Braces Care & Post-Op Instructions | Elate Orthodontics

Welcome to Your Braces Journey at Elate Orthodontics!

Congratulations on starting your orthodontic treatment with Elate Orthodontics! Proper care of your braces is essential to ensuring a comfortable and effective treatment. Below are important post-op instructions to help you adjust to life with braces.

All you need to know about braces:

How to use orthodontic wax:

Brushing & Flossing With Braces

Section 1

Keeping Your Braces Clean

Maintaining excellent oral hygiene is crucial while wearing braces to prevent cavities, gum disease, and staining.

✅ Brush after every meal using a soft-bristled toothbrush or electric toothbrush

✅ Use fluoride toothpaste to strengthen enamel

✅ Floss daily using orthodontic floss threaders or a Waterpik

✅ Clean around brackets using an interdental brush

✅ Rinse with antibacterial mouthwash to remove plaque buildup

Not cleaning your teeth properly may lead to more dental visits and prolong your treatment. One of the most common consequences of poor hygiene during braces is white spot lesions, which are permanent marks on the enamel that form where plaque sits against the tooth for too long. They can show up as early as a few months into treatment and are largely preventable with consistent brushing. Learn more: White Spots on Teeth from Braces: Causes, Prevention & Treatment. You can also read about our Traditional Braces and Clear Braces options.

Eating With Braces

Section 2

What to Eat

⚠️ The first week after getting braces is when most issues happen. Everything is new: the hardware, the pressure, the way food feels, and it takes time to adjust. Be extra careful during this period, follow the instructions below closely, and do not hesitate to call us if something does not feel right.

Your first meal after getting braces should be something mushy or soupy, such as mashed potatoes, yogurt, soup, or a smoothie. From there, slowly introduce other soft foods over the next few days as your mouth adjusts. Do not rush it.

As you adjust over the following weeks, you can resume eating most foods, but always take extra care to avoid anything that could damage your braces.

For soft food ideas for every occasion, visit: Safe and Soft Foods to Eat With Braces for Every Holiday

A common question we hear is whether any candy is ever okay with braces. The honest answer is that some options are safer than others. Soft chocolates like plain Hershey’s or peanut butter cups are generally fine, while anything sticky, hard, or chewy can pop brackets off or get stuck in wires. For a full breakdown of what is and is not safe, see our guide: What Candy Can You Eat With Braces? 2025 Orthodontist’s Guide

🚫 Foods to avoid:

❌ Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice

❌ Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips, pretzels

❌ Sticky foods: caramels, gum, taffy

❌ Hard foods: nuts, hard pretzels, tough meats

❌ Biting into hard foods: apples, raw carrots, corn on the cob

💡 Tip: Cut tough foods into small pieces and use your back teeth to chew.

For a detailed list, visit our guide: What Can and Can’t You Eat With Braces?

Managing Soreness & Discomfort

Section 3

What to Expect

Mild soreness and discomfort are normal in the first 3-5 days after getting braces.

✔️ Pain relief: Take Tylenol or Advil if needed

✔️ Lip and cheek irritation: Apply orthodontic wax to sore areas

✔️ Warm salt water rinse: Helps relieve gum soreness

If soreness persists for more than two weeks, contact us at Elate Orthodontics.

Getting braces as an adult comes with its own set of questions and concerns beyond just soreness, including how they look at work and what life is really like day to day during treatment. If you are an adult patient, we put together an honest guide covering the things most people wish they had known before starting: What No One Tells You About Adult Braces.

Loose Brackets or Wires

Section 4

What to Do

Braces are durable, but wires or brackets can sometimes loosen.

✔️ Loose wire sticking out? Use the eraser end of a pencil to gently push it back

✔️ Still irritated? Cover the wire with orthodontic wax or a small piece of wet cotton

✔️ DO NOT cut the wire yourself. Call us for an appointment.

Call us at 972-538-4343 for a repair.

For more common braces emergencies, visit: Braces Hurt & Common Emergencies

Rubber Band Wear & Treatment Compliance

Section 5

Wearing Your Elastics

If your orthodontist has prescribed rubber bands, wearing them as instructed is critical for treatment success. Skipping rubber bands can delay your treatment.

Read more about how elastics work: Orthodontic Elastics: What Are They & How Do They Work?

Most common orthodontic rubber band patterns

Pick Your Braces Colors Before Your Appointment 🎨

Section 6

Try Colors on a Virtual Smile Before You Come In

At every adjustment appointment, you get to choose a new color for your braces bands. It is one of the most fun parts of treatment, but standing at the front desk trying to decide between 30 shades can feel overwhelming. That is why we built two free interactive color pickers you can use from your phone or computer before you ever walk in.

Braces Color Picker

Try on individual band colors against a virtual smile to see how each shade looks before committing. You can explore which colors make teeth appear whiter, match your personality or skin tone, or fit the season. Visit our Braces Color Picker to try it out.

Power Chain Color Picker

If you are at the stage of treatment where your orthodontist is using a power chain, this tool lets you preview how different power chain colors will look across your smile. Power chains cover more surface area than individual bands, so seeing the color in advance makes a real difference. Visit our Power Chain Color Picker to explore your options.

💡 Tip: Try a few options at home, screenshot your favorites, and bring them to your appointment. Our team can match what you like or help you refine from there.