Spacers for braces are small devices placed between your back teeth to create gaps before metal bands are fitted. They’re one of the first steps in getting braces, typically inserted a week or two before your actual braces appointment. Most people wear them for 7 to 10 days.
Why Spacers Are Needed
Braces rely on a system of brackets, wires, and metal bands to shift your teeth into alignment. The wires need to be anchored to metal bands (think small rings) that wrap around some of your back molars. The problem is that molars tend to sit tightly packed against each other, with little or no gap between them. Without extra space, your orthodontist can’t slide those bands into place.
Spacers wedge between the molars and gently push them apart over several days, creating just enough room for the bands to fit. It’s a small but necessary prep step. Not everyone needs them. If your back teeth already have natural gaps, your orthodontist may skip spacers entirely.
Types of Spacers
The most common type is a rubber spacer, which is a small elastic ring (about the size of a tiny rubber band) that gets stretched and slipped between two teeth. These are what most patients picture when they hear the word “spacer.” They work by slowly contracting back to their original size, which pushes the neighboring teeth apart in the process.
Metal spacers are less common but serve the same purpose. These come in a few forms. Spring-style separators use a small metal coil that applies a light, steady force between teeth. Some are made from a nickel-titanium alloy that provides consistent pressure while staying comfortable. Others, called Kesling springs, are stainless steel with a double loop that clicks into place between teeth. There are also brass wire separators that your orthodontist can twist into position during your visit.
Your orthodontist chooses the type based on how much space is needed, how tightly your molars sit together, and how long the spacers need to stay in. Rubber spacers are the default for most patients because they’re quick to place and do the job within a week or two.
What Spacers Feel Like
Spacers aren’t painless. You’re essentially forcing teeth apart that have been pressed together your whole life, so some soreness is expected. Most people describe the sensation as a dull ache or pressure in the back of the jaw, similar to having a piece of food wedged stubbornly between your teeth.
The first two days tend to be the worst. After that initial stretch, the discomfort usually fades into more of an annoyance than actual pain. Over-the-counter pain relievers and cold foods like ice cream or yogurt can help during those first couple of days. Some people also find relief by rinsing with warm salt water.
Chewing can feel uncomfortable while spacers are in, especially on harder foods. Sticking to softer meals for the first few days makes a noticeable difference.
Foods to Avoid
The biggest risk with spacers is accidentally pulling them out before they’ve done their job. Sticky and hard foods are the main culprits:
- Gum and gummy candy, which can grab onto rubber spacers and yank them free
- Hard or sticky candy like toffee or caramels
- Popcorn, which easily lodges between teeth and can push spacers loose
- Pretzels, nuts, and crunchy snacks that put excessive force on your back teeth
- Chewing ice
Softer foods like pasta, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, smoothies, and soups are all safe choices. You don’t need to avoid all solid food, just anything that’s particularly sticky, crunchy, or likely to get stuck near your molars.
Brushing and Flossing With Spacers
You can and should keep brushing normally while spacers are in. Brush gently around the areas where spacers sit, but don’t skip them. Food particles can still accumulate around the spacers and irritate your gums.
Flossing is a different story. You can floss everywhere except between the teeth where spacers are placed. Running floss through those specific gaps can pop a rubber spacer right out, or worse, push it deeper into the gum tissue. Stick to flossing the rest of your teeth as usual and leave the spacer sites alone.
What Happens If a Spacer Falls Out
It’s not unusual for a spacer to come loose, especially in the last day or two before your braces appointment. In many cases, a spacer falling out early actually means it did its job. The teeth have moved apart enough that the spacer no longer fits snugly.
If a spacer falls out several days before your next appointment, call your orthodontist’s office. They’ll let you know whether you need to come in for a replacement or whether the gap is sufficient. Don’t try to reinsert a rubber spacer on your own, since you risk pushing it below the gumline where it can cause irritation or infection.
If a spacer falls out the day before or the day of your braces fitting, it’s generally not a concern. Your orthodontist will check the spacing at that appointment regardless.
How Long You’ll Wear Them
Most people have spacers for about one to two weeks. The standard timeline is 7 to 10 days, placed at a short appointment right before your braces fitting. At that follow-up visit, the orthodontist removes whatever spacers are still in place, checks that enough space has been created, and proceeds with fitting the metal bands and the rest of your braces hardware.
The spacer appointment itself is quick. Placing rubber spacers takes just a few minutes. Your orthodontist stretches each one with a small tool or dental floss and slides it between the target teeth. You’ll feel pressure immediately, but the process isn’t sharp or sudden. Metal spacers take slightly longer to position but follow the same general process.
Spacers are a brief, temporary part of orthodontic treatment. They’re often the most uncomfortable step relative to how minor they seem, but the soreness is short-lived and predictable. By the time your braces go on, you’ll barely remember they were there.