What is the most painful thing about braces?

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Thinking about getting braces? You’re probably wondering how much they’re going to hurt. Braces can cause discomfort, but it’s usually not too bad.

Getting braces put on your teeth doesn’t hurt. It takes between one to two hours to have braces put on your teeth.

First, your orthodontist puts bands around your back molars. This may involve some slight pressure or pinching, but it won’t be painful.

Then, your orthodontist applies a special glue to your teeth that doesn’t taste good, but doesn’t hurt. Your orthodontist glues brackets onto each of your teeth, and then connects the brackets with wires. Finally, everything is secured with elastic bands.

Within a few hours, you will begin to develop some pain and soreness in your teeth and gums. This pain will probably last about a week. During that time, you will be getting used to the feeling of your new braces. The wires and rubber bands put pressure on your teeth to slowly straighten them. This pressure takes some time to get used to.

During the first week after getting braces, you may experience:

• pressure and soreness of your teeth and gums, especially when chewing
• sores or pain on the insides of your checks
• discomfort or cuts on your tongue (from running it across the new braces)

Typically, this pain can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers, like acetaminophen (Tylenol). Stick to soft, no-chew foods for the first week, such as soup, yogurt, and ice cream. Cold drinks and smoothies can also sooth inflamed gums.

Most people get used to their braces in about a month. After six months, you may not even notice them. Although, it is normal to experience some soreness from time to time.

Braces fix alignment problems by putting constant pressure on your teeth. Over time, your teeth move into a straighter position. How much time this takes depends on a few factors, including what type of appliance you’re using and what problems your orthodontist is trying to fix. Most people wear braces for about two years.

When you have braces, you need to visit your orthodontist every few weeks for adjustments. At these appointments, your orthodontist evaluates your teeth and checks on the amount of pressure the braces are producing. As your teeth move and the tension decreases, the braces lose effectiveness. At each visit, your orthodontist tightens the wires, springs, or elastic bands to increase the tension.

Getting your braces tightened can cause pain and soreness for a few days. The discomfort shouldn’t be as bad as when you first got your braces on. After a few days, you will get used to the increased pressure on your teeth. An over-the-counter pain reliever should be enough to control the pain.

You will be so happy to see your new straight teeth that you probably won’t be too worried about pain. All dental procedures are a little uncomfortable, but removing your braces shouldn’t be painful.

After your braces come off, your teeth will be thoroughly cleaned. Your orthodontist might want to take another set of X-rays and impressions to check how well your braces worked. If you have wisdom teeth coming in, your orthodontist may recommend getting them removed. This will prevent your newly straightened teeth from being pushed out of alignment.

Getting your braces off is certainly a relief, but it doesn’t mean that your orthodontic treatment is finished. Your orthodontist will fit you for a retainer. This is a custom-made device, usually made of rubber or plastic, that prevents your teeth from moving back to their original positions. Your retainer may have metal wires that hold your teeth in alignment while the bones and gums heal. You might need to wear your retainer every day. Or you might need it only at night. Either way, it shouldn’t cause any pain.

Most braces pain can be treated with over-the-counter medications. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is a common choice. Some people use NSAIDs like ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve), which can also help reduce inflammation in your gums.

Your orthodontist may give you soft wax that you can use whenever your braces are rubbing against the inside of your mouth. The wax provides a protective barrier that reduces the likelihood of cuts or sores. If you have a wire or bracket out of place that is causing you pain, make an appointment with your orthodontist right away.

There are a few foods that you should avoid when you have braces. Foods like popcorn, hard candy, sticky candy, and gum can all damage braces. If you want to get creative with braces-safe foods, you can try The Braces Cookbook.

One of the most commonly asked questions about braces is whether placing them causes any pain or discomfort. The honest answer is that braces do not hurt at all when they are applied to the teeth, so there is no reason to be anxious about the placement appointment. There will be mild soreness or discomfort after the orthodontic wire is engaged into the newly placed brackets, which may last for a few days to a week. Most patients experience some discomfort the first 4 days to a week after their braces, expanders, and/or wires are placed and after a wire adjustment and/or an activation appointment. Your lips and cheeks may need one to two weeks to get used to the braces on your teeth. All the appliances and wires that we use are cutting-edge, and exert very light, continuous, and biologically sound forces that greatly decrease any soreness associated with orthodontic treatment. But, some mild, and rarely moderate, discomfort is still to be expected. Each person will gradually adapt to the discomfort associated with the orthodontic tooth movement. Over the counter pain relievers (Advil/Motrin work well) normally taken for headaches plus rigorous regimen of salt water rinses can be used to greatly ease the discomfort.

Here is an overview of what you can expect when getting braces:

Placement day

The placement of braces will not be painful in the slightest. In the first few hours after the braces are placed it may take longer to eat meals, but this is largely because it takes some time to adjust to wearing the braces and to learn to chew with them. In some cases, the teeth may feel more sensitive than usual. Hard, difficult to chew foods should be avoided in favor of a softer, more liquid-based diet (shakes, soups, yogurt, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, etc..) for the first few days after placement of braces. As the day progresses you may begin to feel slight discomfort as the teeth begin to move.

Two to three days after placement

The first several days after placement of braces can be a little uncomfortable. This is because the teeth are beginning the realignment process and are not used to the pressure of the archwire and elastic ties. We will provide and show you how to use relief wax/silicone to apply over the braces as necessary. Wax/silicone creates a smooth surface and alleviates irritation on the inner cheeks and lips. Additionally, over-the-counter pain medication (ibuprofen ie. Motrin and Advil usually works best if no allergies exist) may be taken as directed in combination with a rigorous regimen of salt water rinses to relieve the soreness.

Five days after placement

After five days to a week, any initial discomfort associated with the braces should be gone or much improved. The teeth will have gradually acclimated to the braces, and eating should be much easier. Certain hard foods may still pose a challenge to the wearer, but normal eating may be resumed at this point. Make sure to avoid any foods considered to be brace breakers!

Orthodontic appointments

Regular orthodontic appointments are necessary for archwire changes, to change the elastic (colors) or metal ties around the braces, to make adjustments to the braces, and to monitor orthodontic treatment progress. Braces work by gradually moving the teeth into a new and proper alignment, so gentle activations may be applied during your regular adjustment visits. The first several days after an orthodontic adjustment or when you get a new wire may be slightly uncomfortable, but remember that this discomfort will quickly fade.

Dealing with discomfort

All orthodontic discomfort can be effectively managed. Over-the-counter pain medication (ibuprofen ie. Motrin and Advil usually works best if no allergies exist) and orthodontic relief wax/silicone will help alleviate any soreness and discomfort following placement of braces and orthodontic adjustment visits. If possible, begin the pain reliever before the soreness begins and continue it every few hours (per the manufacturer’s recommendations). Other effective and useful remedies are rigorous salt-water rinses (warm water combined with as much salt as you can tolerate, rinsing 6-12 times a day) and to chew sugar-free gum, as this increases blood flow to the supportive structures surrounding the teeth which helps to reduce orthodontic soreness/discomfort and can also encourage the teeth to move/align quicker.

And remember, that soreness you feel from the braces is crookedness leaving your smile!!!