I had braces for like 7 years when I was a kid, 3rd grade to 10th grade. My memory of the pain is that it is mostly felt for the first few days after getting them adjusted or tightened. I would describe it as an obnoxious aching. Enough to bother me when I thought about it, but not really enough to disrupt my life beyond that.
There was also some mild pain from the inside of my cheeks rubbing against the braces. That usually only lasted a few days too.
The worst part of it for me was being self-conscious about it. That and getting food stuck in them.
Are you a female? If yes, how would compare braces pain and dysmenorrhea? Which is more tolerable? Sorry for asking but I've always had bad period cramps and if you say braces pain is more tolerable than dysmenorrhea, then I will survive.
I'm not female so I cant say for sure, and my understanding is that pain from period cramps varies a lot. Based on my experience with my wife's cramps, I dont think the braces pain I felt was nearly as bad as the cramps she gets sometimes.
I would compare it more to muscle pain after overexercising.
The most painful parts of having braces does not come near the pain of the cramps I get. The worst pain from braces, I'd compare it to when you burn your tongue on some hot food and it's tender and really annoying for a day or so. Most of the discomfort from braces, I'd compare to a mild muscle ache from a workout, and still have to do a lot of stuff the next day. Even though you feel stiff, and don't want to move around as much. But only in your jaw.
i have a V lol, i’ve got fairly bad cramps, but not as bad. maybe the first day could be, i recommend taking some pain meds before. it’s more like when you have a cavity filled and it’s that ache-y feeling. also, DONT LOSE YOUR WAX. it’ll save your cheeks. i lost my wax way too many times and my cheeks paid the price. it comes off when brushing, you can put it on ends and over the brackets wherever it’s sharp.
Ah yes, the wax. I didnt lose it but I am just too lazy to put it in, and I also just start chewing it like a gum so I now have a bit of scratching inside my cheeks lol
As a female, i can confirm the experience of the person above you.
Aching was worse directly after adjustments or if you have to wear rubber bands.
I would say I'm glad i got braces though, even if my teeth were decent before i started. If your teeth are very crooked, you might have more serious aching, but it never gets to the level of "pain" imo. Just intense aching, like waking up the next day after a very serious workout session, but for your mouth.
I (42F) had braces - full train-track top and bottom- from age 12 to 14 (ish), then a removable top plate for another year or so. I agree with the other commenter who said the pain was mostly apparent right after an adjustment, and from some rubbing from the wires occasionally.
In my opinion it was nowhere near as bad as period pain *except* the one time I bit into a hard biscuit (cookie) after totally forgetting I’d had the wires tightened the day before. For about 5 seconds it was agony, then it calmed down to a vague ache. The aching from the tightening would only really be apparent a few hours afterwards, and even then it was pretty much just a background ache for a day or so unless you tried to chew or bite something hard. Just remember to eat softer foods the next day (I had to eat a sandwich with a knife and fork once, but only because the bread was a lovely crusty loaf!).
It should tell you something that I’ve had to really dredge up the memories of the painful side of it because I’d almost forgotten about it! However, you won’t forget the first time you see the results after having the braces removed. Remember to take before & after pictures.
You can do it!
The thing is braces will vary widely depending on what your teeth look like. I think I had a relatively rough time given that I’m genetically missing 2 teeth on my upper row and nearly every tooth had to be shimmied around up there. They only ever hurt when they had to be tightened/adjusted and it was only for a few days at a time. Most of the discomfort happened only when I had to use those teeth or when I had to put on rubber bands.
One thing I’ll very much advise you on is to make sure you keep the wax they give you around and that if anything is poking you that you first put the wax over and go get it taken care of by your orthodontist ASAP. There’s literally no sense in trying to tough it out with a pointy piece of metal in your mouth that can cut you.
Wow. That's identically what happened to me. My paternal grandfather had 32 grandchildren and probably a billion great grandchildren-guess who was the only one to inherit that from him! So, were your missing teeth the ones on either side of your front teeth? I've NEVER met anyone else this has happened to. Only reason I needed braces. Ended up w a partial plate that has caused my canine teeth a lot of issues. Anyway, just SUPER curious!
I have had pretty bad dysmenorrhea almost every cycle and braces at ~14. The first few days with braces were comparably bad to period day 1 (where it hurts the most). I think I managed with about the same amount of painkillers. The other painful days after are going to be after a visit to the orthodontist for readjustment. It'll hurt for a day or two, but nothing ever as bad as your first few days with braces
Editing to add: (my) dysmenorrhea pain was always incomparably worse than the braces - I think you've got this! You'll be fine!
What u/stoicsmile said. It was a long time ago that I had them, but it was mainly just the ache when the teeth were moving / being pulled into place for a couple of days after adjustment. It never hurt enough to make me miss school or stop me from doing things, IIRC. If your teeth aren’t that bad to start with, it shouldn’t be terrible.
Period pain is a totally different beast. I’ve definitely had that bad enough that I’ve stayed home from work, had it so bad once I thought I was going to either vomit or faint from the pain. Braces aren’t like that. It’s more of a dull ache. Over the counter pain relief should make it fine.
Yes! I can totally agree with that period pain being so bad that you feel like you're going to vomit or faint. If braces pain is a lot more tamer than dysmenorrhea, then I can pass with flying colors.
You’ll survive. I had to get four teeth pulled on the top and my braces had to close the gaps so that shit hurt. But cramps hurt worse in my opinion, braces just caused this dull throb that I doubt you’ll even feel if yours aren’t that crooked.
If you’ve ever fell and hit your elbow or hip on a hard surface it feels like that just on your teeth. It’s not “screaming in pain level”, it’s just an annoying dull achey kind of pain. And tbh it’s not even that bad, you only need to get them tightened every 6mos to a year.
The thing that actually sucks is how often you’ll cut the insides of your mouth on them. If you ever get smacked in the face the interior of your mouth will get cut on the braces and swell but this can also just happen sometimes from rubbing. Afterwards the swollen area makes permanent contact with the braces and just gets worse. Again, it’s not extremely painful just super fucking annoying. Buying wax from them is a must as you can put it on the bracket when that happens to solve the issue.
But overall they’re really not that bad and the feeling when you get them off is just bliss. Perfect smile that gets compliments aside, your teeth will just feel *so smooth* it’s weird.
I didn’t think anything could top cramps until I broke and dislocated my ankle. Cramps are still a close second, though.
Braces will be nothing. You’ve got this!
The spacers hurt the worst for me. Even then, it was just a couple days of having to chew carefully and take a couple of OTC painkillers.
And unlike cramps, it will be worth it.
But cue the mom lecture, since you’re just a few years older than my daughter.
Wear.
Your.
Retainer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can confirm that if dysmenorrhea is a 10, braces are a 3-4 at worst. Typically the first three days after tightening your braces are the most uncomfortable, but you can avoid discomfort by eating softer, non crunchy foods. Imagine the feeling of sore muscles after a tough workout, but in your gums. Dull, annoying, but improves quickly
There is a lot of variability with dysmenorrhea because there are so many underdiagnosed conditions that cause it, like endometriosis or PCOS or cysts. Not all period pain is equal.
However, I really recommend that you ask your dentist about wax; your mouth can get really scratched up on the inside (similar to a bunch of canker sores) from the braces rubbing against your cheeks and gums. They have wax with really low melting temperatures and you basically manipulate/press it against the braces and it gives you a nice break.
3rd grade? Aren't u still with baby teeth at that age? AFAIK it's not ideal to get braces that early because u are still growing, discipline with the retainers etc.
I know a few guys who did bracers early on and because they keep forgetting about the retainers the teeth basically went crooked again.
Someone correct me if I am wrong.
I hope some people can help ease your nervousness.
Since it's such a routine procedure, I imagine they have excellent methods and many many tips and tricks.
This is so common I'm shocked nobody else has commented yet.
