Whether or not braces are painful is a concern of many people. There are many cases where people are just afraid of the pain of braces, so they tend to hesitate and prolong the time compared to their plan to get braces. Therefore, let’s learn about the topic of whether braces are painful and how to overcome pain during braces through the article below!
1. What steps do braces need to go through?
The braces method is an aesthetic orthodontic method using a system of dental instruments such as braces, archwires, elastic bands or braces trays. Aims to correct misaligned teeth and move teeth to the correct position on the jaw. In essence, braces are a special non-invasive treatment procedure that does not affect the jawbone or gum tissue.
In addition, the braces method needs to go through stages including: examination – general dental treatment (if any) – placement of interdental elastics – attach braces – extract teeth (if any) – adjust braces traction – wear retainer.
- General dental treatment stage: This is an important stage to have healthy teeth and is the first step into the process of wearing braces and attaching brackets. Depending on your medical condition, the doctor will perform general treatment such as: gingivitis, periodontal treatment, dental fillings, etc.
- Stage of placing interdental elastics: Interdental elastics are placed between teeth to create space to help teeth move during braces. After placing the elastic band apart, you will feel a bit of tooth sensitivity, roughness, discomfort or pain when chewing.
- Bracket and wire attachment stage: This is the bracket attachment stage. At this time, your lips, gums, cheeks, and tongue have not yet adapted to the appliance, so you will feel stuck, uncomfortable, or even scratchy when chewing. However, this is just the first feeling when wearing braces, after a few weeks you will get used to the braces and chewing will become more comfortable.
In addition, choosing a reputable braces location is one of the important factors in the orthodontic process. If you choose the wrong dentist that is not reputable when getting braces or the cost is too cheap, especially the rudimentary equipment will cause the braces process to encounter unfortunate situations that should not happen such as tooth loss, etc. In addition, the factor of the doctor performing orthodontics is also equally important in your orthodontic process.
2. NieAre braces painful?
As mentioned above, during the braces process there are many stages that need to be gone through. However, the level of pain is only at a certain stage and does not occur throughout. Therefore, the level of pain will depend on each person’s feelings, at the same time, many people have the lowest pain threshold and vice versa, many people have a quite high pain threshold.
Stages you need to go through before entering the braces stage, specifically:
Pain during treatment reason >
In some cases, the tooth pulp is damaged and has tooth decay, so many doctors are forced to treat the pulp to limit pus swelling and necrosis that affects the surrounding bone to help the braces process more effective.
Pain when scaling teeth
Removing tartar helps you limit periodontitis to ensure teeth are located in healthy alveolar bone before braces. However, for those with low pain tolerance or tartar under the gums, you will feel pain and sensitivity after scaling.
Pain when placing interdental elastics
The stage of placing interdental elastics is usually attached to the position of teeth number 6 and tooth number 7. After about After a week, the elastic placement will have a small gap, at which point the doctor can easily place the band. The general feeling of customers when getting braces is always feeling uncomfortable and tense. However, this is the most uncomfortable stage in the braces process, so you need to be patient and try your best during this stage.
Pain when attaching sutures
Attaching braces to teeth number 6 and number 7 has the effect of holding and anchoring the front teeth. The sutures when attached to the teeth can scratch the cheeks and cause pain in the gums. You can use dental wax to limit this situation.
Pain after tooth extraction
This is a common caseCustomers always wonder if braces require tooth extraction or not? However, in some cases, teeth need to be extracted to create space in the jaw, making it easier to straighten the teeth into the desired position. The number of teeth that need to be extracted will depend on the dental condition of the person having braces. Besides, in some cases tooth extraction is not required. Before extracting the tooth, the doctor will inject anesthetic so that the tooth extraction will not cause discomfort or pain.
Pain when expanding the jaw
Jaw expansion is indicated in cases where the jaw arches are misaligned, unevenly rounded or narrow jaw arches will be expanded by the doctor to create space to help the teeth move and at the same time help the jaw arch to be in the right proportion.
The jaw expansion period usually lasts 2 – 3 months or may be longer depending on the case. However, jaw expansion can be painful for many people, the part of the appliance that sticks out on the tongue causes pain and is quite cumbersome during the eating process.
3. Some tips to reduce the feeling of sharp pain during the braces process
How to deal with pain when braces are inevitable. However, there is still a way to help you alleviate the pain:
- Limit hard foods: At this time, pain occurs and your mouth is extremely sensitive, so you should limit eating tough, hard foods. Instead, you can choose foods that are soft and easy to digest such as eggs, milk, cheese, etc.
- Use salt water mouthwash: You need to dilute it at a rate of 1 – 2 teaspoons with warm water, then gargle with salt water for about 1 -2 minutes every day. Because salt has antiseptic properties, warm salt water can soothe your pain.
- Ice: You can take a small ice cube, wrap it in a cloth, and apply it gently to the swelling. Thanks to the coldness of ice water, it has an extremely effective local anesthetic and anti-inflammatory effect.
4. Gum massage exercise during orthodontics
You can apply one of two ways to reduce pain during braces. Specific implementation methods are as follows:
Method 1: Massage gums
First, wash your hands thoroughly and gentlyTouch your gums with your hand. Then massage gently for 5 – 10 minutes. This method helps blood circulate better, especially reducing inflammation and swelling.
Method 2: Jaw stretching exercise
When you brace your teeth, you will feel the jaw being stretched muscle. To do this exercise, you need to focus on letting your jaw move as much as possible.
- Close your mouth and leave your jaw in as free and comfortable a position as possible.
- When the two jaws are separated by a certain distance, slowly open your mouth as wide as possible, eyes looking up. Hold this position for a few seconds, then slowly close your mouth.
- When closing your mouth, move your jaw to the left and look to the right, especially without turning your neck. Do the same as above and switch sides.
Hopefully the above is information about braces methods as well as whether braces are painful. My Auris Dentistry has told you some ways to take care of your teeth to ease the pain during braces.
Kim Dung
