Are braces painful? How to avoid discomfort and pain with braces

Braces are a very effective orthodontic method to solve dental malpositions and malocclusions. However, one of the main obstacles that patients face when deciding whether or not to get braces is the fear of discomfort during treatment. “Is it painful to get braces?” is a very commonly asked question among potential patients.

In this article, we’ll talk about the possible pain or discomfort that braces can cause and we’ll discuss other alternatives that can be much less uncomfortable.

Is it painful to get braces?

No, the act of putting braces on your teeth isn’t painful. The procedure is rather simple, since it’s not an aggressive treatment nor does it usually require anesthesia. Placing the braces consists of several steps:

1. Clean the surface of the tooth
   
2. Apply an etching gel
   
3. Place the composite braces
   
4. Place the metal arch
   
5. Fasten them together using elastic orthodontic rubber bands

The only jaw pain related to braces that you may feel is pressure during their placement or from spending several minutes with your mouth open, but again, putting on braces isn’t painful, and you shouldn’t notice any major discomfort.

Is there pain during treatment with braces?

As a general rule, during clinic visits and check-ups that involve getting braces tightened, it’s common to notice a mild pain or pressure with varying levels of intensity. This pressure should go away after a few days as the teeth move. Although there is pain from braces tightening, these adjustments are necessary - it’s during these appointments that the orthodontist changes the wire and elastic bands so that the teeth can make the desired movements.

In reality, there are several discomforts or pains, not just after getting your braces tightened, that can be a consequence of braces, here’s the complete list:

• Toothaches and pain from braces tightening: sometimes adjustments or braces placements can make for a painful first few days, that is completely normal. It’s common to feel an ache after an adjustment especially when chewing certain hard foods. So it’s beneficial to choose soft foods to eat with braces to avoid pain. However, the discomort should disappear after just a few days, after the initial pressure decreases.
• Irritation caused by the metal arch or the braces. Sometimes the metal bow can cause injuries when it punctures the tongue or inside the cheeks. When this happens, it is important to go to your clinic so that your orthodontist can cut the wire or move it to its original position. In the mean time, you can apply dental wax to reduce friction with the soft tissues of the oral cavity. These injuries can also be caused by the braces rubbing against the same tissues. If this is the case, you can do the same: apply dental wax to counteract the friction and prevent sores in the mouth.
  
• Jaw pain with braces. Noticing jaw pain while wearing braces is normal. In order for the teeth to move, space must first be created in the jaw. The metal arch works by putting pressure on the gums, restricting blood flow. Because of this, the cells in the jaw begin to die. This is when the immune system sends osteoclasts to the area, which are cells that reabsorb calcium from the bone, creating more space for the tooth to move. Then the pressure and blood flow are reduced so that the tissue is revitalized and restored again. This process is what creates the jaw pain while wearing braces.
  
• Headache from braces. Braces can lead to headaches due to the pressure being exerted on the jaw and upper arch. These pains are usually not very intense, but if so, you should go to your orthodontist to see if you can take some pain reliever to relieve the headaches and jaw pain during braces.
  
• Difficulty eating. Due to your teeth’s movements, you may feel discomfort during chewing, so it’s better to consume soft food for braces tooth pain. You might also feel mild discomfort if a piece of food remains stuck between your braces. That’s why it’s important to maintain good dental hygiene, brushing your teeth and flossing after each meal.
  
• Swollen gums. Aside from general pain during braces treatment, fixed orthodontics may also cause the gums to become inflamed. This is because the gums are the support of the teeth, so movements can affect them. Additionally, our teeth and crevices are obstructed by braces, making it more difficult to properly brush, floss and maintain good hygiene, which can cause gingival diseases, such as gingivitis.
  
• Changes in the pronunciation of certain sounds. While not exactly painful, it is something you have to get used to with braces after the first few days. When you wear braces, the pronunciation of certain sounds can be altered. Since they’re placed on top of the teeth, they alter the morphology, resulting in a certain difficulty in pronunciation. Lingual braces usually cause the most difficulties in pronunciation. But don't worry, because the longer you wear them, the more you'll get used to them and you'll be able to pronounce difficult sounds better.