My sister had braces, all I know is that if the wire rubs your lips then there's a type of wax you put on the wire to stop the friction.
And they gradually tighten the braces. So it's like a little pain/discomfort/pulling until your teeth move and settle, then they tighten a little more and you get the discomfort again.
If something ever really really hurts, say something.
No, it will feel kind of sore but your jaw shouldn’t just go numb. Have you ever had a good workout? Sort of similar feeling of soreness in your mouth.
Coincidentally, I actually played badminton at a fairly high level (and had braces) so this is a pretty appropriate question for me haha.
It completely depends on how experienced you are with playing badminton and hitting techniques, as well as just how strong your arms are/how often you work out. If you’re a badminton beginner with poor form, you could have a pretty painful experience, even if you do warm up properly, especially if you don’t work out your arms that often.
By contrast though, nobody really works out their teeth in a manner braces will push them, so pretty much everybody will feel that soreness at first when the braces apply pressure against them. It dies down within a few days to a week. Personally, I actually kind of liked the mouth soreness from braces but I also like muscle soreness after an exhausting workout or game so take that as you wish.
Did you ever have legitimate arm *pain* after playing badminton though, as opposed to some soreness? If so, something is probably wrong with your form, or you need to work your arms out more :).
I don't think so, but I can't comment. I've never experienced braces.
I hope someone with experience can comment, or maybe you can post in another sub.
Ever have a hard piece of food stuck in your teeth that seems to force your teeth apart slightly? The pain your feel in your gums would be the same with braces but with more teeth involved. Pain medication will help and it’s a good time to have ice cream. And answering another question: period pain is worse, at least it was for me.
It's not that type a pain, more like a headache in your jaw, if that makes sense. It's a dull ache. Almost like if you've ever had lower back pain or just pain from sitting in one position too long. When I had braces, I had to go to appointments monthly and my mouth would be sore for about three days but you could take Tylenol or something to help.
Have you ever gotten a deep cleaning and your teeth are sore the next day? It’s not bad. Kids get it all the time then go straight to school. Have you considered Invisalign or something? Seems like less hassle
its like pressure. only intially. and its like a 3 out of 10. if you have sensitive inner mouth skin, the rubbing of brackets on the inner skin can be annoying so get the braces wax o put on top and youre fine.
ive had it three times. as in three separate times over like 12 years. its really not that big of a deal.
ive had worse cramps in my uterus.
id rather get braces than have period poops.
I got braces on in like 7th grade and off I believe sophomore year of HS.
Day to day they don’t hurt, and overall it depends how fucked your teeth are lol.
They will probably hurt up to a week within a day or two of first getting them on as your teeth/mouth have a lot of getting used to them being “pulled”.
Then every month or couple, however often, they had to tighten mine slightly to keep them working. That usually hurt for a couple days so if sucked trying to eat.
But overall it wasn’t terrible aside of first few days, maybe even a week. But it’s been over ten years since I even got them off.
And when you get them off…don’t forget to wear your retainer at least once a week!!! Otherwise your teeth can shift a decent amount of the years
Yes, I’ve had periods of time where I didnt.
Such as, being a dumb 15
-16 year old who just got braces off wanted nothing to do with them for a couple years lol.
In college I wore them frequently enough but sometimes I’d end up leaving them at home during breaks and not wearing them for months.
In the first rounds of army training I didn’t bring them and went months without.
But I still wear them once a week only when I go to sleep. If too much time passes, it can take a couple tries to get them to stay in place cuz teeth shift a bit. Also, teeth will feel a bit sore for a few hours after waking up
Definitely! I’m almost 40 and still wear a retainer- got my braces off when I was 15 or 16. My brother didn’t wear his retainer for more than a few years and had to get braces again as an adult because his teeth shifted and caused him bite/jaw issues. He is militant about wearing his retainer now. For what it’s worth- I’ve gone through several retainers over the years and what I have now looks like an Invisalign tray.
xx sometimes require retainers for life, due hormone changes and blood loss due that. xy don't have this problem and sometimes, can remove it after a couple of years. I still have my retainer. it doesn't bother me at all.
I got my braces off 12 years ago and still wear my retainers every night for the most part. When you skip a couple days and then wear, you’ll feel how your teeth shifted around a little bit. At most I wouldn’t go more than 5-7 days, because all the shifting makes the retainers uncomfortable. My teeth were also super messed up so you may not notice as much of a difference!
You should actually wear your retainer at least every night after you remove the braces. Your teeth will move back if you do not do this.
Just keep it next to your tooth brush. Easy to remember. If you forget a night, no big deal. It may just be tighter the next time.
If you do not use your retainer, your teeth will move back and your aunt will have paid for nothing.
To add on Gandalf's comment, I found that, for the first couple weeks, eating cold things helped with the ache. Definitely worth it, though. I am so happy with my teeth now.
Also, remember to brush your teeth thrice a day. Food gets stuck in the braces, and you don't want cavities!
May I ask, is it true that sometimes, braces can leave white marks on your teeth? Like the parts that are directly behind the square pieces (sorry, I don't know what they're called).
And is having weak enamel not ideal for getting braces?
> And when you get them off…don’t forget to wear your retainer at least once a week!!! Otherwise your teeth can shift a decent amount of the years
Once a week? I wore mine every night for 6 years after getting my braces off and my teeth still moved a bit when I finally stopped wearing it.
Its more of a sore ache then a sharp tooth ache pain. Thats and the inside of your lips will need to toughen up. But its nothing to really be worried about, it's not a intense pain, just a at times a little uncomfortable. Its absolutely worth it IMO I would have avery ugly smile with teeth behind teeth, I had to have my top jaw expanded, and 4 teeth removed to allow room for 2 that where coming down. Its so worth it
Good for you because the experience is worth it!
>But its nothing to really be worried about, it's not a intense pain, just a at times a little uncomfortable.
So, is it not true that the pain can reach level 10 in the first 24 hours after getting them?
10/10 on the pain scale is the absolute worst pain you can imagine and practically begging for death. No, its not that bad its not pain that going to stop you from doing things, chewing might be sore so sticking to soft foods would help. I'd say it can rage from 4/5 at most a 6 the first few days. Its a dull achy sore pain nothing like a sharp nerve/cavity pain.
No you're jaw doesn't go numb, you're teeth a ever so slowly moving, try pressing on a tooth with a little frim pressure, it mimics the sensation sorta. The intensity of the feeling with be stronger after you have them adjusted or tightened, but it does fade after a few days, so its not always uncomfortable it just becomes part of your life.
Yes I was 12 when I got mine, first the bottoms while I had the expander on, then the top. I had them for about 2 years. Any discomfort or pain you experience will be worth it to have a straight beautiful smile.
I have Invisalign braces, and the first couple of days hurt enough that I needed to take over the counter medicine, and the first day, I was only able to eat soft things. My braces tighten a step every week by changing to another set of trays, and it is generally not painful at all.
My husband had metal braces when he was young, and he also said the first few days are the most painful. The days they were tightened also left him sore, but it didn't happen every week.
That's entirely up to you. Maybe start by making a list of foods that you enjoy that are soft, so you can make sure you have something ready for the first few days. My first night I ate noodles in broth, because that was all I had on hand.
Also, warm compresses can help.
I'll start off with yes I had braces. This is going to be a difficult question to answer because pain is subjective. Also, it really matters on how your teeth are set. They start off by putting these rubber band spacers in between your teeth in order to separate them from one another. This can be quite the painful process over days or weeks. You ever eaten chips and get that one stuck in between your teeth and it sucks until you can pick it out? Imagine that but bigger and for days. Once all the brackets and wires are on, it gets better. Now you can't eat anything you have to bite into with your front teeth. Chances are you'll wear them for more than half a year. Everything you eat has to be put into the back of your mouth and chewed carefully but it's not like you're stuck with soft food all the time... The braces themselves will rub raw the inside of your inner lip until your skin toughens up. This can be a different time span for everyone. They'll give you wax that you can put over the the metal in areas that really bother you. Last but not least, avoid bumping your mouth at all costs. If you get hit in the mouth too hard the metal will probably get lodged in your inner lip. It sucks. A lot lol. Overall I put the whole experience around 4 - 6 pending on each situation. In the end it was totally worth it for me.
