Many people turn to braces in the hope of soon having even, straight teeth. However, the question of whether braces are painful or not affects customers’ psychology, making them hesitant. So are braces really painful? Please refer to the following article, My Auris dentistry will provide you with some necessary information about this orthodontic method.
Doctor shares: Are braces painful?
Braces can cause slight pain due to the use of dental instruments to straighten and move teeth to the correct position on the jaw. When the wire is inserted into the braces, it creates a tightening force that pulls the teeth to move, causing a slight tooth pain and sensitivity. However, this feeling usually only lasts for the first few days and then will gradually decrease as the teeth get used to the braces and the pulling force. Modern braces methods are often designed to minimize pain while ensuring the effectiveness of treatment. For cases where teeth are not impacted, the braces process does not invade the jawbone or gums, helping to reduce concerns about the level of pain during braces.
At what stages is braces most painful?
During the orthodontic process, you may not be able to avoid pain, more or less. In fact, right from the initial stages of braces, this technique will make you feel quite uncomfortable. Because you are just starting to get acquainted with dental instruments in the oral cavity. The first stage is also divided into many small steps so the pain feeling is also different. Specifically:
Attach separate elastics
This is the first stage that causes the most pain, attaching separate elastics is the first preparation step when attaching braces braces. At this stage, the doctor will place elastic bands with a thickness of about 2mm between the two teeth to create a gap. This helps widen the space for teeth to move more easily when wearing braces.
The wire will be placed in the tooth for about 1 week to create a gap before the doctor attaches sutures to the molars. After completing the placement of the elastic band, you will feel a bit rough and uncomfortable while chewing. However, after just a few days, this feeling will gradually decrease, so you don’t need to worry too much.
Tooth extraction creates space for teeth to move
Many people feel pain when having to have their teeth extracted. But in fact, during the procedure, the doctor will inject anesthesia to reduce the pain of tooth extraction. The tooth extraction site will also be painful and swollen for 3 to 5 days, depending on each person’s condition.
Most braces cases require tooth extraction to create space for the teeth to move easily. Depending on the case, the tooth position will need different sizes, causing different pain. However, for people with widely spaced teeth and wide arches, it is not necessary to have teeth extracted to still ensure the orthodontic process is effective.
Attach the wire to the braces
To attach the wire to the braces, the doctor will create a tightening force to pull the teeth into the appropriate position. When your cheeks, lips, gums, and tongue have not yet adapted, orthodontic appliances will make you feel entangled, uncomfortable, and numb when chewing and speaking. Depending on the dental and musculoskeletal condition, the level of pain will be different for each person.
Tighten teeth periodically
After getting used to it Many people will feel excited about wearing braces, but some will also be worried because they have to periodically tighten their teeth. At the time of follow-up examination, the doctor will check the level of tooth movement, then proceed to tighten the teeth. Adjusting the tension of the wire will make you feel a little pain.
What should you do to make braces less painful?
Having a healthy bone base
If your tooth bone base is strong, you will not experience pain and discomfort during the orthodontic process. Because the feeling of pain only appears because the tooth bone base is weak and cannot withstand the pulling pressure of braces.
Highly specialized doctors perform braces
This is an important factor that anyone who wants braces needs to consider before making a decision. Choose to go to doctors with high expertise, experience and psychology to understand each person’s condition and pain level. From there, the doctor will recommend a suitable roadmap to help achieve the best orthodontic results and minimize pain during braces.
Apply the appropriate braces method
Whether or not braces is painful depends on the braces method you choose to apply. With regular braces, there is a fixed elastic band inside that is often not durable and difficult to maintain elasticity for a long time. At the same time, the elastic band pulls too much in the bracket groove, causing friction, causing tooth pain. Self-ligating braces will have a more precise force distribution, effectively reducing pain during braces.
With the support of modern equipment
To help the braces process take place safely and achieve high efficiency. You need to prioritize choosing clinics equipped with modern equipment to serve braces. Typical examples are: Clincheck software, Sirona film camera (Germany),… On the contrary, if dentistry is of poor quality and outdated equipment, pain during braces is inevitable.
Shortening tips orthodontic pain time
- Limit eating hard foods: When pain occurs, your teeth and mouth will be extremely sensitive. Therefore, you need to limit eating chewy and hard foods. Instead, you should choose soft, easy-to-digest foods such as milk, porridge, cheese, eggs, etc.
- Gargle with salt water: Just dilute 1 to 2 teaspoons of salt with warm water, then suck for about 1 to 2 minutes every day. In addition to its antiseptic properties, warm salt water also helps relieve pain quickly.
- Apply ice: In case of pain or swelling due to tooth extraction, you can take a small ice cube, wrap it in a cloth, and apply it to the swelling. The cold air from the ice will have a local anesthetic effect and help reduce inflammation extremely effectively.
- Gum massage: You need to wash your hands and gently massage the gum area. This will help blood circulate better and reduce inflammation and swelling extremely well.
- Use dental wax: For those who have pain due to archwires, braces poking into their lips, cheeks, etc. You can use dental wax to effectively fix it. Take a pea-sized amount of dental wax, roll it into a ball and apply it to the area where the braces are causing friction. This will help reduce pain effectively.
Hopefully the above information can answer your questions about whether braces are painful? In fact, the pain experienced by each person with braces is completely different, depending on each person’s tolerance. Therefore, to limit pain when wearing braces, you need to find reputable dentists with a team of experienced doctors for safe examination and treatment support. From there, avoid complications and unwanted pain.
Yen Nhi
