Do braces hurt? It’s one of the most common questions we get. Patients are ready to get beautiful smiles and healthy teeth, but does it mean it will be painful? Do you have braces pain, and how do you get braces pain relief?
Woodhill Dental Specialties wants to give you a healthy smile and make sure you feel comfortable. Today’s braces are more efficient and cause less discomfort than the braces of the past. Our goal is to give you the best smile possible through the best experience possible.
You won’t get braces on your first visit to Woodhill Dental Specialties. We use your first visit to get to know you and for you to get to know us. You’ll tour our office, meet our doctors and staff, and have a detailed examination.
We’ll walk you through your orthodontic treatment plan, which could include getting braces, lingual brace, or clear aligners on your next visit! However, some patients need some treatment before they get braces.
That could mean a palate expander if your jaw is too narrow to accommodate all the teeth. That could mean a tongue crib to train your tongue not to thrust against your front teeth. That could even mean a good cleaning or filling of a cavity or two.
This first stage of braces could take a few hours for a cleaning or a few months to expand your palate. Once that’s done, it’s time to get braces!
It will take about an hour or two to get your braces. They will probably feel strange at first, and yes, your mouth will be sore by the evening. But don’t worry! We have some suggestions to make your first few days with braces easier.
What causes braces pain? When your braces are applied, they begin working right away. Braces apply gentle, steady pressure to your teeth to move them into their proper positions.
Your teeth are suddenly being told to move after sitting still for so long. The steady pressure breaks down your jaw so the teeth can move, then rebuilds it behind the tooth as it moves.
As you can imagine, this will make your teeth and jaws a bit sore at first. You may experience pain from braces after getting them for the first time.
Braces pain usually comes when you first get braces. This is perfectly normal. It will last a few days as your teeth get used to moving. However, it should disappear soon after that.
Contact us if it’s been a week or more and the pain has not subsided. We may need to loosen your braces slightly or make other adjustments. We want you to be comfortable in your braces!
Once the initial discomfort has subsided, your teeth should feel fine while wearing braces. Occasionally, we will adjust your braces when you come in for an office visit. Your teeth may be a bit sore after braces tightening, but probably not as long or as intense as when you first get braces.
Your teeth may be sore for a day or two after adjustments. Again, this is normal. It should subside after a few days. If it hasn’t or worsens, contact us, and we will check your braces. Keep in mind it’s very rare for the discomfort to remain more than a few days after an adjustment.
There are several ways to eliminate or relieve braces pain. You can take an over-the-counter pain reliever according to the directions on the bottle. This should take care of most, if not all, of the pain or discomfort.
After getting braces, it is recommended to eat soft foods for a few days. Additionally, it is also advised to continue eating soft foods for a day or two after an adjustment. Mashed potatoes, oatmeal, ice cream, or smoothies would be good options for the first few days.
Your teeth may be sensitive to hot and cold at this time, too. Let your food or drink get closer to room temperature before indulging. The sensitivity should go away in a few days.
Finally, you can rinse your mouth with warm salt water to soothe your teeth and gums from braces pain. You can do this 3-4 times a day. Just make certain you rinse and spit the water out. You don’t need to ingest all that sodium!
Braces pain may not be as bad as you think, and it is only temporary. Discomfort goes away in a few days, and basi over the counter pain medicine can help with the pain for now.
Woodhill Dental Specialties is here for you if you have questions or concerns about braces pain or other braces treatment. You can schedule an appointment to get started on braces or to find out what braces treatment will mean for you.
We want your braces treatment to be a comfortable, positive experience. We will be here for you every step of the way!
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