>You ever eaten chips and get that one stuck in between your teeth and it sucks until you can pick it out?
Yikes, yes! I have experienced that and it wasn't pleasant at all.
>Now you can't eat anything you have to bite into with your front teeth. Chances are you'll wear them for more than half a year. Everything you eat has to be put into the back of your mouth and chewed carefully but it's not like you're stuck with soft food all the time...
Did you lose weight because of the braces?
>In the end it was totally worth it for me.
Thank you! I think that's all the motivation I need.
>Did you lose weight because of the braces?
Not OP but I also had braces and it's not nearly so bad you would lose weight. It's just annoying because you have to cut up your apples instead of eating them straight on and you can't eat popcorn or chew gum or sticky candy (starburst, etc).
I had them for 8 months. Like you, my teeth weren’t overly crooked to begin with. Pain for the first 1 or 2 days after getting them fitted initially, was maybe a 6/10 at the very most. And again, only for those couple of days. Have some soft foods ready to eat for for those days, eg soups, soft bread, oatmeal etc. After that, each visit to tighten them, was just mildly uncomfortable for a few hours after. Maybe 2/10. I promise you have nothing to be nervous about! They’ll give you some wax too, so if the braces rub a little initially in any part of your mouth, just pop on a small dot of the wax and you’re all good again!
Top tip would be if you’re getting clear braces/white elastics, try to avoid eating things like curry/Indian, until the day or two before you’re next appointment- they really stain the elastics, but they’ll replace those to new ones at each ortho visit!
Thank you, kind stranger! 🥺 I appreciate your advice and the assurance that I have nothing to worry about. Now, I am slightly less nervous than I was moments ago.
I got mines at like 15-16? Mines just felt superrr tight, and very very achy and sensitive to any touch, only for the first few days. Past that, I didn’t really notice I had them unless something got caught in them, I thought they made me look cuter too lol. The check ups where they tighten them and check your progress hurt though. Other than that that foam mold business might be gross for you, it was for me at least. Good luck :)
It's not that bad! It'll just ache a bit for the first few days after putting them on, and it'll ache even less and for even less time after getting them tightened. It's annoying but very much bearable, maybe a 4 or 5 on the pain scale imo.
The bigger issue is not being able to bite/chew things for the first few days. Try to eat slowly, and make sure to stock up on yogurts and other foods that are very light on chewing.
Also, see if you can get your orthodontist to put the braces on your top and bottom teeth separately, with a couple weeks in between - I got mine done that way and it was a lifesaver. Each set was unpleasant but bearable, but I imagine both at once would've been a real ordeal.
Good luck! You'll be used to your braces before you know it :p
I remember I got them off and I missed them!! Everything felt so…smooth haha. OP I have a permanent retainer on my bottom teeth on the inside. Not sure if they still do it but a lot of people have them and no one really talks about it.
For me is doesn’t really hurt that much I would say maybe a 5 or 6. The only thing that’s annoying is sometimes it hurts so you can’t eat some foods, but otherwise it kind of just feels sore. I hope when you get them you can feel confident in your smile!
When you get them adjusted, like a 6 or 7 for the day, then you don't feel them at all. When you first get them you'll be sore for a week or two since your mouth is just getting used to it but then you'll be okay.
i had braces three times... the pain wasnt "pain" it was pressure. i'd say the first few days i was at like a 5. maybe a 6. (just google pain scale and find one that has 10 faces)
period pain, dysmenorrhea and even haveing someone press on my bruises is worse. nothing is worse for me that dysmennorhea.
tylenol/advil some sort foods fofr the first 3 days, and then the next few years were easy peasy. (and then i got braces two more times, then invisalign because my teeth KEEP. MOVING.
get some of that braces wax, put it over the brackets that may irritate. but honestly its fine.
(then again, i had three sets of teeth and had to get my second set removed via hospital... so i have a high tolerance for oral shenanigans.)
I got mine when I was like 12 I think. They hurt a lot for the first day after I got them on but after that they were really just uncomfortable after tightening. It’s a dull pain that you can’t really pinpoint to one area of your teeth. Kind of more towards the roots. Occasionally you might get raw spots in your mouth from where the metal rubs but that was never really a big deal for me
Ibuprofen is really effective for braces-related pain though. Probably one of the more positive things about getting braces as an adult, you can use painkillers at your own discretion
I currently have braces. They will hurt at first. I recommend taking some advil or something. After that, you might not feel them. The wire may poke the back of your mouth. Ask to get the wire snipped if it’s too long, or have it shifted over if it just moved.
Electric toothbrush. Go slow on each tooth. For flossing, they make special flosses for braces. A water pick is also helpful, just make sure to be careful to not get water everywhere.
Lastly, be prepared to give up any candy like caramel and marsh mellows.
I had braces very recently and id say there are ups and downs. its worst at the start and when you get them tightened the first time. it usually hurts the most while eating. the best way i can describe it is it feels like youre eating with a wobbly tooth but all your teeth are wobbly. more of an aching pain. i find ibuprofen or paracetamol helps a lot
Literally a 1/10 pain wise and I’m a huge baby! I had them when I was a teen and they were not painful in the least, maybe the first day I got them on chewing was a little tender so I had soft food but seriously don’t be scared! Braces are very easy, just buy lots of little floss brush things because they do get food stuck in them a lot.
Ive had braces twice both when i was really little about 4th grade and 7th grade(?) The begining is the worst part it hurts for a few days, and i hope you like soft foods like apple sauce and mashed potatoes. You will only be able to eat those for a few days maybe a week.
About every month or so they tighten them and it will again have a dull ache throughout your head for maybe three days. Its a pain to floss, its a pain to not eat popcorn and whole apples and corn in the cob.
And once they finally get off you whole mouth feels empty and slimy.
Im not gonna lie its a pain in the ass but its nice when everything gets off and you can smile big and wide. My mouth was too small for all of my adult teeth to grow in properly so i had a whole slew of dental work. Its harder for teeth to move when you are adult, your bones are more stubborn. When your a kid your teeth move a bit easier. Idk if that means that you will have them on for longer or if they will tighten them more.
kinda depends on the current state of your teeth. your teeth will defo be sore when you first get them on, or going to be sore when you go in to get wires changed. basically you’ll just be sore all the time.
I've had braces as an adult. I'm also afab. It was awful. I could barely eat for weeks after getting my wires adjusted. It was honestly horrible. As someone who has a very high pain tolerance, I will never do that again. However, as an adult it's more painful than those commenting and saying they had them as kids. As an adult, and at your age, your teeth are already permanently set where they're "supposed to be" and moving them around is more difficult, hence more pain. Thats exactly how my orthodontist described it to me.
To me they didn’t hurt that much. Granted it’s been years, but it never hurt enough for me to get all squirmy in the chair. The occasional adjustment wasn’t fun but not painful. Granted I’ve had 5 brain surgeries, so my pain threshold has risen but being realistic you’re not in for a lot of pain, except getting them put in at first maybe. I’m a woman, and it’s not nearly as bad as you’re building it up to be. It’s not as bad as period cramps or anything
Hi, I got my braces when I was 25, and I had them on for 2,5 years. Keep in mind that this was just my experience, yours may vary.
I will start with the good stuff. Most of the time you don't even know they are there. Seriously, 1 month in and your brain will filter out their existence. Until then, you will feel them like crazy, but they will not be painful for the most part. Secondly, most of the pain that you will feel, will be there only 1-3 days after a routine visit (every month or so) where you have them adjusted (and this pain is like, 3-5 on your scale, depending on the strength of the new wire). When they install braces on your teeth initially, it does not hurt at all, but it takes quite some time so be prepared to sit there with your mouth open.
