Wondering “Do Braces Hurt?” We Have the Answers You Need
One of the main questions our Rosenberg orthodontists hear is “do braces hurt?” Our team is always available to ease your fears when you want to straighten your smile. When you want to improve your smile, you have nothing to be afraid of.
While you may feel some discomfort throughout the treatment, there’s no extreme pain to worry about.
The Basics of Braces
Traditional braces are a type of orthodontic treatment our Rosenberg orthodontists use to correct crooked, misaligned, or overcrowded teeth. Moreover, braces are useful for correcting serious issues, like an overbite.
Oftentimes, people who want to straighten their teeth wonder “do braces hurt?” For some, the idea of discomfort keeps them from pursuing treatment. However, straight teeth are more important than just a beautiful smile.
Per the American Dental Association, people start to notice abnormal bites between the ages of 6 and 12. This is because that’s the timeframe for permanent teeth to develop. Typically, people start orthodontic treatment for their kids between 8 and 14 years old. Moreover, some adults use braces to fix their smiles later in life.
While everyone is different, it’s normal to experience mild pain or discomfort at certain points in your treatment. Oftentimes, people feel pain when they first start the treatment and after appointments where your Rosenberg orthodontist tightens the wires.
However, others only experience some mild discomfort that goes away after a couple of hours.
Do Braces Hurt? When and Why
As experienced orthodontists, we see an array of reactions to braces. This makes “do braces hurt” a hard question to answer.
Everyone’s experience is different, so it’s hard to say for sure what your experience will be. However, below we provide a general sense of what to expect at the different stages of treatment.
Starting the Treatment
How your treatment starts depends on your case. In some cases, people have to wear “spacers” between their teeth for a short time before getting braces.
For a few days, these spacers cause soreness and discomfort. It’s a bit like having food stuck between your teeth. Luckily, this sensation goes away.
When our orthodontists first fit your braces, people rarely feel immediate pain. During your appointment, we might place metal bands around your back molars. Generally, this causes temporary discomfort due to the pressure.
With the bands in place, we clean your teeth with a solution, wash it off, and apply glue to the surface of your teeth.
Many people aren’t fans of the taste, so be ready for that. However, this part of the process isn’t especially uncomfortable.
Once the glue is in place, we mount bracks to each tooth and harden the glue. Finally, we connect the brackets with a wire. We attach the ends of the wire to those bands on your back molars.
The last step is the elastic bands that hold the wire in place. Following your first appointment, it’s normal to feel some discomfort. It takes time to adjust to all the sensations and hardware.
Throughout the Treatment
Oftentimes, people don’t experience much pain right away. However, that gentle pressure from the braces starts to set in after a couple of hours. Typically, this is the first answer to “do braces hurt?” It’s normal for the discomfort to start with these new sensations.
As the braces slowly pull teeth into proper alignment, the pressure creates some discomfort and pain. However, this often goes away in a few days. In some cases, it takes a week.
Here’s a look at your “do braces hurt” situation for the first week.
- Scrapes on the inner cheeks from the metal brackets
- Potential small cuts from feeling the brackets with your tongue
- Sore gums
- Soreness in the teeth, especially when eating
Typically, people no longer notice their braces as they adjust. However, throughout the treatment, your Rosenberg orthodontist has to tighten your brackets.
Here are a few things we do at your appointments throughout your orthodontic treatment.
- Replace your wires
- Tighten wires
- Place springs
- Tighten the bands on the braces to increase pressure on your teeth
For most treatment plans, we tighten your braces about once a month. Depending on your progress, it may happen a bit more often.
After these appointments, it’s common to experience discomfort similar to your first appointment. However, some people adjust well and feel less discomfort.
Following a tightening, many patients feel pain in the teeth and gums. At this point, your cheeks and tongues should be used to the braces. This makes new abrasions less likely.
Removal of Braces
Everyone is different, and so is their treatment plan. Typically, braces stay on for 1-3 years. Your final “do braces hurt” moment comes at the removal of your braces. It’s normal to feel discomfort during this process.
Let’s take a look at what happens.
Your Rosenberg orthodontist starts with the hardware. We remove the brackets, bands, and wires before we clean your teeth. This takes off any leftover glue.
To complete your treatment, we fit you for a retainer. This device helps keep your teeth in their new position.
Oftentimes, patients wear these removable retainers for a specific period of time after their treatment. Usually, you keep it in in the daytime or only wear it at night. Typically, retainers don’t cause any discomfort.
For some patients, retainers are permanent. In these cases, we glue them to your teeth in a similar manner to braces.
Other Do Braces Hurt Situations
Typically, braces make it difficult for people to maintain their oral hygiene routine. When they have trouble cleaning their teeth, it can cause cavities and tooth decay. These cause pain in their own way.
When you adjust your oral hygiene routine and avoid sticky, sugary foods, it helps to prevent tooth decay and cavities.
Do Braces Hurt: Tips to Relieve Discomfort
During treatment, it’s common to experience pain or discomfort. While this goes away within a few days, your Rosenberg orthodontists are here to help. When you hit your “do braces hurt” points, here are a few tips to relieve the pain.
- Use a warm saltwater rinse: 1 teaspoon of salt per 8 oz of warm water
- Take ibuprofen or another over-the-counter pain reliever
- Stick to soft foods at these times: yogurt, soup, ice cream, etc
- Drink cold beverages and eat cold foods
- Use a topical anesthetic on your gums
- Apply a cloth-covered ice pack to your face
- Ask your orthodontist about soft wax that helps protect your cheeks (often available at pharmacies)
- Avoid sticky foods, gum, and hard foods that might dislodge your brackets
- Clean your teeth and the spaces between the brackets to prevent tooth decay
When to Visit Your Orthodontist
Typically, you only need to visit us for tightening and your regular dental appointments. However, there are certain times when it’s essential to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
- When a bracket dislodges
- A wire comes loose
- Bands pop off your teeth
In these situations, call us immediately to schedule an appointment. While you wait for your appointment, place wax on the wire or bracket so that it doesn’t cut your tongue or cheek.
Additionally, it’s important to let us know when you experience severe pain that doesn’t go away. It’s essential that we ensure everything fits properly or identify an underlying condition causing the pain.
Do Braces Hurt? Not Enough to Stop You
If you still wonder “do braces hurt,” schedule an appointment and talk through your concerns with our Rosenberg orthodontists. Typically, people only experience discomfort at certain points in the treatment.
For most of these situations, the pain is manageable and temporary. When you follow our tips, it helps you find relief as you straighten your teeth.
Another option to consider for mild cases is Invisalign. When you schedule your initial consultation, your Rosenberg orthodontist walks you through your options Book your appointment today!
