Getting braces is a significant step toward a healthier smile. Patients often have logistical questions about the appointment day, particularly concerning what can be eaten beforehand. Understanding the immediate preparations and dietary adjustments ensures a smooth installation and comfortable transition into life with new orthodontic hardware.
Eating Before the Appointment
It is recommended to eat a substantial meal 1 to 2 hours before the braces installation appointment. Since the procedure can take an hour or more, a nourished body prevents lightheadedness or hunger pangs. This is also the last opportunity to enjoy certain restricted foods, such as hard, crunchy, or sticky items.
Eating too close to the appointment should be avoided, as lingering food particles could interfere with the bonding process. The best strategy is to have a nutritious, filling meal, followed by thorough cleaning immediately before the appointment. This maximizes comfort during the procedure and ensures optimal conditions for installation.
The Importance of Clean Teeth for Installation
Achieving a strong bond between the bracket and the tooth surface is necessary for successful orthodontic treatment. The adhesive used to secure the brackets requires a perfectly clean and dry surface to cure correctly. Food debris, plaque, or calculus remaining on the enamel will compromise this connection, potentially causing premature detachment. A loose bracket means the tooth is no longer moving into its correct position, which can extend the overall treatment time.
Patients must perform a thorough brushing and flossing routine immediately prior to the appointment. While a professional cleaning is often recommended in the weeks leading up to the installation, the patient’s own hygiene on the day is equally important. This attention to cleanliness ensures the strongest possible bond, which is a necessary mechanical requirement for the braces to exert the continuous, gentle pressure needed to align the teeth.
Foods to Avoid Right After Getting Braces
Immediately following installation, the teeth and gums will likely feel sensitive and sore due to the initial pressure applied by the new hardware. For the first few days, the focus must shift entirely to soft, easy-to-chew foods to minimize discomfort and prevent damage to the newly placed brackets and wires. These choices require minimal chewing force and allow the mouth to adjust to the new appliance without unnecessary pain.
Excellent choices include:
- Creamy soups
- Mashed potatoes
- Yogurt
- Scrambled eggs
- Soft-cooked pasta
Avoidance extends to foods with extreme temperatures, as teeth may experience heightened sensitivity to both heat and cold. Hard, crunchy, or sticky foods pose a significant risk of damaging the delicate orthodontic hardware. Biting into items like nuts, popcorn, ice, hard candies, caramel, or taffy can easily loosen a bracket or bend a wire, potentially delaying treatment progress.
Even hard fruits and vegetables should be cut into small, bite-sized pieces rather than being bitten into whole. While this initial soft-food diet is temporary, lasting a few days to a week, it establishes the foundation for long-term dietary modifications. Adhering to these guidelines protects the integrity of the braces and ensures comfort during the initial adjustment phase.