Do braces hurt? This is one of the first questions that patients have when they learn that they need braces. Pain or discomfort is always a cause for concern, but with some treatments, there is minor pain and discomfort to be expected. Understanding what causes the pain, learning how long the pain should last and finding out some ways to relieve the pain should better prepare the patient to deal with it.

A patient will usually experience minor pain and discomfort when the braces are first attached and during each subsequent monthly adjustment. Braces use brackets bonded to the teeth and arch wire threaded through the brackets and attached with tiny rubber bands or thin wire to gradually align the teeth. About once a month, the orthodontist adjusts the arch wire to continue with the alignment process. Arch wire is designed to react to body heat and to bounce back to its original shape. It is threaded through the teeth while it is cold, but it begins reacting to the heat in the mouth and tries to bounce back as it gets warm. This puts constant pressure on the teeth and slowly moves the teeth in the desired direction. Orthodontic treatment consists of loosening the teeth, using pressure to move them to the desired position and allowing bone to grow and support the teeth in their new position.

The constant pressure caused by the wire results in pain and discomfort. Since the wire is adjusted and tightened about once a month, the patient can expect pain and discomfort for about the first 24 to 72 hours after each adjustment.

Eating a diet of soft foods such as pudding, ice cream, purees and soup helps to lessen the pain and discomfort caused by the pressure on the teeth. Sticky, sugary and acidic foods and drinks should be avoided while wearing braces. Cold or hot compresses can also help the irritation and surface swelling that might occur from the adjustment of the wires. Finally, if the pain does not get better even after following a soft food diet or with the compresses, over-the-counter pain relief medication can be used.

There are other types of pain and discomfort related to the treatment with braces. The inside of the cheeks can become irritated by wire poking past the brackets on the molars as the teeth begin to shift. Solutions include pushing the wire out of the way with a pencil eraser or cotton ball, using a sterilized nail clipper to cut the extra wire or visiting the orthodontist’s office to resolve the problem. Another source of discomfort is a mouth sore. Mouth sores are common at the beginning of the treatment as the skin around the braces gets used to rubbing against the brackets and wire. The discomfort can be alleviated by putting a piece of cotton over the sore. Usually, sores heal within a week.

When a patient asks herself do braces hurt, she can feel secure that the pain is temporary and that relief is easy to find.