Does getting braces removed hurt?

Some would argue that putting braces on teeth is painful, and you may feel some pain during your treatment with braces, but after the braces are removed your teeth shouldn’t hurt at all. During the visit to the orthodontist for the removal, you might feel some discomfort since the orthodontist must remove the brackets, the metal arch and the rubber bands before proceeding to completely remove the adhesive that holds the braces to the teeth. But in the end, getting braces removed doesn’t hurt nor should your teeth hurt after.

How to stop or help braces pain?

As we have mentioned, sometimes you can feel some discomfort or tooth pain with braces. However, there are a number of remedies that you should know when discussing how to relieve braces pain:

• Ice. Applying ice for a few minutes to the affected area on the outside of the cheeks can help reduce pain and discomfort. It’s important to avoid using ice directly on the skin as it could burn the tissue. Always use a cloth to prevent the ice from coming into direct contact with the skin.
  
• Cold drinks and food are other good ideas for how to get rid of braces pain. Because cold soothes pain and helps reduce inflammation, you can eat cold foods and drinks to help relieve these discomforts.
  
• Orthodontic wax. Special orthodontic wax can help relieve chafing caused by braces or metal arches rubbing against the tongue and cheeks. By covering sharp spots with wax, we reduce the friction of the device with the soft tissues of the mouth, relieving discomfort and pain.
  
• Eat soft foods for braces pain. On the days when you feel excessive pressure, usually those after the adjustment, you’re probably wondering how to stop or relieve the pain braces are causing you. Well, you’ll experience less pain if you eat soft foods instead of hard ones with braces. The best foods to eat with braces pain are easy to chew and don’t require a lot of pressure.
  
• Salt mouthwashes. A great tip for how to help or get rid of braces pain is rinsing your mouth with saltwater. This is most effective when the friction with the device has caused sores in your mouth. You can prepare a saltwater rinse by diluting half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of water and gargling for 30 seconds. This will improve any open sores.

All these tips can be followed when braces hurt slightly. However, if the braces pain becomes unbearable, you should go to your orthodontist, who’ll be able to prescribe pain medication if they deem it appropriate.

Are all orthodontic options painful?

Nope! Not all orthodontic treatments cause the same kind of pain as braces. Orthodontics has evolved over time and today there are other less bothersome and more comfortable alternatives to braces. Among them, there is one in particular that offers the most advantages and is the least painful: invisible orthodontics with clear aligners.

Do clear aligners hurt?

Clear aligners don’t hurt or bother as much as other orthodontic treatments. Thanks to invisible orthodontics with clear aligners, the pain issue caused by the braces is largely solved. The aligners are changed more frequently, resulting in more gradual tooth movements and, therefore, less pressure and discomfort.

In addition, since they don’t include braces or a metal arch, there is usually less chafing with the soft tissues of the skin. Lastly, they are removable, you can take them out at mealtimes and for cleaning, effectively ridding any discomfort associated with either. All in all, invisible aligners aren’t painful.

Impress invisible orthodontics: less discomfort, more discrete

In addition to all the benefits of aligners mentioned above, Impress invisible aligners offer many other advantages over other aligners on the market.

At Impress we have state-of-the-art equipment to diagnose your case and to follow your treatment from start to finish. On your first visit to the clinic we’ll perform a 3D scan of your oral cavity and all the necessary X-rays so that you have a detailed diagnosis. We’ll also give you a video simulation of the end result of your smile after treatment.

Plus with the Impress app, you can follow the progress of your Impress treatment from the comfort of your home. Sometimes you’ll have to go to the clinic to for check-ups that require any physical adjustments, but these will be infrequent thanks to our app.

Another advantage of following along remotely on the Impress app is that you’ll have access to our team 24/7, to answer any questions you have. Finally, with Impress you can pay in easy installments thanks to the financing we offer at the clinic.

These are just some of the advantages you can enjoy if you start your treatment with Impress specialists. To learn them all, contact us by phone or WhatsApp at +44 20 3808 1072 or, book an appointment online through our website.

Find out about our prices and visit us at your nearest Impress clinic. We are looking forward to meeting you!