Do braces hurt?
There have been some fantastic advances in the way we do things now in orthodontics to make treatment more comfortable for our patients. These include smaller, smoother brackets, and gentler wires which provide a continuous small force over a long period of time rather than a strong force for only a short period. Typically there is some discomfort two to three days after each adjustment that over the counter pain relievers can take care of.
Braces have changed a lot in the last 20 years so they are a lot less uncomfortable than they were 20 years ago. At present, we do not know how to avoid the discomfort when the braces are first put in, or when the braces are being tightened. However, modern, cast, low profile brackets are designed to minimize your children’s discomfort between visits to the orthodontist. Most children experience some soreness during their first week in braces and occasional discomfort when their braces are being tightened. However, after the first week, most children hardly notice the braces at all.
A. As a general rule, braces do not “hurt.” After some visits, teeth may be sore for a few days. In these situations, pain medications such as Advil or Tylenol can be used to ease the discomfort. However, after most visits, patients do not feel any soreness at all! We often remind our patients, it does not have to hurt to work!
There is usually some discomfort when a patient first gets their braces (brackets) on. It might be necessary to use wax in certain places for a few days where the mouth and tissues are a little tender. With most patients, in a day or so the tissue have adjusted to the point where they don’t even notice that they have something new in their mouths.
As a general rule, braces do not “hurt”. After some visits, teeth may be sore for a few days. In these situations, pain medications such as ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin) or acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) can be used to ease the discomfort. However, after most visits, patients do not feel any soreness at all! We often remind our patients, it does not have to hurt to work!
