Braces Forum
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- Braces FAQ – first 3 questions you searched for
How much will I hurt? Is it painful to wear braces?
Most prospective orthodontics patients are scared because of the pain this treatment might bring in. Sometimes the idea of shedding hundreds or even thousands of dollars for a treatment or having to go through this for 1-2 years doesn’t scare them as the idea of a tooth ache caused by the braces.
HOW MUCH WILL I HURT? IS IT PAINFUL TO WEAR BRACES?
“Not too much” and “so so” would be the 2 fast answers. Before you just renounce the idea of having straight teeth, let me try to explain this better. There are millions of people who treat their crooked teeth (many kids or teenagers), it shouldn’t be so painful. And it’s not.
I can tell you about my own experience in 2 systems: Damon (metal braces) and Invisalign. I got my metal braces 1 year ago. The entire process was scarier when reading about it, than the real thing. The braces got on my lateral teeth (we only braced these) on both arches and I was ready to go. With my dental wax too and the new life ahead of me. I was told to use Kethonal or any other painkiller if I couldn’t cope with the pain, prepare for few hard days and then it will be better. And it was.
After 2-3 hours I was already feeling some pressure on my teeth. It was something like my finger was in my mouth and I was pushing them a bit. Nothing too serious, sure, I didn’t take any medication. I ate with care and then went to sleep.
Morning came: I got up and accidentally clenched my teeth. AUCH! The pain almost made me scream. After getting some nice swearing done (that was the least I could do), I got to the kitchen to eat something. Yeah, sure. I wasn’t able to press my teeth against anything since it was painful. I didn’t hurt if they didn’t touch anything (so I just had my mouth slightly open as to have the teeth not touch). The pressure was still there, but the pain would appear ONLY when I clenched my teeth. So, I stopped doing this and didn’t take medication at all either. It really wasn’t the case.
I started eating mashed potatoes and all kinds of soft foods. For 2-3 days I was just like an old woman, even my grandma ate better (and you can imagine she didn’t miss the chance to observer how “old” I was).
In few days the pain wasn’t that big anymore and I started eating bread (not anything hard) and some foods that weren’t as soft as a newly born’s menu anymore. I was able to clench my teeth without kicking anyone and my brushing was more pleasant. I did try to keep a perfect hygene in the pain days and it was pretty nice.
After 1 week I was able to ditch the wax too (for few days I made my fill with dental wax and was certain I’d need some special deliveries, maybe a truck of wax, due to the huge need I had) and eat like a normal person. My doctor told me it would be a good idea to not try anything too hard (nuts or something like that) so that I don’t damage my braces, but God is my witness I could eat if I wanted to.
After each adjustment I’d have 1-2 days of some pain (not huge one, never took medication for this) and then it was all OK. The first days are the worse (when you get braced in), afterwards your teeth get adjusted to the braces so that you’d be able to “recover” faster from each adjustment.
Now I have Invisalign and still expect that pain. Maybe I got used to the metal braces that are a bit more “strong” or maybe I am just lucky. After getting the Invisalign trays on I got home and started eating fast (so that I can then eat soft foods again because of the possible pain). Waited for some hours, no pain. Just a slight pressure on my teeth. Next day: one incisor hurt. “Thank God, I’m normal.” Nothing else. In few hours the incisor stopped hurting while I was able to eat normally, even if I was prepared for another “old woman menu” for some days at least.
1 week into the treatment: I really doubt I’ll see pain anymore. I still feel that slight pressure on the teeth (more like a tickle) and nothing more. Looks like my life now will be pain-free. So .. the painkillers can remain untouched.
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My conclusion would be that you should expect SOME pain. There are patients who are more sensitive and need some medication, at least in those first days, while others are “dancing” through the treatment. Just don’t fear this pain that much since it doesn’t last and in some cases it might not even appear. Just schedule that meeting with your orthodontist and DO IT. I tell you I don’t regret this, even if I was in pain for weeks. My treatments were so easy that I would be crazy not to finish this or not think that it’s too bad I didn’t do this earlier.