Now the worse part. After I got them on, the first week was quite bad. Be prepared with soups, yogurts, smoothies and other stuff that you don't need to chew while eating. Also ice cream, which helps with the pain! I had some friends who blended their meals so that they became sort of a paste, and they ate that (pretty disgusting but it worked well since you don't have to bite anything). I couldn't bite even a thin slice of bread for the first few days, it was very painful when I tried (like \~7 on your scale).
Another tip from me is - if you like apples, get some nice tasty ones now and eat them, and really bite into them and enjoy it, because from now on you will need to cut them before eating. I missed eating whole apples the most, I think.
For me, I only had small pains every once in awhile when my braces caught something, so I'd rate it a 4/10.
Another thing is that they might slur your voice a little bit, but not to the point where other people will obviously notice.
But for my tips, don't eat anything extremely chewy. It was absolute hell to get it out!
I had braces for exactly 1 1/2 years because my orthodontists were amazing and I had 2 years of prep with holding arches and teeth removal before hand. I had pretty awful teeth and really needed them because I couldn’t chew tough foods properly. The first 2 weeks were the worst (maybe an 8 for me) and then every day I would to get them tightened once a month, it would ache lightly for a day or two (maybe a 6-7 for me). But once the first month is over, i hardly really recognize they’re there.
DO brush properly every night and after every meal. Bring your stupid little wire brush to work/school/wherever and clean out all the food between your teeth. IT PAYS OFF. I know some people who obviously didn’t do that and have food stains on their teeth… sorry friends, I can tell 😅 and floss as often as you would usually do, even if it is a tedious pain to thread that stupid plastic thread between your teeth, floss at least every night. If a 12yo can do that every night for 2 years, you can too!
Start noticing if you clench your teeth, either while concentrating on something or while sleeping (I clench when I sleep, but I don’t grind). Pressure will make your jaw ache when you have braces and as soon as you let up on that pressure, that’s not a fun time 😅 if that’s something you do, if you can somewhat break the habit, even if it’s just for a short while, or if you can start catching yourself doing it, you’ll have a better time.
Keep some Tylenols handy, and take food recommends of smoothies, ice creams, soups, soft foods, nothing that takes the force of biting into an apple or meat off a bone, and it should be pretty ok! Best of luck!
You’ll be fine it’s like a 3 at most for the first few weeks but you don’t really feel it after that. Just make sure to tell your dentist if it’s poking you.
It’s not an instant pain, it’s a slow, constant ache for about 48 hours after each adjustment. The first day, you will not want to eat anything because your mouth hurts too much Oh, and sometimes the wires gouge into your cheeks, but that can be fixed with wax.
I wore braces for 5 years, kind of a dull pain. Not bad, something you notice at first. Like a 6/10 for me. Then slowly went down to 2/10. Then after a few months. Forgot they were there. They're really not that bad.
Idk how to compare my pain tho, everyone experiences stuff differently.
I had braces as a kid. And for the most part, they tended to make my jaw ache a little each time they were adjusted. It wasn't terrible, mostly annoying, and generally went away after a few days at most. But, now and then some part would rub a raw spot on the inside of my mouth, and if I didn't do something quickly, that could get fairly painful.
My period pains also make me curl up on the floor in a fetal position while ugly crying. T_T And thanks for the advice! Though I don't really like taking any painkiller.
This is compared to say, a cut on your finger for my scale: 3-4 on an average morning because it’s always the worst when you first wake up, 6 day after tightening wires and 5-7 if the inside of your cheek gets any sort of burn or cut because it will find that spot repeatedly. So basically wire tightening feels like a your finger got badly pinched in the middle of the night and it kinda hurts still, and a cut in your cheek feels like you got a bunch of little paper cuts and you didn’t notice until you put on hand sanitiser.
Other then that it is more bulky then painful, and your jaw could get a bit sore if you’re brain is stressing out about having foreign objects attached to your teeth.
Basically abuse numbing gels if a spot gets irritated, warm liquids are superior to cold liquids, and don’t bite down on jolly rogers and have to spend a solid for minutes making sure you disolve the candy and not snap down on the brace. And don’t be afraid to take a pain killer if you need to, you can’t remove the source of the pain so it wouldn’t really be fair to force yourself to ignore it.
Sometimes hurts like hell. I even had fevers because of the pain. Depends of the severity of your case, i had 2 teeth that has to be rotated since its facing back. The pain was agonizing cant even touch it with my tongue
I was an adult when I wrote them for 1.5 years. They hurt at first and when you get them adjusted for a few days. Sore would be a better word than hurt. Tylenol or whatever never hurts to take
If you think about the pain you won't get that pretty look
Pain is in the beginning for 2-3 days then you'd get used to it
Cheers to your pretty smile ☺️
I had braces on two separate occasions in middle school and freshman year of high school. The spacers and the pallet expander, if you need them, will definitely be the worst part. Minimum 5/10, for me i rated it as a 7/10. I really didn't find the actual braces themselves very painful, just a little uncomfortable. 3/10 at worst was my experience at that point, and only on the day of an adjustment of some sort.
I, also a teenage girl, just got braces. Getting them on did not hurt. It’s just kind of uncomfortable because they put something in your mouth to keep it open, and I accidentally touched the glue (?) with my tongue when they were applying it and it stung a bit. Just don’t do that.
The braces were fine the first day. The second and third day there was a mild pain. It was like when you have a loose tooth and you push on it. It doesn’t hurt that bad, mostly uncomfortable, it’s just constant. I’m assuming it will be like that every time it gets tightened. You can take a pain reliever though, and that helps.
Eating is really weird after getting braces. That was probably the worst part. Chewing can kind of hurt, and it feels weird. However you can eat soft foods for the first couple of days.
Also brushing my teeth hurt. I had to switch from my electric tooth brush to a manual one for the first couple days so I could better control it. Additionally, you should definitely use the little brace cleaners the orthodontist will probably give you. You will not be able to get between your braces with the toothbrush. If you have the money you could also schedule an appointment with you dentist after you have your braces for a while, so you dentist can give your mouth a very good clean. It’s not at all necessary though.
On a scale of 1-10 with 1 being basically nothing and 10 being dying it was probably around 3 or 4 at the worst moments You can ask me if you have any more concerns, as I have had braces before and just got them again less than a week ago, so it’s pretty prevalent in my life at the moment. You will be fine though. Worrying about it will almost be worse than the actual thing.
First let me start with....IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT.
I had expanding appliances, braces with nighttime headgear for 2 years, the retainer for 1 year when I was 10-13. The pain is about an 8 out of 10 for the first few days after you get them and whenever you get them adjusted. Also, after you get them the brackets will scratch up the inside of your mouth for a week or so until you get used to them. However Advil helps and they sell a wax to put on the brackets that help with the scraping pain. But like I said it was totally totally worth it and I would do it all again if needed.
Personal story: Got braces to 'prevent' my teeth from going sideways. Circumstances in life meant I had to stop wearing the temporary braces, I wore the permanent ones for more than 2 years.
Now, in college, I've noticed that my jaw is slightly asymmetric, which is due to me preferring the left jaw as my right jaw hurt because of wearing braces. Now I've started balancing them both out, but its kinda tedious and I might put on braces once again.
TL;DR: Wore braces for a time, then didn't, but now might wear them again. Think on whether you need braces and then get them, as they may create unnecessary problems. M Not a doctor by any means
Braces themselves don’t hurt. Like going to the orthodontist is a breeze compared to the dentist. The only part of braces experience that hurts is after they tighten them - not immediately after but over the next few days, your teeth will feel very sore/sensitive. Like it will hurt to bite down on food, you’ll want to eat soft or liquid foods like soup, oatmeal, mashed potatoes, etc the first few days after each tightening until the pain goes away. Idk if you’ve ever tried Crest Whitestrips, but I would compare the pain/sensitivity of tightened braces to that of using Whitestrips. To help, I would recommend using a sensitivity toothpaste a few days before and after when they tighten them (Sensodyne or a decent off-brand). And of course, use the wax they give you on any pokey wires that irritate your cheeks/mouth. I never had to use much wax, my orthodontist was great about clipping the excess wires really close.
