Is It Painful to Get Braces?

If you are considering braces for yourself or your child, you are probably wondering, among other things, if they are painful to have.

Fitting the Braces

Having braces mounted to your teeth may involve some discomfort, pressure, or pinching, but generally no pain. First, your orthodontist will attach metal bands around your back molars. Next, they will glue metal brackets to the front surfaces of each tooth and use a blue light to cure the glue. Once the brackets are secured, your orthodontist attach a wire to each bracket and the metal bands on your molars.

After the fitting, your teeth will begin adjusting to the braces. Your teeth may start to become sensitive. Avoid hard, hot, spicy, or difficult to chew foods, and instead opt for softer, cool, or liquid-based foods like soup, mashed potatoes, milkshakes, yogurt, or smoothies.

A Few Days After Fitting

You may experience some discomfort because your teeth are getting used to the physical pressure being put on them. The wires and brackets may poke the inside of your lips and cheeks and cause irritation. Your orthodontist will provide you with wax/silicone and will show you how to mold it over brackets that are irritating. After a week, you should be able to return to your normal diet, with the exception of brace breakers!

Orthodontic Appointments

Your braces need to be continually adjusted about once a month. At each orthodontist appointment, your orthodontist will tighten the wires, then your teeth move and adjust to the pressure, and then they are adjusted again at the next appointment.

Brace Breakers

These are foods you should not eat with braces because they will damage them or become stuck:

• Hard or sticky candy

• Gum

• Popcorn

• Ice

• Peanut brittle

If you or your child want to know more about braces, call or visit our office at Ridge View Dental!