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i am getting my braces next week, and i am really really damn scared about it.. i read all the comments above and now i am thinking if i’ll get my braces or not.. i am afraid that it will HURT for so long.. i am really worried, i don’t like that my braces will be the reason why i can’t concentrate in my studies..
please tell me more about getting braces (remedies to reduce and treat the pain)… the best pain reliever too and on how long will i suffer.. thanks so much!! i’ll wait for your reply.. thanks much!! 
i just got my braces three hours ago.I feel a little pressure on my frontal teeth.I only got the upper jaw right now.I will get the lower a week after.I will take a pain killer before going to sleep.The pain is bearable.I ate bread and had some coffee.I think there will be some pain tomorrow and the other day but think it is bearable.
So no need to Worry Guyz.
You guys should get InvisAlign, it hurts just as much as braces, but its not noticeable and makes your teeth look a lot better
I’m 13 and I’m getting damon braces in 6 days…my orthodontist is really good and my friends that go to him didn’t seem to be in as much pain as my friends that go to the other local orthodontist. 4 days after I get them on we’re going on vacation! do you think it will ruin my trip!?
seriously, how long do they unbearably hurt?
I just got mine yesterday, and yes, today my teeth hurt, but because of the “stops” i got behind my front teeth i cant make my teeth touch so i can’t chew at all, and so it doesent hurt so bad, lets hope the pain disapears tomorrow or after tomorrow and that they get off my stops soon ^^
I appreciate you’re writing here. I am pondering in wearing a brace, I really need it. The dentists say I have wonderful teeth, but I don’t have much space in my mouth and I’m gonna need to take 4 teeth away, healthy ones, the 4 premolars. I’m a bit scared. But thanks to your opinion related to pain, I think I’m gonna proceed.
By the way, have you heard of anyone who wore a brace and the result was catastrophic?
I am going to get my braces tomorrow i am very scared hope it doesnt pain.
i am getting braces today and sssssoooooo scared in case it hurts
i am getting braces today i am sssssooooooooooo scared:(
i got my braces on on thursday (its sunday) and i must admit that the pain is almost over! the first day i got mine on there was no pain, but eating was out of the question. The next morning it felt like i got punched in the mouth, i was in so much pain. I do not want to scare those that havent got braces yet. But i am not going to lie that depending on the person, it can really hurt. i still am not able to eat much foods but I am able to put my teeth together with very little pain (its more of a discomfort now) but honestly, it is completely worth it! to have nice straight teeth. It wouldnt be true if they didnt say “beauty is pain”! Hopefully tomorrow my pain is gone, as the first 3 days will be up
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I got my braces yesterday and my teeth only hue]rt for about three hours
I get my expandu maximus spring toorrow let me know how bad it hurts i scared:D D}
I got my braces today i cannot eat and i still feel the pain
I’m 14 and I got my braces an hour ago. I don’t feel anything, and it’s making me jittery. I’m just waiting for the pain to appear. I honestly fear waking up tomorrow. Gaaah!
I wanna brace but im scared T_T
hey. i just got my braces today. for my upper jaw and haven’t had it on for my teeth on the lower jaw. I didnt feel anything other than having the discomfort feeling of the metal braces inside my mouth. later this afternoon i started to feel a bit pressure (till now) on one of my canine but it’s still bearable though. but the thing am scared of is that my dentist told me to expect the pain 2-3 days after from today. Lets just hope of what he defined pain is not the extreme pain. I’am okay if its just a slight pressure pressing each one of my teeth…..
its like almost passed 3 days. and NO pain at all.Glad that I made it this far and more yet to come. Although i had difficulties with eating…I told myself that its gonna be okay soon.
so i guess I am not that sensitive to pain.
I think i am going to get braces, because i have a gap in between my two middle teeth at the top but that’s not the only thing that worries me! After i have braces and my teeth are in the right place i will have to have a fake tooth in planted as 1 of my adult teeth has not come back through! I f anyone has the same experience or similar could you please give me some advice or info on either having braces or having a fake tooth in planted! If you can it is much appreciated! thank you!
Maddie
Age 13
i am getting braces an 1 week iam very scared i was so excited ta hear that i needed braces then when they told me how it was going to feel and they dont num yhu at that i was very scared i am 15 yrs and i am being a punk imma need my bestfriend by my side why they are doing itt OMG my mom said i cant eat my fave foods nomore im so guhh
could anyone here answer my question for clarification
“can i go for tooth filling if i’m currently having the braces on?”
I think I’m going to get braces because of the teeth on my lower jaw so is it possible that the braces will only be put on the lower jaw? And thank you for your opinions i took some suggestions from my friends and they all say it is not painful at ALL! I’m quite excited….:D