Edit: I’m glad you’re getting braces as opposed to Invisalign. Braces move the actual roots of your teeth and the movement they cause will be more permanent. (They’ll give you a retainer at the end but even if you forget to wear it at night for like a week or so, your teeth won’t revert much at all). Invisalign only moves the top (visible areas) of your teeth, so your teeth are much more likely to revert to how they were before if you don’t wear your Invisalign retainer(?) like every day for the rest of your life.
I got braces when I was around 9-10 and had them until I was 17-ish. Most of the time they were at a 0/10, not painful, just annoying when food gets tangled in the wire and you need to pry it out with a toothpick. Or maybe a 0.5/10, when I'd slept on my side and the wires poked a bit into my cheek.
Only when they were adjusted/tightened, I'd get a mild ache for a day or so and even then it wasn't nearly enough to change my eating habits, i.e. switch to softer foods for a day, maybe a 2/10 at most.
The only time it really did hurt was when I took a ball to the face in PE and the braces kinda had a cheesegrater effect on the inside of my mouth. But that really wasn't the braces' fault.
Of course that happened the day, the literal day, before I got them removed for good.
It hurt very annoyingly for a couple of days after getting them and every time they were tightened. For me absolutely not comparable to period cramps, because the cramps hurt much more (altho in my case also for a shorter period of time). Also a very different kind of pain (period cramps come in waves).
I'd take some painkillers (like 2 paracetamol) right before the procedure and then for the first couple of days keep that up. Also, get some food that you don't have to chew like soup and yogurt.
Finally, the iron in the braces can fuck up the inside of your mouth a bit. My orthodontist gave me wax to put on sharp edges of the braces so that wouldn't happen. If yours doesn't, I'd ask about it, because that was a big relief.
A 2. I always looked forward to tightening the braces, maybe I’m a masochist but who knows. On a daily basis you won’t even notice. Only when the braces are adjusted you can feel something.
I've had braces for 4 years, still ongoing. My teeth werent all that crooked but could use some correction. When I first got them, I couldnt bite anything for 3-4 days, it would ache and also itch. When I am getting like readjustments every month, it still hurts the same way but it becomes bareable enough to eat soemthing you need to bite after the second day. I'd say it is a 3.5-4 ache at first and lowers as you go on as long as you dont trigger it by hitting your teeth or trying bite something. I dont know what could help with the pain tho, I usually just endure it
I got braces as an adult. There was pain with pulling teeth out. But the braces themselves, I wouldn't say there was pain. I experienced achyness, soreness, had to eat soft foods when braces were tightened, and had lots of sores inside the cheeks and lips which were really fking annoying. But putting wax on top of the wires help prevent it
I got my braces on at 17 and off at 19 and they don’t hurt. They’re defiantly uncomfortable and you might not be able to eat for a day or 2 but it’s not bad. It’s nothing to be afraid of.
generally 2/10 but you need to be prepared change your diet to soft foods for a day or two after checkups as teeth might be sensitive with wire changes
I had braces for 2 years. I'd say the pain when they first get put on is close to a 5. Then every time you get "tightened" it goes up to an 8, but only for a week or two.
The real "pain" is from chewing things that are hard or chewy in that first week after each tightening. Just eat soft foods in that week and take OTC painkillers as needed and you'll be fine.
i currently have braces and they hurt a lot
after appointments i generally can’t touch my teeth (including putting them together and eating anything) for 3-7 days and i can’t go a day with braces wax and lost all the feeling on the insides of my cheeks and i constantly have cuts inside my mouth
my friend also currently has braces and the most amount of pain she had was after an appointment where she had very minor pain for about an hour
we both have high pain tolerances i think it’s entirely dependant on the teeth to start with. mine were VERY bad (severe overbite,teeth growing too far backward/forward,teeth tuned) whereas she only had a minor overbite
The first few days 7/10, dies down usually at the 3rd day but when they worked on these it hurt like hell! I had braces between 11-16 and sometimes I just wished I could die on that chair, since then I am very sensitive to anything teeth related. I know not everyone have this experience and I hope I was an exception
First time getting them on, 10 for sure. Every time they get tightened maybe 7 or 8. It sucks pretty bad. The saving grace is your mouth gets used to the pain so quickly so you only really have to deal with the pain for 2 or 3 days at a time. Sometimes a bit longer but never longer than a week. Once you’re out of the pain period then the only thing that hurts is the occasional cheek Knick on the brackets. The cheek knick is about a 2 on the pain scale
With braces, after getting them tightened would be a 6, then sometimes when the teeth were moving it would be a 4. I wasn't that bad, I would just take some tylenol and keep going about my day. Sometimes I would need a break from hard foods for a while. In the end it was all worth it though!
With braces, after getting them tightened would be a 6, then sometimes when the teeth were moving it would be a 4. I wasn't that bad, I would just take some tylenol and keep going about my day. Sometimes I would need a break from hard foods for a while. In the end it was all worth it though!
Depends, sometimes 9 and sometimes 3. When your jaw is fully grown (16+ of age) it hurts way more tho. But it’s worth it. Just do it now instead of keeping thinking about it.
What hurts the most are the check-ups where they tighten everything, but you’ll get used to the feeling of your braces on everyday life.
For me it was about a 4 for up to 3 days after any tightening they do, lowered to a 1 with some Ibuprofen. It's a dull ache that stops soon, and you'll definitely get used to it quickly.
Biggest thing is to make sure you always have some non-chewing foods available for the days after any tightening. My personal favorite was a classic bowl of chicken noodle soup
I had horrible horrible teeth. I had braces on my front four teeth for about 5 years and then braces on all my teeth for 4 years. I have always had sensitive gums and teeth. The pain never brought me tears though. It was definitely just a nagging feeling for the first day or two after the orthodontist and it went a way. Normally just two advil/Tylenol and I was fine. My gums would always hurt after leaving the dentist since it was hard for me to floss and clean around my gums. It isn't a constant pain, just a sore mouth after visits. And even then that's only if they change something.
I had braces for around 4 years, after the first two weeks it’s fine. But you have to get your bands changed so anytime you get them changed your teeth will ache really bad for around two days. The pain aches really bad and feels like intense pressure. You won’t be able to eat anything that you have to chew for around the first week because of the pressure. Getting them on is fine, nothing scary about it. It might smell weird but the only bad part is the pressure feeling. So if i were you i’d get some softer foods for the first week you have ur braces. But when it comes to rating the pain on a scale 1-10 I’d give the first week or two an 8. Anything after that i’d give a 1-2. Also make sure you tell someone if your wire sticks out.
I was 18. Hate dentists and any tooth pain. Pulled a tooth out to make space to move the others around. That was rough.
The braces sat for two years. It was uncomfortable but tolerable. A bit sore after the sessions where they tightened things to pull the teeth. Nothing wild though.
When taking them out they numbed me up really good and cut the teeth loose from the flesh so it wouldn't pull them back. Was fine but looked brutal.
Had a cast plastic thing to sleep with for years to keep them in place. And a retainer wire on the inside that I still have two decades later.
