Braces frequently have a slight painful or uncomfortable side effect. The discomfort, however, should only be experienced as soon as your orthodontist places or adjusts your braces or wires. Most braces soreness subsides after four days and rarely persists for longer than a week.
After wearing braces for the first time, it’s also common to have some stiffness in your cheeks for around a week. Fortunately, adjustments shouldn’t make this soreness worse.
Do Braces Hurt?
While every person’s experience with braces will be unique, the information below should give you a basic idea of what to experience at each stage of the healing process.
Getting Braces
Before getting braces, some people might need to wear separators (also known as spacers) between their teeth for a week or two. For a few days, these spacers could feel tight and painful, similar to when food gets stuck between the teeth, but the discomfort should subside.
The first time an orthodontist places braces, most people don’t feel any pain right away. The rear molars are frequently banded by an orthodontist. This procedure is not painful, although it may cause some temporary discomfort because it applies pressure and may pinch.
After placing the bands around the molars, the orthodontist will use a somewhat sour solution to clean or “etch” the teeth. After washing this off, they will either apply adhesive to the top set of teeth, the bottom set of teeth, or both. The etch and glue may taste unpleasant, but these procedures shouldn’t hurt or make a person feel uncomfortable.
A blue light use to cure the glue before the orthodontist mounts brackets to each tooth separately. Once more, this step in the procedure shouldn’t be painful. The orthodontist will then attach each bracket with a wire after they are all in place. Each wire end will fasten to the bands encircling the molars in the back of the mouth. The wire is held in place by adding elastic bands as the last step.
Wearing Braces
A person may not feel any pain or discomfort when they put on the braces for the first time. But within a few hours, the light pressure that the braces apply to the teeth will begin to work.
During the first week, expect the following:
- swollen gums
- due to the metal brackets pressing against the inside of the cheeks, there may be scrapes or sores.
- tongue cuts could result from sticking one’s tongue out to feel one’s braces.
- The teeth may feel sore after eating.
A person may stop noticing their braces after some time when their body becomes used to them. However, the orthodontist must tighten the braces from time to time in order for them to function.
As the braces are tightened by an orthodontist, they could:
- swap out the existing wires
- Installing or tightening springs
- Tighten the braces’ bands to put more pressure on the teeth.
Depending on the person’s development, tightening often occurs once per month or as needed. When tightening occurs, a person may experience discomfort akin to when they first got their braces. In other situations, it might be less uncomfortable. A lot of patients only experience tooth and gum pain following tightening. By this time, the cheeks and tongue have usually grown accustomed to the braces, decreasing the likelihood that they may have additional abrasions.
Removing Braces
Although every person is unique, braces normally last between one and three years. When the time comes to remove the braces, the patient could feel some discomfort as the orthodontist does so. Before cleaning the teeth to get rid of any glue, an orthodontist will remove the brackets, bands, and wires.
An orthodontist will fit the patient with a retainer to complete the procedure. After receiving braces, a retainer is a tool that keeps teeth in their new place. Following the removal of the brace, people might need to wear a removable retainer for a predetermined amount of time, either all day or simply at night. There shouldn’t be any additional discomfort from the retainer. Some retainers need to permanently glue to the teeth by an orthodontist, much like braces.
People frequently struggle to properly clean their teeth when using braces or a retainer. Cavities and tooth decay can result from this issue, both of which can be uncomfortable. Cavities and tooth decay can be avoided by practising proper oral hygiene, avoiding sticky, sugary meals, and keeping the mouth as clean as possible.
How To Relieve Braces Pain At Home
You may utilise a number of simple techniques to reduce the discomfort brought on by your braces.
Consume soft food
Eating soft foods like mashed potatoes, noodles, and soup can help you obtain the nourishment you need without putting additional strain on your teeth. Even better, treat yourself to a dish of ice cream as a reward. If you are not sensitive to heat, the cold may reduce inflammation.
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Ice your teeth
Ice packs and cold meals both have advantages. For 20 minutes at a time, place an ice pack on the outside of your mouth and wrap it in a towel. With the cold, pain and inflammation should both diminish.
Take Painkillers When Wearing Braces
Over-the-counter pain relievers are an excellent treatment for any brace discomfort. A great substitute are oral anaesthetics. Simply apply the gel to your teeth and gums using a cotton swab or your finger.
Apply wax
Orthodontic wax may be the answer you’re seeking for if your cheeks are being irritated by your brackets and wires. You may prevent cuts and discomfort by making use of the gentle barrier that exists between your braces and the rest of your mouth. Just keep in mind to wipe off the wax before eating or cleaning your teeth, and then reapply afterward. Despite being non-toxic, the wax shouldn’t be consumed.
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Summary
When wearing braces, a person could feel pain or discomfort. When an orthodontist first inserts the braces and after routine brace tightening, people frequently only feel pain or discomfort. Additionally, they could feel pain if the brace rubs or sticks out into their mouth. Patients can typically manage their pain with the use of medications, cool liquids, and a diet rich in soft foods. If one’s braces start to feel loose or are really painful, they should see an orthodontist.
Most patients’ pain or discomfort from wearing braces subsides after one to five days.
When your braces are first put on, you should have little to no pain. However, after the initial few hours, you can feel a little uncomfortable.
They are pulling on your teeth all the time, trying to move them. Your teeth are subjected to pressure. Continuous pressure causes pain in one area.
