice cream and pudding help with the early discomfort.

Hard, sticky and chewy foods stay off the plate while the braces are on, and the practice’s list of foods to avoid with braces names them.

Back to school or work the same day

School, work and usual activities can carry on the day braces are applied, and the AAO puts it plainly: “You should be fine going to work or school and taking part in your usual activities.”

Lips and cheeks are still adjusting in those first days, so a small piece of orthodontic wax over a bracket that rubs can make a school day or a meeting easier, and the AAO suggests keeping supplies on hand, among them orthodontic wax, dental floss, tweezers and interproximal brushes.

The AAO also says that once patients become accustomed to their braces, they may even forget they have them on.

Why soreness returns after tightening visits

Braces soreness can come back for a short time after adjustment visits, and the AAO explains why: at these appointments the orthodontist tightens or replaces the archwires, which reactivates the pressure needed to keep the teeth moving.

The AAO calls some soreness after an adjustment normal and suggests softer foods right after a tightening, orthodontic wax on any bracket or wire that irritates, and your orthodontist’s guidance for managing soreness.

The AAO also says that at each visit your orthodontist checks your progress and the health of your teeth and gums, and a first-week problem that is not improving is a reason to call sooner.