Can Braces Damage Your Teeth?

Braces are a well-established treatment, but they can cause problems if the teeth are not looked after. This guide explains the risks honestly, and what you can do about each.

Key points

• For most people braces do not harm the teeth. Most of the risks come from poor cleaning and are largely preventable.¹
• The commonest problems are white marks and decay around brackets, and red, swollen gums, both linked to plaque.¹
• Fixed braces are linked to shortened tooth roots, although cause and effect has not been confirmed.²
• All fixed braces are followed by a retainer, because teeth tend to move back without one.⁶⁵
• Have your teeth checked before you start, clean thoroughly, limit sugar and keep every appointment.

Many people worry that braces will "ruin" their teeth. For most people they do not, and the long-term benefits of straighter teeth are real. But braces carry some risks, and knowing what can go wrong helps you avoid it.

Decay and white marks

This is the commonest problem. Food and plaque collect around brackets, so sugary food and drink can lead to tooth decay, and the first sign is often a white mark on the enamel.¹ Braces make decay and gum problems more likely if the teeth are not kept clean.¹

In a Cochrane review of ways to prevent early decay marks during braces, one study found fewer new marks with fluoride foam applied professionally every two months and another with a 5000 ppm fluoride toothpaste, but the evidence was of low certainty.³

What helps: brush after meals, use an interdental brush every day, cut back on sugary drinks, use fluoride as advised and attend your dentist for check-ups.¹

Gum problems

Gums can become red, swollen and painful if the teeth are not kept clean.¹ This is usually reversible with better cleaning, but if it is ignored, gum disease can develop.

What helps: thorough cleaning at the gum line, professional cleaning when advised and early attention to bleeding.

Shortened tooth roots

Fixed braces are linked to shortened tooth roots (root resorption), although cause and effect has not been confirmed.² An overview of systematic reviews found that the authors recommend light forces and regular monitoring.² Mild shortening is usually of no consequence, and serious shortening is uncommon.

What helps: tell the orthodontist if a front tooth was ever knocked or damaged,¹ and keep to the monitoring that is planned.

Enamel changes when braces come off

When brackets are removed, leftover glue has to be cleaned off. Removing leftover glue can roughen and thin the enamel with any bracket, which is why careful polishing matters.⁴ A review of 41 papers found that multi-step polishing with discs and pumice was the most predictable way to leave the enamel smooth.⁴ Ceramic brackets are slightly harder to remove than metal ones, but the British Orthodontic Society says they are unlikely to damage healthy teeth in most cases.⁶

Teeth moving back

All fixed brace treatment is followed by a retainer, because teeth tend to move back without one.⁶⁵ This is not damage, but it can undo your treatment. Cochrane reviewers found the evidence on which kind of retainer holds teeth most steadily to be of low or very low certainty, so follow the advice of your orthodontist.⁵ Read more about why wear retainers after orthodontic treatment.

Breakages and soreness

Hard foods can break brackets and disrupt treatment.⁶ Teeth are often sore for a few days after fitting and after adjustments, and the brackets can rub the lips and cheeks at first.¹ These are nuisances, not damage, but breakages can lengthen treatment.

Who is at higher risk

• people who do not clean well around the brackets;
• people who have frequent sugary snacks and drinks;
• people who miss check-ups;
• people with untreated decay or gum disease before treatment, because braces make both harder to prevent.¹

Reducing the risk

1. Get your teeth checked before starting. Decay and gum disease should be treated first.
2. Clean thoroughly, with a brush and interdental brushes every day.
3. Limit sugar, particularly between meals.
4. Use fluoride as your dentist advises.
5. Attend all appointments, orthodontic and general dental.
6. Report problems early: broken brackets, pain that lasts more than a few days, loose teeth.
7. Wear your retainer as advised.

Our guides to oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment and ten tips for living with braces give practical routines.

What about the benefits?

Braces can correct crowded teeth, teeth that stick out, bite problems and gaps, which can make teeth easier to clean and more comfortable to use.¹ Straighter teeth can be easier to clean, but do not expect straightening alone to prevent decay or gum disease. See our page on braces treatment for what they can do.

When to call your orthodontist

Contact the clinic if:

• a bracket or wire breaks;
• teeth are painful for more than a few days;¹
• gums bleed or swell;
• you see white marks near the brackets;
• a tooth feels loose.

The dental check you should have before braces

A good orthodontist will want your mouth to be healthy before treatment starts. That usually means a check-up with your general dentist, X-rays, treatment of any decay and treatment of any gum disease. These steps matter because braces make cleaning harder, so problems that are already present are likely to get worse.¹

Tell the orthodontist about any history of knocks or damage to your teeth, any earlier root canal treatment and any medical conditions or medicines. Ask what they have seen on your X-rays and whether anything affects the plan.

