Getting braces involves a significant adjustment period that most people find manageable once they know what’s coming. The initial soreness is strongest in the first 24 to 48 hours and typically fades within a few days. Beyond that early window, you’ll adapt to new eating habits, a more involved oral hygiene routine, and occasional adjustment appointments over the course of one to three years.
The First Few Days: Soreness and Sensitivity
Your teeth will feel sore almost immediately after placement, and the discomfort peaks around the first day or two. This happens because the wires are applying steady pressure to shift your teeth, and the surrounding bone and ligaments need time to respond. For most people, the soreness drops off noticeably by day three or four.
Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen help considerably. Research suggests that taking ibuprofen about an hour before your orthodontic appointment is more effective at controlling pain in the first couple of hours than waiting until after. If you miss that window, taking it within two hours of placement and continuing as needed for a day or two works well. Cold foods like ice cream or chilled smoothies can also dull the aching temporarily.
Cheek and Lip Irritation
Brackets and wires create new edges inside your mouth, and your cheeks and lips will rub against them. Small sores are common in the first week or two. Over time, the soft tissue toughens up and the irritation fades, but orthodontic wax is your best friend in the meantime.
To apply it: wash your hands, brush your teeth so the area is clean, then pinch off a piece of wax about the size of a popcorn kernel. Roll it into a ball for a few seconds to warm it, then press it directly over the bracket or wire causing the problem. It should form a small bump that creates a barrier between the metal and your cheek. You can reapply as needed, especially after eating or brushing.
What You Can and Can’t Eat
For the first few days, stick to soft foods while your teeth are at their most tender. Good options include scrambled eggs, oatmeal, Greek yogurt, mashed potatoes, smoothies, soft pasta, and soups. A rice bowl with shredded chicken and avocado, macaroni and cheese with steamed broccoli, or polenta with flaky fish all work well for more substantial meals. Smoothies made with yogurt, frozen berries, banana, and peanut butter are an easy way to get protein and calories without chewing.
As the soreness eases, you can gradually reintroduce most foods, but some stay off the list for your entire treatment. Anything hard, sticky, or very crunchy risks breaking a bracket or bending a wire, which can delay your progress. The main things to avoid:
- Hard foods: nuts, hard candy, ice, bagels, crispy pizza crust, pretzels, and hard chips
- Sticky foods: taffy, caramel, and gummy candy, which cling to brackets and can pull them loose
- Crunchy foods: popcorn (kernels get trapped easily under wires), raw carrots, and whole apples
- Tough meats: cut chewy meat into small, bite-sized pieces to avoid stressing the hardware
You can still eat crunchy vegetables and fruits if you cook them until soft or slice them thin. Biting directly into a whole apple or corn on the cob is the real problem, not the food itself.
Changes to Your Speech
About 56% of people experience some speech change after getting braces, according to a 2016 study. You may notice a slight lisp, particularly with “s” and “th” sounds. Some people also have minor difficulty with “d” and “t” sounds. This happens because your tongue is adjusting to the unfamiliar brackets and wires taking up space inside your mouth.
The changes typically don’t last more than a couple of weeks. Practicing reading aloud or talking through the awkwardness speeds the adaptation. If you have a presentation or event coming up, it helps to know this window exists so you’re not caught off guard.
Your Oral Hygiene Routine Will Change
Braces create dozens of small spaces where food can get trapped, so brushing and flossing become more involved. A soft-bristled toothbrush is essential, and you’ll want to brush after every meal rather than just twice a day. Angle the bristles around each bracket, cleaning above and below the wire.
Flossing with braces takes longer because you need to thread the floss under the wire before sliding it between your teeth. Floss threaders make this easier, and interdental brushes (small, thin brushes shaped like tiny bottle brushes) are useful for cleaning around brackets and under wires quickly. A water flosser can supplement traditional flossing by flushing out food particles from hard-to-reach areas, though it works best as an addition to regular flossing rather than a replacement.
Adjustment Appointments
You’ll return to your orthodontist every 6 to 10 weeks throughout treatment. These visits are when your wires are checked, tightened, or replaced. The wires are what actually move your teeth. Brackets are essentially handles that hold the wires in place, while the wires apply steady pressure to guide teeth into their target positions. Modern wires stay active longer than older versions, which is why appointments can be spaced further apart than they used to be.
Expect some renewed soreness after each adjustment, similar to what you felt initially but usually milder. The same strategies apply: soft foods for a day or two, over-the-counter pain relief, and patience. Your orthodontist will also check your gum health and make sure no brackets have come loose between visits.
Dealing With Loose Brackets or Poking Wires
At some point during treatment, you’ll likely deal with a bracket that feels loose or a wire end that starts poking your cheek. Most of these situations aren’t true emergencies, but they do need attention. A poking wire can irritate or cut soft tissue if left alone, and a loose bracket can slow your treatment progress.
For a poking wire, orthodontic wax applied over the sharp end usually provides enough relief until your next appointment. If a wire is significantly out of place, some people gently push it back with the eraser end of a pencil or a cotton swab. Call your orthodontist if the wire keeps shifting and won’t stay put, if a bracket has detached entirely, or if wax isn’t relieving the discomfort. They’ll let you know whether you need to come in right away or can wait for your next scheduled visit.
How Long the Whole Process Takes
The average treatment time with braces falls between one and three years, with most cases landing somewhere in the middle. Your specific timeline depends on the complexity of your bite issues, how well your teeth respond to movement, and whether you follow care instructions, particularly around avoiding foods that damage brackets. Every broken bracket or missed appointment can add time.
After your braces come off, you’ll wear a retainer to keep your teeth from shifting back. This is a permanent part of the process, not optional. Many orthodontists prescribe full-time retainer wear for several months, then transition to nighttime-only wear indefinitely. Your teeth have a strong tendency to drift back toward their original positions, especially in the first year after braces are removed, so consistent retainer use is what protects the investment you just made.