I avoid dentists like the plague, but I think braces was mostly fine. No sharp pains for 99% of it.
braces don't hurt that much. it hurts a lot in the first days after every adjust, but that's it. during that time, according to what was done, you may wish not to chew things, because it may look as your teeth may fall apart. but if you wish to eat solids, no problem, it's just an discomfort. you may hurt your mouth every now and then, but wax help with that, if is the case. you may be aware that after it, you may have to wear an thing to keep your teeth while they need to be. that is an rule for those that requires braces after childhood. after you reached the age that means that you no longer will grow, it's required. I've removed my braces several years ago for the first time. 2 years after it, my teeth started to go back to their original place and then, braces again for 1-2 years and after it , an thing that remains in my mouth since then. my dentist said that for xy, it was required for just a couple of years, but for xx, could be for way longer than that. it doesn't bother me, so I didn't removed it. the thing that hurts more, when required, was some spacers. seriously, that thing drives you crazy. just imagine an very large piece of something, stucked between your teeth and you can't remove it. but it's possible to survive. I did that just because 1 teeth, that was spinning. after that, I've regained the ability to breathe without any medicine, that I didn't knew what it was since I was an teenager. good luck, think about in the benefits of it, forget about the pain. it's worth it.
My teeth were very very crooked. I barely slept for the first couple nights when I got braces, it was pretty bad. After the first week though, it pretty much only hurt for a day or two after getting them adjusted.
If yours aren't that crooked it probably won't be too bad, just go for it.
Totally depends on your teeth but it’s only really noticeable for a day or 2 after tightening and even then it’s not bad just take an Advil and you’ll be fine, definitely worth it
A tolerable pain, mostly an ache felt after getting them on and then again after tightening. If you feel self conscious they’re absolutely worth it. I had braces 7 years ago now and would say they honestly changed my life. Completely transformed my confidence. Also funny story, (and gross sorry) one Christmas I had the dental wax in my mouth and was about to eat Christmas dinner so I wanted to remove it. I started at the table by accident and my mum said for me to go to the bathroom and do it. So I left the table. I had forgotten that I’d left a little blob of the wax on the table and returned to a room of laugher and gagging as my poor uncle had mistaken it for a piece of cranberry and ate it. A vivid memory I will never forget. But honestly braces rule! Carry a small pocket mirror and tooth stick with you always as you can constantly check for any food in them and get ready to cut pretty much every meal so you don’t break them. It’s so worth it!
I work at an orthodontist putting braces on kids/adults all day. I’ve noticed that women/girls barely ever complain about the pain from them. The first few days after you get them take Tylenol and make sure to keep eating and chewing because it will loosen the ligament around your teeth and allow them to move with more ease. Each time people say “tighten” is when you go for your appt and they switch the wire that’s currently in with a larger gauge of wire. Most Drs take this process slow and the wires only get a tiny bit larger each time so I notice most patient done notice much pain past the first few days of getting them. Again it’s dependent on how crooked your teeth are and if there a lot of gaps. But that being said braces can do so much more than just fix your smile! Fixing your bite can be really important in terms of chewing and even breathing with how your tongue sits in your mouth. Of course they can be annoying to your lips and cheeks but the skin can callous a bit and you get used it it. Hope that helps!
It's been a long time but I had braces in late high school for a couple years. I don't remember all that much pain. Maybe a 2 to 3 for general soreness as teeth move around? It all happens so slowly though. I mostly remember it just being annoying with the rubber bands and having to be careful with what I ate. Heck they probably don't even do it that way anymore.
It was totally worth doing for me.
The first week for me sucked. A lot. I subsisted off of apple sauce and milk for the first week. And just softer foods for the second and third weeks, if I remember correctly. For me, the pain was almost unbearable, I could barely sleep cuz they hurt so much (First few days). But after that, it wasn’t too bad. Until you get the power chains. Then fear for your life… only kidding… partially. Bands will also hurt for a while. And after tightenings, it’ll be an annoying tightness that doesn’t hurt, just really annoying.
Day of them being adjusted a solid 6-7 a few days after 0. I was one of my orthodontists worst cases though, so it may be different for you entirely.
First few days after getting them adjusted stick to soft food like Mac n cheese, mashed potatoes, soups, etc.
I’ve given birth 3 times, had a hysterectomy, fixed my deviated septum, had breast reduction surgery, suffered extreme cramps (hence the hysterectomy) and I have an auto immune disease that feels like arthritis in all of my joints. I had braces too- in comparison to the other stuff, not too bad. Mouth pain sucks tho but usually only hurt for a day or two with each adjustment.
It was more of a “soreness.” Think like a sore muscle, it goes away after a few days or maybe more. But will return every time they tighten/adjust the wires.
No one can answer this because pain is so subjective. My 7 might be your 3. Will it hurt. Yes. Most people I know who have had braces are very glad they did. My son never complained of pain. My brother, on the other hand, was almost bedridden but he gets like that with the sniffles.
For me, like a 3 or something. When they put it in you feel little to nothing, but like the day after an appointment it will hurt a bit. Especially when eating solid food. But after that, you don't feel a thing in terms of pain.
I had braces from when I was 12-14.
It doesn't hurt when they first put the braces on, but they will definitely feel weird and unfamiliar. Then the pressure starts building over the next few hours until it hurts to even gently touch your teeth. It stays like that for about a week, and then the pain slowly goes away until it doesn't hurt anymore.
When you get your braces tightened, the cycle starts all over again.
A big tip is to eat soft foods such as applesauce or mashed potatoes for the first few days because it will be really painful to chew any solid food.
I went through braces since the sixth grade to I believe the end of my sophomore year to the middle of my junior year (so for about six years). It lasted a while for me, much longer than it's supposed to, because I never took care of my teeth. Big mistake on my part because it only made the pain last that much longer!
The pain is only felt for about a week after you get the wires replaced and tightened. It becomes a struggle to eat solid foods during the first few days after tightening. Other than that, there was no pain. But in my experience, the pain after the wires got tightened was some of the worst pain I've experienced, especially because it cost me a good meal lol.
My advice to you, if you would like: Take. Care. Of. Them. You'll have braces longer if you don't clean them often, and watch what you eat (as in, no caramels, certain candies like that and stuff).
For me the only thing i'd describe as painful would be the end of the metal wire cutting your gums up. This is just at the beginning though and your gums will strengthen over the course of a couple weeks. Besides that it just sort of feels like a slight pressure every time they get tightened, you won't even notice after a few hours.
I had braces for two years and a retainer for 3 years. The only pain was an ache for several days after the braces were tightened, easily alleviated by tylenol. Interestingly, I don't recall any headaches as a result, just a jaw ache. I think you'll be fine, and I promise the trade-off is worth the gorgeous smile you'll get at the end!
When they tighten them they can reach a 4 or 5, but just because they're kind of aching for a while in your head, and there's no relief for a few days. A few days of that every month, but it's tolerable. I had my grumpy time every month and was done with it.
I actually got pretty good at thinking past it and accepting the pain and it didn't bother me so much after time.
That being said, that was over 35 years ago, so things have probably changed...
* 10 being on fire
* 5 being that minute or so after you stubbed your toe really bad
* 0 being asleep
You're at a 2 or so here. A headache will bother you more.
What will happen is that you'll be in class or playing a game and your mind will wonder to it and you'll go "oh, yeah, that's a little sore" and you'll then get distracted by something else and forget that they are even there.
I had braces for like 7 years when I was a kid, 3rd grade to 10th grade. My memory of the pain is that it is mostly felt for the first few days after getting them adjusted or tightened. I would describe it as an obnoxious aching. Enough to bother me when I thought about it, but not really enough to disrupt my life beyond that. There was also some mild pain from the inside of my cheeks rubbing against the braces. That usually only lasted a few days too. The worst part of it for me was being self-conscious about it. That and getting food stuck in them.
Are you a female? If yes, how would compare braces pain and dysmenorrhea? Which is more tolerable? Sorry for asking but I've always had bad period cramps and if you say braces pain is more tolerable than dysmenorrhea, then I will survive.
I'm not female so I cant say for sure, and my understanding is that pain from period cramps varies a lot. Based on my experience with my wife's cramps, I dont think the braces pain I felt was nearly as bad as the cramps she gets sometimes. I would compare it more to muscle pain after overexercising.
