Undergoing orthodontic treatment can be an exciting, life-altering experience. It can also bring up a lot of uncertainty and worries. A common question we get asked at Clemente Orthodontics is, “Do braces hurt?”
We don’t want fear to stop you from achieving the smile of your dreams. We want you to be as informed as possible so you have no hesitations when starting your smile journey.
Parts of the Braces
Braces have three parts to them.
- Square brackets – Small, square brackets are glued onto the teeth with a special orthodontic cement. This process does not hurt at all! It feels like we are gently placing stickers onto your teeth. The entire “gluing” process takes about fifteen minutes.
- Wire – Once the cement is dry, we then place a light, thin, flexible wire through the bracket slots.
- Colored ties or ligatures – The wire is held in place on the brackets by colored ties.
While the entire process may feel different or strange, it is completely painless.
It takes some getting used to.
About four hours later, it is not unusual to experience slight discomfort. It takes a few days to adjust to braces. Your teeth are moving in new ways, plus your lips and cheeks are getting used to the feeling of the brackets and wire.
The height of the discomfort peaks around day 2. After that, your body will get used to this new addition. It’s sort of like sore muscles. When you work out for the first time in a while, your muscles can be quite sore. It’s annoying, but totally survivable.
After each adjustment, which usually happens every 6-8 weeks, you will likely experience a brief period of discomfort as your teeth and mouth get used to the newest movement. But nothing like the initial few days.
Tips to Minimize Discomfort
If you are experiencing discomfort from new braces or a recent adjustment, here are some things you can do to minimize the discomfort.
- Take Tylenol or Advil about 30 minutes before your appointment, then every 6 hours for the next 2-3 days. (Please discuss any medication with your prescribing doctor first).
- Place orthodontic wax on any problem areas that are bothering your cheeks or gums.
- Let your orthodontist know if your braces are causing you excessive or prolonged discomfort.
We hope we have alleviated some of your concerns about undergoing orthodontic treatment. If you are ready to take the first step towards your dream smile, schedule a complimentary consultation online!
