Are Braces Painful?
Are braces painful?
The main reason for pain when you first get braces is because they are exerting a constant pressure on your teeth. This pressure may cause your teeth to become sensitive, especially if your malocclusion is severe. However, this pressure is natural and will gradually go away as your teeth start to move towards the desired position.
It is not unusual to have a few days of mild discomfort after getting your braces. This is because your mouth is not used to the pressure of the brackets and wires.
You will need to make some adjustments to your diet in the beginning, as you cannot eat hard foods that may damage your braces. Softer foods such as frozen yogurt, soft fruit-like berries and bananas, cold drinks, oatmeal, mashed potatoes and soup will be ideal for this period of time.
Once you are acclimatised to your braces, you should be able to return to eating the same foods you were used to before. It is important to choose soft foods to reduce the pressure on your braces and gums, which may prolong the pain.
During this phase, you should also avoid hard foods such as caramel, toffee, popcorn, hard bagels, tough meats, nuts and pizza crust. You should chew with your back teeth, and bite or tear smaller pieces of food.
If you experience any severe pain during the first few days, it is important to contact your orthodontist. They can examine your braces and find out if there is something else wrong that is causing the pain.
Your orthodontist will be able to explain more about your braces and provide you with information on how to avoid any problems. For example, some orthodontists place elastic bands on the brackets and wires to help distribute the pressure.
These bands attach the wires to the brackets and are also used to connect teeth in the upper and lower jaw. These elastic bands are very sensitive and can cause pain, particularly if they are too loose.
It is also possible that the inside of your lips and cheeks will begin to ache after getting braces because they can rub against the brackets or wires. This can occur for a week or so, but it is normal and will eventually toughen up.
If you experience any discomfort while wearing your braces, take over-the-counter pain relievers (ibuprofen ie. Motrin and Advil usually work best if you do not have any allergies) along with a rigorous regimen of salt water rinses to relieve the soreness.
You should not ignore any pain or irritation you feel when wearing your braces, as this could lead to serious problems in the future. If the pain does not improve within a few days, or you have difficulty eating or moving your jaw, contact your orthodontist to make an appointment.
In addition, if you are experiencing headaches or neck pain that do not fade away after taking over-the-counter pain medication, talk to your orthodontist. This type of pain is very common and should be taken seriously, as it could be a sign of an underlying problem.
