So you either just got braces or you have had them tightened. Either way, this is very painful the first few hours and it can be tough on your teeth, especially since there was no gradual application of pressure or force. Eating inappropriate foods can cause unnecessary excruciating pain. Read on to learn how to reduce the pain.

[edit] Steps

Be gentle with your teeth. If you just had a good long workout, how would you feel? Tired, sore, and achy. Well, that's how your teeth probably feel right now! Stay away from chewy and sticky foods. Find foods that are soft such as yogurt, ripened and sliced fruit, smoothies and milkshakes, Jell-O, soup, etc.
Eat slowly and carefully. If it hurts to chew something, don't! It will only make your mouth hurt worse. Better yet, don't chew at all. Try mashing the food by pressing it against the roof of your mouth with your tongue. If chewing is needed, use your back teeth.
Don't eat foods too high in sugar or starch. Bacteria feeds on sugar and starch, creating plaque. If plaque builds up around your brackets, it can get under your brackets and eat off the calcium on your teeth. This creates permanent, white bruises on your teeth. Foods like ice cream, candy, chocolate, soft drinks, and other foods high in sugar are not good. Refrain from eating gum (especially bubble gum).
Take a pain reliever and water to relieve pain. Sometimes water helps to lessen bad taste! If you don't have a pain reliever, try sucking on ice. DON'T CHEW ON THE ICE. You could also put frozen peas in a bag and apply pressure with it onto your teeth as best as you can.

[edit] Tips

Remember, soft foods. If you have to eat corn, take it off the cob and you could put spray butter on it and eat it with a fork.
You will probably wear the braces for 2-4 years, so smile, smile, SMILE! You can't spend 2 or more years with your mouth shut. That wouldn't make for a very good yearbook picture.
People will notice your braces and might even think you look cute in them. Braces are not flaws! They pay off in the long run for a gorgeous smile and can be considered an accessory to match with your look. They can be assets that complement your face.
Don't complain! You or your parents paid just about $6,000 dollars for you to get straight and beautiful teeth. Yes, it can be painful, but just dream about all you can eat and how good your teeth will look when your braces come off.
Make sure you brush, floss AND use fluoride rinse. Without all three, you could later have serious problems.
Limit soft drinks as most have LOTS of acid and sugar. This can erode teeth and dental equipment and can also leave white spots. Excessive drinking of soft drinks can lead to cavities.
Eating proper foods, limiting the intake of sugar, and sleeping at least 8 hours (10-12 if preteen/teen) is essential and recommended during braces treatment.

[edit] Warnings

Don't fiddle with your braces. Sometimes it costs more money to fix braces and though they LOOK strong, the wires are very flimsy and are easily bent or broken.
Don't eat foods that are really sticky like caramel, peanut butter, honey, etc. This will get stuck in your braces and could pull the brackets off your teeth.
Your braces are precise appliances, but can be damaged by hard foods (such as hard taco/tostada shells), and sticky foods. These can loosen or even dislodge braces completely. Avoid chewing non-food items that can bend the arch-wire and cause discomfort.

[edit] Things You'll Need

Braces
A good orthodontist-recommended toothbrush
A NON-WHITENING toothpaste (if you use whitening, you'll have discoloration where the braces were and weren't.)
A cleaner
Floss and floss-threaders
Mouthwash
Fluoride rinse or gel
Pain relievers (DO NOT CHEW ICE!)
Soft foods
The ability to endure pain in your mouth for a good 5-6 hours