Preparing for braces is mostly about knowing what to expect, stocking up on the right supplies, and getting a few things done before your appointment. The placement itself takes one to two hours, and the first few days afterward are the most uncomfortable part of the entire treatment. A little planning makes that transition much easier.
Sort Out Costs Before Your Consultation
Metal braces typically cost between $3,000 and $7,500, while ceramic braces range from $2,000 to $8,500. Most dental insurance plans cover braces at least partially for children under 18 when treatment is deemed medically necessary, but most plans don’t cover orthodontics for adults at all. If your insurance does contribute, it’s most likely to cover traditional metal braces. Choosing a more expensive option like ceramic usually means you pay the difference out of pocket.
Before your first appointment, call your insurance provider and ask specifically what your orthodontic benefit covers, whether there’s a lifetime maximum (commonly $1,000 to $2,000), and whether you need pre-authorization. Most orthodontist offices also offer monthly payment plans, so ask about those during your consultation.
Get a Dental Cleaning First
Your teeth need to be thoroughly clean before brackets can be bonded. If you’re due for a cleaning or have any cavities, get those handled before your placement appointment. Brackets are glued directly to the surface of each tooth, so any decay or buildup underneath will only get harder to treat once the hardware is on. Your orthodontist may require a cleaning within a certain window before placement, so ask about timing when you schedule.
Stock Your Braces Care Kit
You’ll want these supplies ready at home before your appointment, because you won’t feel like shopping afterward:
- Soft-bristled toothbrush plus a travel toothbrush and small toothpaste for your bag
- Interproximal brushes (tiny cone-shaped brushes that fit between brackets and under wires)
- Floss threaders or pre-threaded floss, since regular floss can’t slide past the archwire
- Orthodontic wax to cover any brackets that rub against your cheeks or lips
- Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen
- A small pocket mirror for checking your teeth after meals when you’re out
Keep a second kit in your backpack, purse, or desk at work. You’ll be brushing after every meal, and having supplies within reach makes that realistic.
Enjoy Your Favorite Crunchy Foods One Last Time
Once brackets are on, you’ll need to avoid anything that could snap a wire or pop off a bracket. That means no taffy, caramel, gummy candy, hard chips, nuts, ice, or hard candies. You also won’t be able to bite directly into things like apples, corn on the cob, or raw carrot sticks (though you can cut them into small pieces). Some people treat the day before their appointment as a “last meal” of sorts, enjoying all the sticky and crunchy favorites they’ll miss for a while.
Plan Soft Meals for the First Few Days
Most people prefer soft foods for the first few days after placement and again after each tightening appointment. Your teeth will be sore and biting down on anything firm will feel unpleasant. A good approach is to build meals around a soft protein, a starch, and a fruit or vegetable.
Some ideas to have on hand:
- Breakfast: Greek yogurt, smoothies blended with banana and frozen berries, or soft banana oat muffins
- Lunch: Mashed potatoes mixed with well-cooked vegetables, cottage cheese, or soft scrambled eggs
- Dinner: Cheesy polenta topped with flaky baked salmon or shredded rotisserie chicken, creamed spinach, or pasta with a smooth sauce
- Snacks: Applesauce, soft cheeses, ricotta, or protein smoothies
Prepping a few of these meals before your appointment saves you from trying to cook while your mouth is adjusting.
What Happens at the Placement Appointment
The process takes one to two hours and isn’t painful, though it can feel tedious. Your orthodontist starts by cleaning and drying your teeth, then applies a small amount of glue to the center of each tooth and sets it with a blue curing light. A bracket is placed on each tooth while the glue is still workable. Metal bands are fitted around your back molars for extra anchoring. Finally, an archwire is threaded through all the brackets and secured with small rubber bands called ligatures.
You’ll be sitting with your mouth open for most of this time, so it helps to eat a solid meal beforehand and use the restroom before you sit down in the chair.
What the First 48 Hours Feel Like
Your mouth starts adapting almost immediately after placement, and the adjustment period brings a few predictable sensations. You’ll feel tightness or pressure on your teeth as the wire begins doing its job. Your teeth, gums, and cheeks will likely feel tender. Brackets and wires will rub against the inside of your lips and cheeks until the tissue toughens up, which usually takes a week or two.
For soreness, taking ibuprofen about an hour before your appointment can help. A Cochrane review of pain relief during orthodontic treatment found some evidence that taking ibuprofen before the procedure reduced pain intensity in the first couple of hours compared to taking it afterward. After that initial window, taking pain relievers as needed for the first day or two is standard. Cold water and ice cream also help with discomfort.
For irritation, orthodontic wax is your best friend. Wash your hands, pinch off a pea-sized piece, roll it into a small ball, flatten it slightly, and press it gently onto whatever bracket or wire is bothering you. The wax creates a smooth buffer between the metal and your soft tissue. You can eat with it on, though you may need to reapply after meals.
Your New Brushing Routine
This is the single most important habit to lock in. When plaque and food get trapped around brackets, the result can be cavities, swollen gums, bad breath, and permanent white marks on your teeth called decalcification spots. Those white marks don’t go away after braces come off.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends brushing for two minutes after every meal or snack and before bed. That’s significantly more often than the twice-daily brushing most people are used to. Use your interproximal brush to clean around each bracket and under the wire, and use a floss threader to get floss between your teeth where a regular strand can’t reach. If you’re stuck somewhere without a toothbrush, rinsing thoroughly with plain water is the minimum.
You also need to keep seeing your regular dentist for cleanings every six months (or more often if recommended) throughout treatment. Your orthodontist is adjusting your bite, but your dentist is watching for cavities and gum issues that braces can accelerate.
Schedule Smart
If you can choose when to get your braces placed, pick a day where you don’t have much going on for the next 24 to 48 hours. The first day is when discomfort peaks, and you may feel self-conscious while you adjust to talking with hardware in your mouth. A Thursday or Friday appointment gives you a weekend buffer. Avoid scheduling right before a big event, presentation, or vacation where you’ll want to eat freely.