A monthly routine that protects your teeth

• Every day: brush after meals, use interdental brushes, use fluoride as advised and keep sugary drinks to mealtimes.
• Every week: check the brackets and gums in a mirror, and look for white or chalky marks around the brackets.
• Every visit: let the orthodontist see your cleaning, and ask where you need to do better.
• Every few months: keep seeing your regular dentist for cleaning and a check.

These steps are not complicated, but doing them consistently makes the biggest difference to how your teeth look when the braces come off.

What your teeth look like when the braces come off

When the brackets are removed, the dentist or orthodontist takes off the bonding glue and polishes the teeth. You may notice that the teeth feel smooth but look different, with edges or marks that were hidden behind the brackets. Retainers are fitted at once or soon afterwards, because the teeth are most likely to drift in the first months.⁶

If you notice white marks or rough areas, point them out. Your orthodontist or dentist can explain whether they will settle with good cleaning and fluoride, or whether any treatment is worth considering. Keeping up your cleaning and wearing your retainer protects the result you worked for.

Myths and facts

Myth: braces always leave marks. Many people finish with no marks at all. White marks are mostly a result of plaque, and good cleaning and fluoride lower the risk.¹

Myth: braces loosen teeth for life. Teeth are loose for a short time during movement as the bone remodels, and they firm up again, especially once retainers are worn.

Myth: you cannot have braces if you have fillings or crowns. Many people with fillings and crowns have braces. Your orthodontist plans around them.

Fact: how you look after the braces matters as much as the braces themselves. The risks described above are mostly preventable.

Questions to ask before you start

1. Do I have any decay or gum disease that should be treated first?
2. What is my risk of white marks, and how do I reduce it?
3. Is there anything about my teeth, such as an earlier knock, that affects the plan?¹
4. How often will you check my teeth during treatment?
5. How will the braces be removed, and the enamel finished?
6. Which retainers will I have, and for how long?

A clear answer to each is a good sign that treatment will be planned carefully.

Weighing risk and benefit

Every treatment has risks, and braces are no exception. The benefits include teeth that are straighter, easier to clean and more comfortable to use. For most people those benefits outweigh the risks, provided the teeth are kept clean and the plan is followed. If you are unsure, ask your orthodontist to explain the risks for your teeth specifically, and ask for a second opinion if you want one.

Frequently asked questions

Do braces weaken teeth?

Braces do not weaken teeth in themselves, but decay, gum problems and mild root shortening can happen, and cleaning and monitoring reduce the risk.¹²

Do white marks go away?

Some fade and some remain. Cleaning and fluoride are the main way to prevent them, and your dentist can advise on treatment.

Are ceramic braces more damaging than metal?

Ceramic brackets are slightly harder to remove, but unlikely to damage healthy teeth in most cases.⁶

Is it too late to start braces as an adult?

Braces are often recommended for children and teenagers after all the adult teeth have come through, but adults can have them too.¹

Can braces cause cavities?

Plaque around the brackets can, if it is not cleaned away, and sugary food and drink make it more likely.¹

Can braces cause gum recession?

Poor cleaning leads to inflamed gums. If your gums look swollen or are bleeding, tell your dentist early.

Are aligners safer for teeth than braces?

Plaque and bleeding scores were lower with aligners in a meta-analysis, but aligners still need careful cleaning and are suited to mild to moderate problems.

Can I have braces if I have had a root canal treatment?

Often yes. Tell your orthodontist about earlier root canal work or a knock to a tooth, because it can affect the plan.¹

When should I see my regular dentist during treatment?

Keep your normal check-up schedule, or as your dentist advises. Professional cleaning can remove plaque that brushing misses around brackets.¹

About the author

Sources

1. NHS website. Braces and orthodontics (patient information). Page review date 29 June 2026. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/orthodontics/
2. Yassir YA, McIntyre GT, Bearn DR. Orthodontic treatment and root resorption: an overview of systematic reviews. European Journal of Orthodontics, 2021;43(4):442-456. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33215186/
3. Benson PE, Parkin N, Dyer F, Millett DT, Germain P. Fluorides for preventing early tooth decay (demineralised lesions) during fixed brace treatment. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2019, CD003809. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003809.pub4
4. Janiszewska-Olszowska J, Szatkiewicz T, Tomkowski R, Tandecka K, Grocholewicz K. Effect of orthodontic debonding and adhesive removal on the enamel: current knowledge and future perspectives, a systematic review. Medical Science Monitor, 2014;20:1991-2001. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25327612/
5. Martin C, Littlewood SJ, Millett DT, Doubleday B, Bearn D, Worthington HV, Limones A. Retention procedures for stabilising tooth position after treatment with orthodontic braces. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2023, CD002283. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD002283.pub5
6. British Orthodontic Society. Conventional fixed braces (patient information). https://bos.org.uk/conventional/

Medically reviewed by Dr Anupam Sinha, BDS, MDS – Orthodontics, on 23 October 2026. General information for patients from Orion Dental Clinic, last updated 23 October 2026. It is not advice for one person, so ask a dentist what suits you. To report an error, contact us.