If you’ve never had braces before, you may be nervous about what to expect with them. You may have heard stories from peers or close friends who have or had braces in the past that said, “Braces can hurt,” while others have said that “Braces aren’t that bad.” The question of the matter is, will braces actually hurt?

At First:

Initially, when you get your braces put on they may feel a bit uncomfortable. This is because your teeth, gums, cheeks and lips aren’t familiar with the added metal that will be on your teeth. For some individuals, they may experience sores or cuts on their lips or cheeks caused by the brackets sticking out further on the teeth. If this occurs, make sure you have orthodontic wax readily available and Dr. Sims will be sure to supply you with plenty of orthodontic wax to last you. What you can do is simply put the orthodontic wax over the areas that seem to poke or irritate the lips, which should help to subside any discomfort you may be experiencing. Generally, this kind of discomfort should go away after a week and usually no longer than two weeks. If you still are experiencing discomfort after two weeks, notify Dr. Sims immediately.

As Treatment Progresses:

The way braces works is that the brackets, the metal squares on the teeth are all connected by a wire, which works to directly straighten the teeth over time. Dr. Sims regularly tightens this wire, typically every 2-3 weeks depending on his digression. When the wire is tightened, this is when you may feel more discomfort than usual. It may feel like your teeth are “tight” due to the pressure of the wire. During this time, it may be recommended that you eat softer foods so that your teeth do not hurt while eating. For example, eating a chewy steak may not be the best thing for you with your braces after an adjustment appointment. Perhaps, a smoothie or mashed potatoes would be a better idea.

Simply, any tightness or discomfort should go away on its own after a couple days. If needed, ibuprofen can help to relieve any pain in the meantime.

Sims Orthodontics:

At Sims Orthodontics, we understand that getting braces may be nerve racking but they are not impossible to live with! In fact, we want our patients to know that we put them first and want them to have a good experience with their braces.

If you have any other questions or concerns about getting braces in the future or about your braces now, please contact us as soon as possible.