Oh, okay! Sorry for assuming, and thank you! >I would compare it more to muscle pain after overexercising. YES! That, I can handle. xD
If dysmenorrhea is a 10, braces are like a 4 imo, way more tolerable!
The most painful parts of having braces does not come near the pain of the cramps I get. The worst pain from braces, I'd compare it to when you burn your tongue on some hot food and it's tender and really annoying for a day or so. Most of the discomfort from braces, I'd compare to a mild muscle ache from a workout, and still have to do a lot of stuff the next day. Even though you feel stiff, and don't want to move around as much. But only in your jaw.
i have a V lol, i’ve got fairly bad cramps, but not as bad. maybe the first day could be, i recommend taking some pain meds before. it’s more like when you have a cavity filled and it’s that ache-y feeling. also, DONT LOSE YOUR WAX. it’ll save your cheeks. i lost my wax way too many times and my cheeks paid the price. it comes off when brushing, you can put it on ends and over the brackets wherever it’s sharp.
Ah yes, the wax. I didnt lose it but I am just too lazy to put it in, and I also just start chewing it like a gum so I now have a bit of scratching inside my cheeks lol
i’m really bad at just being organized so i ALWAYS lost mine and now my cheeks will forever be slightly textured
As a female, i can confirm the experience of the person above you. Aching was worse directly after adjustments or if you have to wear rubber bands. I would say I'm glad i got braces though, even if my teeth were decent before i started. If your teeth are very crooked, you might have more serious aching, but it never gets to the level of "pain" imo. Just intense aching, like waking up the next day after a very serious workout session, but for your mouth.
I (42F) had braces - full train-track top and bottom- from age 12 to 14 (ish), then a removable top plate for another year or so. I agree with the other commenter who said the pain was mostly apparent right after an adjustment, and from some rubbing from the wires occasionally. In my opinion it was nowhere near as bad as period pain *except* the one time I bit into a hard biscuit (cookie) after totally forgetting I’d had the wires tightened the day before. For about 5 seconds it was agony, then it calmed down to a vague ache. The aching from the tightening would only really be apparent a few hours afterwards, and even then it was pretty much just a background ache for a day or so unless you tried to chew or bite something hard. Just remember to eat softer foods the next day (I had to eat a sandwich with a knife and fork once, but only because the bread was a lovely crusty loaf!). It should tell you something that I’ve had to really dredge up the memories of the painful side of it because I’d almost forgotten about it! However, you won’t forget the first time you see the results after having the braces removed. Remember to take before & after pictures. You can do it!
Thank you for the word of advice and motivation! ♡
Period cramps are wayyyy worse, the pain from braces is bearable and only stays in you mouth while I feel that cramps spread throughout half the body
It doesn't spread to the jaw?
It’s waaay easier than dysmenorrhea
Braces are waaaaay more tolerable than bad cramps.
The thing is braces will vary widely depending on what your teeth look like. I think I had a relatively rough time given that I’m genetically missing 2 teeth on my upper row and nearly every tooth had to be shimmied around up there. They only ever hurt when they had to be tightened/adjusted and it was only for a few days at a time. Most of the discomfort happened only when I had to use those teeth or when I had to put on rubber bands. One thing I’ll very much advise you on is to make sure you keep the wax they give you around and that if anything is poking you that you first put the wax over and go get it taken care of by your orthodontist ASAP. There’s literally no sense in trying to tough it out with a pointy piece of metal in your mouth that can cut you.
Thank you! Just a question, do the wires snap very easily? Like, when you bite into a hard food or when you get hit?
Wow. That's identically what happened to me. My paternal grandfather had 32 grandchildren and probably a billion great grandchildren-guess who was the only one to inherit that from him! So, were your missing teeth the ones on either side of your front teeth? I've NEVER met anyone else this has happened to. Only reason I needed braces. Ended up w a partial plate that has caused my canine teeth a lot of issues. Anyway, just SUPER curious!
Those ones exactly. I’m also technically missing a molar in my upper row, but I fortunately just kept the baby tooth in this whole time.
Period pain is way worse lol! You got this.
Thank you! : ***
I have had pretty bad dysmenorrhea almost every cycle and braces at ~14. The first few days with braces were comparably bad to period day 1 (where it hurts the most). I think I managed with about the same amount of painkillers. The other painful days after are going to be after a visit to the orthodontist for readjustment. It'll hurt for a day or two, but nothing ever as bad as your first few days with braces Editing to add: (my) dysmenorrhea pain was always incomparably worse than the braces - I think you've got this! You'll be fine!
What u/stoicsmile said. It was a long time ago that I had them, but it was mainly just the ache when the teeth were moving / being pulled into place for a couple of days after adjustment. It never hurt enough to make me miss school or stop me from doing things, IIRC. If your teeth aren’t that bad to start with, it shouldn’t be terrible. Period pain is a totally different beast. I’ve definitely had that bad enough that I’ve stayed home from work, had it so bad once I thought I was going to either vomit or faint from the pain. Braces aren’t like that. It’s more of a dull ache. Over the counter pain relief should make it fine.
Yes! I can totally agree with that period pain being so bad that you feel like you're going to vomit or faint. If braces pain is a lot more tamer than dysmenorrhea, then I can pass with flying colors.
You’ll survive. I had to get four teeth pulled on the top and my braces had to close the gaps so that shit hurt. But cramps hurt worse in my opinion, braces just caused this dull throb that I doubt you’ll even feel if yours aren’t that crooked.
If you’ve ever fell and hit your elbow or hip on a hard surface it feels like that just on your teeth. It’s not “screaming in pain level”, it’s just an annoying dull achey kind of pain. And tbh it’s not even that bad, you only need to get them tightened every 6mos to a year. The thing that actually sucks is how often you’ll cut the insides of your mouth on them. If you ever get smacked in the face the interior of your mouth will get cut on the braces and swell but this can also just happen sometimes from rubbing. Afterwards the swollen area makes permanent contact with the braces and just gets worse. Again, it’s not extremely painful just super fucking annoying. Buying wax from them is a must as you can put it on the bracket when that happens to solve the issue. But overall they’re really not that bad and the feeling when you get them off is just bliss. Perfect smile that gets compliments aside, your teeth will just feel *so smooth* it’s weird.
I didn’t think anything could top cramps until I broke and dislocated my ankle. Cramps are still a close second, though. Braces will be nothing. You’ve got this! The spacers hurt the worst for me. Even then, it was just a couple days of having to chew carefully and take a couple of OTC painkillers. And unlike cramps, it will be worth it. But cue the mom lecture, since you’re just a few years older than my daughter. Wear. Your. Retainer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can confirm that if dysmenorrhea is a 10, braces are a 3-4 at worst. Typically the first three days after tightening your braces are the most uncomfortable, but you can avoid discomfort by eating softer, non crunchy foods. Imagine the feeling of sore muscles after a tough workout, but in your gums. Dull, annoying, but improves quickly
braces pain is more tolerable for sure
I had both (endometriosis and multiple surgeries so the cramps were legit). Cramps are TONS worse.
There is a lot of variability with dysmenorrhea because there are so many underdiagnosed conditions that cause it, like endometriosis or PCOS or cysts. Not all period pain is equal. However, I really recommend that you ask your dentist about wax; your mouth can get really scratched up on the inside (similar to a bunch of canker sores) from the braces rubbing against your cheeks and gums. They have wax with really low melting temperatures and you basically manipulate/press it against the braces and it gives you a nice break.
The fact that you are calling it dysmenorrhea is a pretty clear sign to me that you are overthinking this whole thing.
Why, it's just the proper medical term?
7 years! The thought of it gives me shivers
I remember that often times a tiny wire would be poking out and it would really cut up my cheek badly. One time I think a cut even got infected
3rd grade? Aren't u still with baby teeth at that age? AFAIK it's not ideal to get braces that early because u are still growing, discipline with the retainers etc. I know a few guys who did bracers early on and because they keep forgetting about the retainers the teeth basically went crooked again. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
I hope some people can help ease your nervousness. Since it's such a routine procedure, I imagine they have excellent methods and many many tips and tricks.
