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Making out with braces can be quite the challenge. But if you stay relaxed, tell your partner what to avoid, and go slow, you can have a lot of fun kissing while wearing braces. Don’t worry that braces make it impossible to make out -- you just need to do a little more preparation beforehand.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Making Out

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  1. If you or your partner has loose brackets on his/her braces, you will need to be careful. If you’re the one with the braces, check them carefully before you’re planning to kiss anyone.
    • It isn't very likely that one of you will get stuck. Modern braces tend to be less obtrusive than the ones in classic movies where two hapless teens get stuck together. However, a stray wire or bracket could poke your partner, which could kill the mood.
  2. Most orthodontists will give you some of this after attaching your braces. It’s good for keeping your braces from cutting the inside of your mouth while you’re getting used to them. Wax will also keep the wires from your braces from poking out, reducing the chance of them getting caught on your partner's braces or face.
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  3. He or she might not have kissed anyone with braces before. Explain that he or she will need to tell you if your braces are poking him/her. Tell your partner s/he probably shouldn’t touch your braces with the tongue or lips -- this can get really painful. Even though this can be embarrassing to talk about, it’s better to do it before it happens.
  4. Start kissing your partner. Be gentle. Try lots of small kisses at first so that you get used to kissing someone with your braces in and s/he gets used to kissing someone with braces. If it’s going well, keep going and try for longer kisses. Figure out what you like best and do it.
    • You might want to avoid too much tongue when making out, as getting it caught on your braces will not be fun.
    • Focus on using your lips to caress your partner. Ask him or her to do so as well.
    • Keep your kissing soft and gentle to avoid getting tangled.
  5. You might be tempted to go for a passionate love-bite or two in your usual make-out sessions, but it's a good idea to avoid that with braces. You could end up cutting your partner's skin with your braces.
    • Keep your braces away from areas with hair, which might get snagged. [1]
  6. Making out isn’t just about kissing -- it’s about getting close to another person. Don’t do anything that you’re not comfortable with, but if you’re already kissing someone, chances are s/he won’t mind if you stroke his/her hair, cheek, or shoulder.
  7. When you snuggle or cuddle with someone you like, your body releases a chemical called oxytocin, which helps you feel connected to that person. [2] Bump your make-out sessions up a notch by cuddling with your partner as you make out. It's a pain-free way to make things sweeter.
  8. Making out isn't just about lip contact. Tell your sweetie how you feel about him or her. Offer a compliment on his great new t-shirt or her beautiful eyes. Express your feelings for your partner with your words as well as your kisses, and you can't go wrong.
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Part 2
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Troubleshooting

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  1. If you and your partner like each other, braces are not going to be a big deal. If you’re both relaxed, chances are you won’t have problems. If you’re too stressed out, you might bump teeth or harm you or your partner. Take a deep breath and just have fun!
    • If you're feeling nervous, try telling yourself something positive, like "Lots of people make out and don't get their braces caught. I'll be okay."
  2. Even though you might worry that you and your partner might get stuck together if you both have braces, it almost never happens. If by some crazy chance it does, stay calm and untangle yourselves. Figure out where the braces are linked and unhook them. You’ll probably both need a trip to the orthodontist afterward. [3]
    • Try laughing about the incident instead of letting it frustrate you. Sure, it's embarrassing in the moment, but it'll be a funny story later.
  3. Your orthodontist will have warned you about eating hard foods and the possibilities for breaking your braces. This means that your partner can’t be pressing too hard against your braces, either. [4]
    • Avoid bumping your teeth together. You could crack your braces or cut your partner.
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Part 3
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Maintaining Your Mouth

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  1. Brush your teeth and braces well. There’s nothing less romantic than food or plaque on your teeth when you’re going to make out with someone. Work slowly and carefully to make sure that your teeth and mouth are sparkling clean, whether you have braces or not!
  2. Floss daily. In addition to brushing, daily flossing will help keep your mouth clean and ready for kissing. Use an orthodontic floss threader to help you get the floss under and around your braces. You may also want to use a water flosser, like a WaterPik, to help flush debris away.
  3. Use a mouthwash . Use a mouthwash that contains fluoride twice a day after you brush and floss. Mouthwash can get into the nooks and crannies around your braces and help flush out any leftover debris. Fluoride-containing mouthwash can also help protect against cavities. [5]
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Join the Discussion...

WikiNewtWhisperer346
I've been going out with this guy for a while now and he's my first bf (and I'm his first gf). Sometimes when we make out his teeth hit mine. It’s kind of a weird feeling and it totally ruins the moment. Is this a normal thing? Is there some trick to not banging our teeth together? And how can I explain this to him without hurting his feelings?
It's completely normal for your teeth to hit each other when you're kissing, especially if you're deep in the passion of the moment! If it only happens a few times, a couple of little bumps and clinks against each other aren't a problem. Try to go in for a kiss slowly with a little more care. Tilt your head at a different angle so your teeth avoid each other. If your teeth touch a few times, just try to laugh it off so you can stay in the moment.

If it's happening pretty frequently and it's starting to upset you, then sit down with your boyfriend and let him know that it's bothering you. Just say something like, "I love kissing you but when our teeth bang against each other, it can be a little uncomfortable and distracting." Ask him to take it a little slower and to be more mindful. He's probably just so excited to be with you and rushing in for a kiss, but he'll be more aware of it if you bring it up.
Eddy Baller
Dating Coach
Practice makes perfect. So you're gonna want to kiss a lot to get good at kissing, and you can. A basic rule for kissing is you want to match your partner, so whatever their movements are, try to match them, like yin and yang. You don’t want to be doing anything that is physically uncomfortable. If it's uncomfortable or awkward, or if you're drooling, that's not good. Bad kisses will usually involve bumping into each other, or your lips don't lock together, they're just doing their own things. So that's not a good sign.

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