Are Braces Painful?
So you want to straighten your teeth and get a perfect smile, but you’re a little bit anxious about the idea of getting braces. Here at Surrideo Orthodontics, we get questions about braces all the time, like “How long do I have to wear braces?” or “How much will they cost?”. For all of these questions, you can ask us and we’ll be more than happy to answer, but today we’ll be going into a little bit more detail about one of the biggest things that people worry about when getting braces: Do braces hurt?
The answer is that wearing braces does cause some discomfort, but nothing that isn’t manageable. There are also ways that you can reduce that discomfort while you wear your braces.
What Causes The Discomfort?
Normally your teeth are secure in place, but when you wear your braces, your teeth will be moving slowly into a new, more ideal positioning. To do this, your braces will be putting a very small amount of pressure on your teeth to gradually push them in the direction that they need to go. It’s this pressure, and the fact that your jawbone also needs to adjust as your teeth move, that causes the discomfort.
Tips On Reducing Discomfort From Braces
It’s common for the discomfort from your braces to be mainly during the first few days of getting your braces since you’re still adjusting to these new appliances that are attached and applying pressure to your teeth. During that time, here are some ways that you can reduce that discomfort:
Orthodontic Wax For Braces
Whether you’ve chosen to get traditional metal braces or clear braces, you’ll still have these things on your teeth that will be rubbing against the inside of your mouth. You can use special wax for your braces that you can put on the brackets to reduce discomfort from the rubbing.
Salt Water Rinse
There may be some swelling in your gums after you get your braces, which may be the source of some discomfort. To reduce the swelling, you can rinse your mouth with a simple salt water solution.
Over-the-Counter Medication
If you’re in pain, you can take some over-the-counter medications for some relief. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen will help reduce discomfort and soreness while you get used to your braces.
Contact Your West Calgary Orthodontist
If you have any questions or concerns about getting braces, just contact us at Surrideo Orthodontics, and we’ll be able to give you all of the answers you need. You can schedule an appointment with us and we’ll meet with you to discuss your treatment options so you can get the perfect smile you want. We are proud to provide our professional orthodontic care to the families of West Calgary, Alberta, and surrounding communities. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
