How to Kiss With Braces

Co-authored by Eddy Baller

Last Updated: September 23, 2024 Approved

VIDEO

Learning how to kiss can be daunting enough, but having braces while you do it can add a whole new curve ball to your kissing game. But don't worry -- if you take it slow and follow a few braces-friendly techniques, your kisses will be so good that you won't even remember that you or your partner have braces. If you want to know how to kiss with braces, just follow these steps.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Taking it Slow

Download Article

1
Wait at least two weeks before you begin the serious kissing. When you or the person you want to kiss first get braces, you shouldn't rush to start making out the second you walk out of the dentist's office. Your braces will hurt at first, and you'll need some time to get comfortable to the metal in your mouth, and to learn how to manage your braces when you eat, brush your teeth, and complete any other tasks that are made more difficult by your braces.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- You can still kiss your special someone on the lips in the meantime, but don't take it further than that.
Hastily introducing teeth to metal is not a good way to get things started. Though you may be longing for some French kissing, you should take things slow and kiss only using your lips at first -- you can work your way up to French kissing as you get more comfortable. In the meantime, you can even take care to soften your lips with gloss an hour or two before the pecks on the lips begin so you feel more comfortable.

Advertisement
This is especially true if this is your first time. Start off very gently so you can get a feel for the terrain. As you get more practice, you'll learn where and when to apply pressure (soft at first), and where to avoid it. As you kiss your partner, explore his or her closed lips and see how comfortable you feel before you make the next move. And if you don't even feel comfortable enough to kiss yet, then take a step back.^{[2]
X
Expert Source

Eddy Baller
Dating Coach

Expert Interview. 7 February 2020.}

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Turning Up the Heat

Download Article

1
Press your lips gently against your partner's. If you do this too hard and fast, you may hurt the other person, which will force your teeth and gums against your lips -- you could end up hurting yourself, too. Once you're comfortable with these kisses, start kissing your partner more passionately while still only using your lips. You can still generate plenty of passion without going for the full-on tongue kiss.
- If you're the only one in the duo with braces, you might want to warn your partner about this.
Whether you're wearing braces or your partner is, you should part your lips widely enough and open your mouths enough that your tongue moves between your partner's teeth and doesn't get stuck on the braces. If you run up against the braces, you can end up cutting your lips or gums, and your partner can hurt his tongue if it brushes up against your braces.
3
Don't be afraid to go for it. Sure, you should go slowly at first, but that can build anticipation, and make the kissing even more exciting. So, once your tongue is comfortably between your partner's teeth and both of your tongues are positioned away from your braces, then you should be comfortable with exploring your partner's mouth. Move your tongue in circles, or just gently move it up and down and enjoy the sensation.^{[3]
X
Expert Source

Eddy Baller
Dating Coach

Expert Interview. 7 February 2020.}
- Don't worry about your braces getting stuck together, either. That is an absolute myth! Braces are not magnetic.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Keeping it Hot

Download Article

1
Avoid eating cumbersome foods right before you kiss. Though you don't want to be too paranoid about having a perfect situation inside your mouth before you kiss or you'll miss out on the romance of spontaneous kissing, you should be mindful before you make a move. Though you shouldn't fast right before you kiss, you should be aware of which foods are braces-friendly and which should be avoided at all costs. Any foods that melt in your mouth and that are easy to chew and swallow are okay, as a rule; any foods that are crunchy take forever to chew, or just stick around, like mango, should be avoided.
- If you're at the movies and know you'll be kissing, go for the melt-in-your-mouth chocolate instead of the popcorn, which can easily get caught in your teeth -- and therefore, your braces.
2
Do not make fun of a person with braces. If you're on this page because your kissing partner has recently been given the gift of braces, then you should be extremely sensitive to his or her situation. Don't make any "brace face" or "metal mouth" jokes unless you want an embargo on kissing all together. Your partner is likely very sensitive and feels self conscious enough as it is; it's your job to make him or her feel better, not worse.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- If you both have braces, then great! You can laugh about it together.
If you've been kissing with braces for a while but it's just not working, or there are just too many rough edges in the metal to make room for romance, then you may have to take some additional measures. You can consider covering the rough spots with dental wax or silicone, or even smooth them out at the dentist if they're really rough, but only try this if it makes you comfortable.^{[5]
X
Research source}

Join the Discussion...

I've been told I'm bad at kissing. Help?

67

WikiLynxSeeker117

I've only kissed a handful of girls and some of them have actually told me I'm a bad kisser. I feel like this is holding me back from getting mor... Read More

4

Eddy Baller
Dating Coach

A lot of people are bad at kissing when they start out, and that's okay. To get better at kissing, practice! Practice makes perfect. A basic rule... Read More

4

WikiEmuSeeker571

what if i'm good at kissing but i think my kisses are bad bc my gf is bad at kissing but i dont wanna tell her bc i dont wanna hurt her feelings?... Read More

See all 22 Replies and

Read Discussion

Kiss Like a Pro with this Expert Series

Ready to take your kissing game to the next level? Become a skilled kisser with these expert articles.

1

How to Be Kissable

2

Use Your Hands During a Kiss

3

Give an Unforgettable Kiss

4

How to Give a Kiss that Tastes Like Candy

5

Deal With a Sloppy Kiss

6

What Does a Forehead Kiss Mean? 10+ Reasons Behind This Personal Peck

Expert Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Read Video Transcript

Reader Videos

Tips

Contrary to some urban legends, it is very unlikely that two people with braces can get them stuck together by kissing. Piercings may get caught. But it can happen and it has happened before.^{[6]
X
Research source}

Thanks
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
Concentrate on the kiss. Just be aware of your braces but not so much that you miss the moment altogether and besides, the other person is kissing you because they like you and don't care if you have braces or not!

Thanks
Helpful 1359 Not Helpful 212
Just keep your breath fresh! Don't press too hard on your partner's lips if you are the one with braces - this can be uncomfortable for the other person. If you are French kissing someone with braces, be sure to keep your tongue away from the back of the mouth. That is where the sharpest parts of the braces tend to be. Mostly, just relax and don't worry about it. The more you think about it, the less involved you'll be in the kiss, and the less romantic it will be.

Thanks
Helpful 1053 Not Helpful 170

Show More Tips

Tips from our Readers

The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.

If your partner has a guard that prevents their tongue from pushing on their teeth, be extra careful around it. They're extremely easy to cut your tongue on.
If you don't want to kiss with closed lips but don’t want to French kiss either, then try slipping your upper lip in between your partners lips instead.
If you have rubber bands, take them out before you start kissing.

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Name

Please provide your name and last initial

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

If braces become damaged or are too abrasive, make sure to have your orthodontist smooth them out.^{[7]
X
Research source}

Thanks
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0