When teens and adults in Meyerland come to our dental office for a braces consultation, they have many concerns, from the look of braces to the treatment duration. But one of the most frequent questions we hear is, “Do braces hurt?” The honest answer is that there is mild discomfort at first or when your braces get tightened, but it resolves in a short time. Keep reading!
Is The Treatment Process of Braces Painful?
Once you have a complete treatment plan, we’ll start with the process. Depending on your treatment plan, some patients may need spacers (separators) to make room for molar bands, while others can have their brackets bonded right away.
The next step is applying the brackets and then connecting them with an archwire. Many of our patients are surprised to find out that having their braces fitted isn’t painful at all.
The pain and that uncomfortable feeling that comes with getting braces occur a few hours later.
How Long Will Teeth Hurt After Braces?
Let’s break down what you can expect in terms of pain after getting braces:
First day
You’ll feel some pressure on your teeth a few hours after leaving the clinic. You’ll have some difficulty biting or chewing hard foods at first, which is why our Meyerland orthodontist suggests starting with soft foods.
1 – 3 days after placement
This phase is what most people find uncomfortable. Your teeth are not used to having a constant force on them, so when the braces treatment starts, it takes some time for them to adjust.
Patients say that their teeth feel achy, especially when they eat something. The discomfort can also occur from having a foreign object in your mouth, which feels unusual.
You may have a frequent urge to rub your tongue against the brackets or wires. All of these symptoms are perfectly normal in the first few days.
4 – 7 days after placement
At this point, the initial discomfort should be completely gone. The teeth and soft tissues adjust to the pressure of the braces. Chewing hard foods will still be difficult, but you can resume normal eating.
Braces tightening
You’ll have regular orthodontic visits at our office for braces tightening or adjustment. Patients experience slight soreness after braces tightening, but it often resolves within a day or two.
How to Relieve Braces Pain?
Braces pain goes away in a few days, but in the meantime, you can try these remedies for pain relief:
- Take over-the-counter medications as our orthodontist suggests.
- Apply an ice pack for about 10 to 15 minutes. Repeat it a few times a day.
- Rinse your mouth with a saltwater mix to flush away bacteria and food debris.
- Try applying a topical anesthetic gel if your gums feel too sore.
- Use orthodontic wax to cover an edge of a wire or bracket that’s causing pain.
- Avoid sticky and hard foods such as caramel, candies, hard nuts, etc.
Final Words
Braces can cause some pressure and pain when you get started with the treatment. Normally, they don’t hurt longer than a few days. If you’re having severe pain with braces, reach out to us at Safari Family Dental and Orthodontics right away. Call our Meyerland office at (346) 266-0886 today.