Are braces painful? Decoding the 5 stages of braces causing pain and how to effectively reduce pain

Braces are a long journey to owning a perfect smile. However, many people are still afraid and worried about the issue ofDoes braces hurt? According to orthodontists, the braces process is essentially painless. Pain or discomfort only appears in certain stages when teeth begin to move.

In this article, with Dr. Mai Anh, learn in detail about the five stages of braces that often cause the most pain, the specific level of pain and effective pain relief to help you prepare mentally before entering the orthodontic journey.

Do braces really hurt?

According to orthodontists, braces do not directly cause pain. What makes the patient feel sensitive is the constant and gentle force from the brackets and wires, causing the teeth and surrounding tissue to adapt. Usually, the feeling of discomfort only lasts for a few days after taking corrective steps, then will gradually decrease and disappear. Thus, you can completely rest assured that the braces process is not as "terribly painful" as many people think.

See more:Braces method at Lac Viet Intech dentistry

Five stages of braces that often cause pain

Stage 1: Placing interdental elastics

Before attaching braces, in some cases it is necessary to place interdental elastics to create space between teeth, helping to place sutures (bands) on the number teeth. 6.

Cause of pain:

• Foreign object:Placing a rubber band, a foreign object, between closely spaced teeth will cause discomfort. You can imagine it as if there is a piece of beef tendon stuck in your teeth that cannot be removed.

• Itching:The teeth will feel sore and itchy at the locations where the elastic is placed.

• Jaw fatigue:When sleeping, the jaws tend to bite tightly together, causing fatigue and discomfort.

However, not everyone has to go through this stage. If you are lucky and do not need to place elastic bands, you will not have to worry about this pain.

Stage 2: Attaching braces and routing wires

Attaching bracesis an important step, creating the foundation for the entire braces process. When the doctor performs these procedures, you will not feel pain because the teeth are not under pressure at this time. The pain only begins to appear after you return home.

Causes of pain:

• Foreign objects in the mouth:Brackets and archwires rub against the lips and cheeks, causing scratches, mouth ulcers, ulcers, causing pain.

• Architic wire tightening force:Force from the archwire acts on the bracket groove, creating pressure on the periodontal ligament, causing the teeth to move, thereby causing pain.

• Tightening of both jaws:Some people have the habit of unconsciously clenching their jaws after attaching braces, increasing the pain.

Effective ways to reduce pain:

• Eat soft foods:In the first few days after installing braces, prioritize foods that are soft, easy to chew, not too hard or chewy to reduce pressure on the teeth.

• Limit jaw clenching:Try to be conscious and limit clenching your jaws to not increase pain.

• Use dental wax:Use dental wax to cover the sharp points of the braces to avoid rubbing your lips and cheeks.

• Take pain relievers:Your doctor does not recommend using pain relievers because it can slow down the process of tooth movement. However, if the pain is too severe, you can consult a doctor to use medication.

Stage 3: Tooth extraction with braces

For some cases of overcrowded teeth, protrusion, underbite or misaligned bite,tooth extractionis mandatory to create space for teeth to move. Many people are afraid of this stage, but doctors rate the pain level at only 4/10.

Differences in orthodontic perspectives:

• Old orthodontics:Doctors often extract teeth right before braces. The teeth are not loose yet, so extraction will be more difficult.

• Modern orthodontics:The doctor will attach braces and straighten the teeth first. Once the tooth has a certain amount of looseness, the extraction will be much easier.

Pain level after tooth extraction:

During the extraction process, you will not feel pain because there is anesthetic. However, the pain may return after the anesthetic wears off, but it usually does not last long and can be controlled with pain relievers prescribed by your doctor. Most patients who have teeth extracted using modern orthodontic methods do not need to use pain medication after extraction.

Phase 4: Tightening the tooth to close the extraction space

After tooth extraction, the stage of tightening the tooth to close the space will begin. This is when you will feel the most pain after each follow-up visit, when the doctor increases the force to move the tooth. Doctor Mai Anh rated the pain level as 3/10.

Why does it hurt?

• Increase the force:The tightening force is reactivated after each follow-up visit, causing pain in the first 2-3 days.

• Bite and touch the jaw:Unconscious laughing and talking can cause the jaws to collide, causing a sharp pain.

How to reduce pain:

• Pay attention to jaw movements:When eating, drinking, talking, pay attention to the movements of the jaw to avoid collision.

• Control tightening force:Currently, modern orthodontists often use light and continuous tightening force, helping teeth move physiologically, minimizing pain.

Stage 5: Inserting braces screws

Many people are afraid of inserting braces screws because of fear of pain. However, according to Dr. Mai Anh, this is one of the gentlest stages, only causing pain at level 4/10, equivalent to the stage of attaching braces.

Causes of pain:

• Screw rubbing:The pain is mainly not due to the screw being inserted into the bone, but due to the screw head rubbing on the lips and cheeks, causing ulcers similar to braces.

• Cellulitis:In some rare cases, the screw may not accumulate. fuses to the bone or causes cellulitis, leading to severe pain.

How to relieve pain:

• Place cotton wool:You can place a small piece of cotton wool on the head of the screw to give your lips and cheeks time to get used to and adapt.

• Use dental wax:Similar to braces, dental wax is also an effective solution to reduce screw rubbing.

Mini screws are a remarkable advancement in dentistry, helping to control 3-dimensional tooth movement, maximally improving the problems of overbite, underbite, gummy smile, misalignment of the bite plane... Therefore, do not ignore this effective method because of fear of pain.

Conclusion: Is braces painful?

Through the above analysis, it can be seen that braces arenot as painfulas many people often think. Braces are a long process, but the pain and discomfort only appear for a short time and are completely within each person's tolerance threshold. Most of these feelings will disappear quickly when the teeth have adapted to the tightening force.

For the braces journey to be gentle and effective, you need to note:

• Comply with the doctor's instructions:Eat properly, avoid foods that are too hard and chewy in the early stages.

• Regular follow-up check-ups:This helps the doctor control the tightening force, ensuring the teeth move on schedule.

• Keep your teeth clean. mouth:Proper oral care to avoid periodontal diseases.

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If you are looking for a reputable braces location, come immediately toLac Viet Intech Dentistryto be examined by a doctor and advised on the most suitable treatment. With a team of experienced doctors and modern technology, Lac Viet Intech will help you have a perfect smile gently and safely.