If you’re about to undergo orthodontic treatment, you may be wondering what it feels like to wear braces and if it will hurt. Having questions about braces is a good thing because it’s always best to know what to expect when seeing an orthodontist to improve your smile! Dr. Cai and her team have put together this quick guide to answer your questions and help you feel as comfortable as possible during the time you’re wearing braces.
What to Expect the First Few Days
You shouldn’t feel any pain on the day Dr. Cai places the braces on your teeth. Afterwards, you may feel some discomfort when eating as you adjust to chewing food with braces. That’s why we recommend eating soft foods for the first few days like soups, pasta, yogurt, and cottage cheese.
During your first week in braces, you can expect to feel some tooth sensitivity and general discomfort as your teeth are starting to move. The good news is that you’ll feel less and less discomfort as time goes by. Before you know it, you’ll be completely used to the feeling of having braces on your teeth and may even forget that they’re there!
What to Expect Following Your Adjustment Appointments
You will be asked to come into our office every few weeks so Dr. Cai can check your progress and make adjustments to your archwire. Once the wire has been adjusted, which involves tightening it, you can expect to feel some discomfort from the added pressure the wire is putting on your teeth. Your teeth will also feel more sensitive than normal following these adjustment appointments.
Tips for Easing Discomfort
If you’re struggling to deal with discomfort after your braces are put on and/or following your adjustment appointments, try these tips.
- Eat only soft foods: Try to eat only soft foods like scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, and macaroni & cheese for a couple of days until your teeth feel better.
- Take a pain reliever: It’s fine to take an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help ease the discomfort you feel. Just be sure to follow the package directions so you don’t exceed the dosage limits.
- Rinse with salt water: Before the inside of your cheeks “toughen up”, you may develop sore spots there from rubbing brackets or wires. If you get these irritating spots, rinse your mouth out with a cup of lukewarm water mixed with a teaspoon of salt.
- Use orthodontic wax: If a part of a bracket or wire is rubbing up against the inside of your cheek, don’t hesitate to use the orthodontic wax we gave you. Just roll up a small piece of the wax between your fingers and place it over the irritating part of your braces. If that doesn’t work, contact us for further instructions.
Visit Us for Braces in Vancouver & Longview, WA
We hope this information has helped ease any worries you may have had about wearing braces! Dr. Cai uses all the latest and greatest orthodontic technologies to make sure her patients receive very effective treatment that’s as comfortable as possible! If you’re ready to start your orthodontic journey, contact us today to set up your first visit. With two offices locations in Vancouver and Longview, we make it very convenient to improve your smile!