Honest Answers from Your Orthodontist
How much do braces hurt? It’s a question both kids and parents tend to dwell on when the orthodontics conversation comes up. Listen, we know that no teenager dreams of metal appliances in their mouth as they head to a first day of school or prom. Getting braces is definitely a rite of passage that comes with some discomfort and sacrifice.
After years of treating patients, one thing I’ve noticed is that most adults who wore braces as teens tell us the temporary soreness was well worth the straight, confident smile they enjoy today. Of course, you still want to know just how much braces hurt. Let’s get into the pain points of wearing braces.
Do Braces Hurt When You First Get Them?
Yes, braces can hurt a little when you first get them. The pain isn’t comparable to something like what you’d feel after getting a root canal or having wisdom teeth removed. Braces put pressure on teeth. This can cause a sensation of tension and soreness that often lasts three to five days. You might even feel soreness radiate into your jaw muscles a little. Overall, the discomfort most people feel after getting braces is just a new awareness that there’s something different in your mouth.
New braces can also create a little friction between the brackets and the skin on your cheeks and inside your lips. It’s actually common to experience a slight “callusing” period for the first few days after getting braces. This comes from the metal rubbing against soft tissue when you talk and eat.
The tenderness usually disappears once your mouth gets a chance to acclimate. You’ll just wake up one day to realize that you’ve pretty much forgotten you even have braces. Just make sure to remember you’re a braces-wearer again when it comes to brushing and flossing regularly!
If things are still feeling sore and tender a couple of weeks after getting your braces on, we’ll definitely want you to tell us about it. We’ll see if there’s anything that needs to be adjusted to make sure you feel as comfortable as possible. We never want you to think you have to live with pain just because someone told you braces are “supposed” to hurt.
How Long Does Braces Pain Last?
We’ve had some patients tell us that their mouth didn’t hurt at all after getting braces. For most patients, the story is that soreness and discomfort last for about the first three days. However, it’s not unusual for it to take a week for the new pressure from your braces to stop hurting.
Does Getting Braces Tightened Hurt?
Getting your braces tightened can feel like a mini version of getting your braces on all over again. The reason why is that we’re recreating pressure with each tightening to help shift your teeth into position. However, soreness usually only lasts 12 to 48 hours with a tightening. You’re likely to feel tension as your teeth begin to move into their new positions. Pain from getting your braces tightened usually feels like a mild soreness or dull pressure. You shouldn’t be feeling any kind of acute pain or “poking” in your mouth after a tightening.
How to Relieve Braces Pain at Home
After the appointment for getting braces on, parents can help by providing over-the-counter pain medicine, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, if recommended by Dr. Johnson. Many of our patients find that they can get relief using a cold compress, or even just some old-fashioned frozen peas to the cheek.
A nice dish of ice cream can also go a long way with soothing a sore mouth after getting braces on. Plus, ice cream is a well-deserved treat after the ordeal. You can also try swishing a little bit of warm water and salt for pain relief. Some patients also like to use numbing gels on the gums.
If you have braces pain that feels like digging or poking because a part of your braces is broken, you can put some orthodontic wax on it as protection against the sharp piece. However, this is only a temporary solution. We’re going to want to see you at our office right away to take care of any broken brackets or wires that are causing pain.
When Should Braces Pain Concern You?
It’s important to know the difference between tightening braces pain and something being wrong.
Ordinary braces pain looks like this:
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Dull aching in the gums, teeth, and jaw
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Rawness or roughness in the gums and cheeks
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Minor gum inflammation and soreness
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Discomfort subsides in a few days
Call the office promptly if braces pain looks like this:
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Sharp, persistent pain in a single tooth
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Poking or pinching
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Shooting pain in teeth and gums
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Bleeding gums or teeth
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Severely swollen, red gums
Your orthodontist wants to make sure you know the difference between braces discomfort vs pain. It’s always okay if you’re not sure if what you’re feeling is something to be concerned about. Trust us when we say it never hurts to place a call when you’re not sure if something might be broken or out of place. We promise we’ll be glad you did!
Do Braces Hurt the Whole Time You Wear Them?
Braces pain relief should come within the first week of getting them on. The only other time when braces are painful is after tightening appointments when we’re adjusting brackets and wires. If we give you rubber bands to wear during treatment, you may also need to adjust to the pressure added by the bands. We want you to let us know if you have any unusual pain outside of this.
Getting braces doesn’t always feel like a walk in the park. This is a process that transforms your smile over time using pressure. That means there’s simply no way around the discomfort involved. The good news is that the discomfort fades pretty quickly once you adjust to wearing braces. Of course, you can count on our team to make it as easy as possible.
If you’re looking for an orthodontist in Salem, Oregon, to help you navigate braces, we’d be honored to be the practice you choose. When it comes to teens and braces, creating a positive and comfortable experience while teeth are getting straightened is every bit as important to us as the final beautiful result. Let us help you get set up with a free consultation today.
FAQs
Does Invisalign hurt as much as metal braces?
Invisalign can be easier to adjust to compared to traditional metal braces because you don’t have to worry about metal wires and brackets rubbing against cheeks. Invisalign has smooth edges. However, the pressure from Invisalign can create soreness that is about the same as metal braces.
How long does it take for braces pain to go away?
After braces are put on, it usually takes three to five days to fully adjust. Most soreness goes away 24-48 hours after getting braces tightened.
Should braces make my gums bleed?
Soreness and rawness are common after getting braces on. However, braces generally shouldn’t cause your gums to bleed. Let your orthodontist know right away if you experience this.
Why did my orthodontist give me wax?
Orthodontic wax can be used to cover sharp or broken wires and brackets. The wax can form a covering that prevents your gums and cheeks from being poked while you call your orthodontist to be seen.