Do Braces Hurt When Put On, Tightened, or Taken Off?

You might worry about getting adult orthodontics because you remember the discomfort you experienced as a child with braces. Your child might also worry about getting braces for fear of pain.

Although braces can be uncomfortable at certain times in the process, overall, they are not painful. If your braces cause pain rather than pressure or discomfort, you should speak to your dentist.

Getting braces put on can cause some anxiety and physical discomfort. All types of orthodontics, from traditional metal brackets to clear plastic aligners, cause new sensations in the mouth.

They are also designed to put pressure on your teeth to push them into proper alignment, which can be uncomfortable for the first few days after adjustments. However, you should quickly get used to orthodontics so they are hardly noticeable when you eat or speak.

Sometimes, after switching to a new aligner tray or getting metal brackets adjusted, there is a small amount of pain. This should not last for more than two to three days after the adjustment because your teeth and mouth need to get used to the new sensations.

Increasing pain, or pain that does not go away, should be reported to your dentist for help. At home, you can manage pain from recent braces adjustments with over-the-counter painkillers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, or with a hot or cold compress to relax the muscles and reduce inflammation.

Braces should not hurt, but it can take some time to get used to them, as pressure is put on your teeth. Here is some information on when braces might cause discomfort, so you can manage the process until your braces are removed.

Why do braces cause pain?

In 2024, researchers writing in the journal Frontiers in Pain Research explained that orthodontic devices, including braces, are associated with pain. Researchers said this discomfort starts with swelling. Braces apply pressure, which causes swelling in the bone, ligaments, and gums. In response, the bones break down and begin to move.

As the teeth move, the body builds new bone to hold them in place. However, the ligaments can remain stretched and attached to the old spots where the teeth once attached. In time, they will also take up new positions, but they can cause pain until they do so.

Do braces hurt more in adolescents or adults?

Both teenagers and adults can use braces to straighten their teeth. Both sets of people can experience discomfort. However, their pain can be very different.

Research suggests that teenagers feel pain more acutely than adults. For example, in a study of 30 teenagers and 30 adults, researchers applied pressure to one fingernail and asked participants to explain how much it hurt. They found that adolescents reported higher levels of pain. The researchers said changes in the developing brain are responsible for these differences.

Application Day: How Much Pain Can You Expect?

Orthodontists typically need an hour or two to apply braces to your teeth. When the work is done, you’ll be in some pain.

To apply your braces, your orthodontist will:

• Prepare your teeth. The surface must be both clean and dry.

• Brush on adhesive. Glue keeps brackets attached to the front of your teeth.

• Thread with wire. Brackets are connected with a thin bit of wire.

Braces move your teeth very slowly, so you won't see a dramatic movement shift within hours of your appointment. But the wire and brackets are tugging at your teeth, and that can be uncomfortable.

In a study published in 2004, researchers asked people with braces to rate their pain at several periods. They found that the patients felt the most uncomfortable within the first 24 hours of wearing braces. After that point, they felt more comfortable.

Use oral medications during the first day to keep your pain under control. Sip your meals instead of chewing on them, and be patient with yourself. The pain will improve with time.

Braces Tightening: Will It Hurt?

Periodically, you'll head back to your orthodontist. During each visit, your doctor will tighten your wires, add appliances (like rubber bands), or otherwise help to shift their teeth into new positions. Once again, you can expect discomfort.

When wires shorten or bands pull, your teeth are shifted out of their normal spots into new positions. The bone that supports each tooth is remodeled, and the tiny threads that attach teeth to gums are stretched. Your body is working hard, and you'll feel that work as pain.

Researchers say adults tend to feel more discomfort than children. But everyone feels pain after an appointment like this. The length of the discomfort is directly related to the amount of work done in your visit, but expect it to last for several days.

Braces Removal: Should You Expect Discomfort?

If each visit causes pain, it's reasonable to look forward to the day your brackets and wires come off. That should be the point at which your distress stops. Unfortunately, this last visit can be uncomfortable too.

Your orthodontist must:

• Remove the wires.

• Remove the braces.

• Polish away remaining glue.

Researchers say discomfort during this process is common. Your pain intensity may vary, depending on the tools your doctor uses. But hardly anyone emerges from this visit without at least a small amount of pain.

How to deal with pain from braces

Discomfort from your brackets and wires is normal, natural, and to be expected. But you don't have to live with a sore mouth. You can take action.

The American Dental Association (ADA) says over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are more effective in treating dental pain than opioid drugs. The ADA says people should use these solutions first when they’re dealing with dental pain.

In a comprehensive study of solutions used to deal with orthodontic pain, researchers found evidence that these approaches worked:

• Topical medications (like benzocaine gel)

• Vibrating devices

• Bite wafers

However, these researchers also said that NSAID medications like ibuprofen worked best in reducing orthodontic pain. If your teeth are uncomfortable when your braces are applied or tightened, this could be a good place to start to get relief.

If the pain is so significant that you feel you just can't stand it, call your doctor. No one expects you to live in excruciating pain. Lengthening your wires a bit or moving one pesky bracket could help you to feel better.

Aligners could reduce your pain

As bone breaks down and rebuilds, your body reacts to the change with pain signals. But some tooth-moving methods are simply easier to tolerate than others.

Clear teeth aligners can also move your teeth. Plastic trays apply gentle pressure along the entire surface of your teeth, and they can help you to get the smile you've always wanted.

While aligners can also cause discomfort, especially when you switch trays, they could be more comfortable than braces. For example, in 2020, researchers conducted a study examining pain perception in a total of 110 people. Some wore braces, and some wore aligners. After 14 days, the researchers concluded that people wearing aligners had significantly lower pain levels and anxiety than those who wore braces.

Aligners are also smooth when compared to traditional braces, so they’re less likely to cut and scratch your gums and teeth. That could make them more comfortable than braces, too.