Will Braces Hurt?
The idea of getting braces can be stressful, especially if you don’t really know what to expect going into the dentist, how it will feel while they’re being put on your teeth, or afterward.
First Orthodontist Appointment
When you first visit the orthodontist to get your braces put on, it won’t hurt at all. You can expect the appointment to take about one or two hours, depending on what you need.
- The orthodontist puts bands around your back molars which can create some pressure but not pain
- They then put glue on your teeth and place the brackets
- The brackets are connected with wires
- Everything is set in place with elastic bands (choose your favorite color!)
This process should not hurt at all, but within a few hours of the elastic bands being put on, your teeth will begin to move slightly, causing some pain or soreness which can last a week. While you’re getting used to braces, you might consider eating foods that are gentle to your mouth to avoid extra pain such as soup, noodles, smoothies, cold drinks, and oatmeal.
Expected Pain
You can expect some pain around your gums, which again can become worse when chewing hard foods. You might also develop sores inside your cheeks and cuts on your tongue as you get used to having the braces in your mouth. These should lessen over time.
Getting Braces Tightened
An orthodontist, like an orthodontist in San Clemente, CA, will put you on a schedule for office visits to have the braces tightened so they can continue their slow-move towards perfect alignment. The most common time period for having braces is about two years, but this is dependent on what types of tools are being used and what kinds of problems your orthodontist is correcting.
Every few weeks you will have the braces tightened. The doctor will check your mouth each time to see the progress and ensure you are not experiencing too much discomfort. Each time they are tightened, the pain should be less than the first time you had them put on.
Reduce Your Pain
You can reduce the pain with over-the-counter pain relievers, orthodontic non-toxic wax to cover some of the wires, or using a few effective home methods such as:
- Rinsing with warm saltwater.
- Drinking cold beverages.
- Eating something frozen.
- Massaging your gums.
- Diluting a couple of drops of food-grade clove oil in water and massaging it onto your gums. This will help numb the gums and nerves and kills bacteria.
Removing Braces
Getting braces removed should not be painful, and this will be followed by a thorough cleaning and being fitted for a retainer that is either a permanent metal wire behind the teeth or a plastic piece usually worn at night to keep your teeth in alignment. While it can take some time, having straight teeth and a nice smile for most people is worth the slight discomfort of braces. The pain will be a thing of the past!
Thank you to the experts at John Redmond Orthodontics for their expertise in orthodontics as part of an overall health plan.