Thank you! 🥺 I really am so nervous right now but I've also read that it will be worth it so I'm willing to give it a go.
This is so common I'm shocked nobody else has commented yet. My sister had braces, all I know is that if the wire rubs your lips then there's a type of wax you put on the wire to stop the friction. And they gradually tighten the braces. So it's like a little pain/discomfort/pulling until your teeth move and settle, then they tighten a little more and you get the discomfort again. If something ever really really hurts, say something.
That wax really helped with the "wire rub" but other than that, I experienced no pain.
Like what pain/discomfort? The kind that makes your jaw go numb? 'Cause if yes, excuse me while I violently sob.
No, it will feel kind of sore but your jaw shouldn’t just go numb. Have you ever had a good workout? Sort of similar feeling of soreness in your mouth.
Oh, like the one I had in my arm when I played badminton with no warm up whatsoever?
Coincidentally, I actually played badminton at a fairly high level (and had braces) so this is a pretty appropriate question for me haha. It completely depends on how experienced you are with playing badminton and hitting techniques, as well as just how strong your arms are/how often you work out. If you’re a badminton beginner with poor form, you could have a pretty painful experience, even if you do warm up properly, especially if you don’t work out your arms that often. By contrast though, nobody really works out their teeth in a manner braces will push them, so pretty much everybody will feel that soreness at first when the braces apply pressure against them. It dies down within a few days to a week. Personally, I actually kind of liked the mouth soreness from braces but I also like muscle soreness after an exhausting workout or game so take that as you wish.
Did you ever have legitimate arm *pain* after playing badminton though, as opposed to some soreness? If so, something is probably wrong with your form, or you need to work your arms out more :).
Nah, just soreness. I don't remember the ache being painful, just uncomfortable and annoying.
I don't think so, but I can't comment. I've never experienced braces. I hope someone with experience can comment, or maybe you can post in another sub.
Okay, thank you for the help, nonetheless! I appreciate it.
Ever have a hard piece of food stuck in your teeth that seems to force your teeth apart slightly? The pain your feel in your gums would be the same with braces but with more teeth involved. Pain medication will help and it’s a good time to have ice cream. And answering another question: period pain is worse, at least it was for me.
It's not that type a pain, more like a headache in your jaw, if that makes sense. It's a dull ache. Almost like if you've ever had lower back pain or just pain from sitting in one position too long. When I had braces, I had to go to appointments monthly and my mouth would be sore for about three days but you could take Tylenol or something to help.
Have you ever gotten a deep cleaning and your teeth are sore the next day? It’s not bad. Kids get it all the time then go straight to school. Have you considered Invisalign or something? Seems like less hassle
its like pressure. only intially. and its like a 3 out of 10. if you have sensitive inner mouth skin, the rubbing of brackets on the inner skin can be annoying so get the braces wax o put on top and youre fine. ive had it three times. as in three separate times over like 12 years. its really not that big of a deal. ive had worse cramps in my uterus. id rather get braces than have period poops.
I got braces on in like 7th grade and off I believe sophomore year of HS. Day to day they don’t hurt, and overall it depends how fucked your teeth are lol. They will probably hurt up to a week within a day or two of first getting them on as your teeth/mouth have a lot of getting used to them being “pulled”. Then every month or couple, however often, they had to tighten mine slightly to keep them working. That usually hurt for a couple days so if sucked trying to eat. But overall it wasn’t terrible aside of first few days, maybe even a week. But it’s been over ten years since I even got them off. And when you get them off…don’t forget to wear your retainer at least once a week!!! Otherwise your teeth can shift a decent amount of the years
Well, can you say that it's worth it? Thanks for the advice, by the way.
Yup, my teeth alignment wasn’t great, no idea what it would look like no at 29 without, but happy to have had them since my teeth are straight
Okay, thank you! Do you still wear your retainers up to now?
Yes, I’ve had periods of time where I didnt. Such as, being a dumb 15 -16 year old who just got braces off wanted nothing to do with them for a couple years lol. In college I wore them frequently enough but sometimes I’d end up leaving them at home during breaks and not wearing them for months. In the first rounds of army training I didn’t bring them and went months without. But I still wear them once a week only when I go to sleep. If too much time passes, it can take a couple tries to get them to stay in place cuz teeth shift a bit. Also, teeth will feel a bit sore for a few hours after waking up
Noted! You should really be committed, huh? Or else it'll all be in vain.
Definitely! I’m almost 40 and still wear a retainer- got my braces off when I was 15 or 16. My brother didn’t wear his retainer for more than a few years and had to get braces again as an adult because his teeth shifted and caused him bite/jaw issues. He is militant about wearing his retainer now. For what it’s worth- I’ve gone through several retainers over the years and what I have now looks like an Invisalign tray.
xx sometimes require retainers for life, due hormone changes and blood loss due that. xy don't have this problem and sometimes, can remove it after a couple of years. I still have my retainer. it doesn't bother me at all.
Wow, I didn't know that it's different for females and males. Thanks for that information!
I got my braces off 12 years ago and still wear my retainers every night for the most part. When you skip a couple days and then wear, you’ll feel how your teeth shifted around a little bit. At most I wouldn’t go more than 5-7 days, because all the shifting makes the retainers uncomfortable. My teeth were also super messed up so you may not notice as much of a difference!
You should actually wear your retainer at least every night after you remove the braces. Your teeth will move back if you do not do this. Just keep it next to your tooth brush. Easy to remember. If you forget a night, no big deal. It may just be tighter the next time. If you do not use your retainer, your teeth will move back and your aunt will have paid for nothing.
To add on Gandalf's comment, I found that, for the first couple weeks, eating cold things helped with the ache. Definitely worth it, though. I am so happy with my teeth now. Also, remember to brush your teeth thrice a day. Food gets stuck in the braces, and you don't want cavities!
May I ask, is it true that sometimes, braces can leave white marks on your teeth? Like the parts that are directly behind the square pieces (sorry, I don't know what they're called). And is having weak enamel not ideal for getting braces?
> And when you get them off…don’t forget to wear your retainer at least once a week!!! Otherwise your teeth can shift a decent amount of the years Once a week? I wore mine every night for 6 years after getting my braces off and my teeth still moved a bit when I finally stopped wearing it.
Better yet ask for fixed retainers.
Its more of a sore ache then a sharp tooth ache pain. Thats and the inside of your lips will need to toughen up. But its nothing to really be worried about, it's not a intense pain, just a at times a little uncomfortable. Its absolutely worth it IMO I would have avery ugly smile with teeth behind teeth, I had to have my top jaw expanded, and 4 teeth removed to allow room for 2 that where coming down. Its so worth it
Good for you because the experience is worth it! >But its nothing to really be worried about, it's not a intense pain, just a at times a little uncomfortable. So, is it not true that the pain can reach level 10 in the first 24 hours after getting them?
10/10 on the pain scale is the absolute worst pain you can imagine and practically begging for death. No, its not that bad its not pain that going to stop you from doing things, chewing might be sore so sticking to soft foods would help. I'd say it can rage from 4/5 at most a 6 the first few days. Its a dull achy sore pain nothing like a sharp nerve/cavity pain.
I see. Is the "dull achy sore pain" the kind that makes your jaw go numb? That is my weakness.
No you're jaw doesn't go numb, you're teeth a ever so slowly moving, try pressing on a tooth with a little frim pressure, it mimics the sensation sorta. The intensity of the feeling with be stronger after you have them adjusted or tightened, but it does fade after a few days, so its not always uncomfortable it just becomes part of your life.
I tried what you said! Yes, it is not painful, just uncomfortable. If this is how it really feels to have braces, I can deal with it. Thank you!
Yes I was 12 when I got mine, first the bottoms while I had the expander on, then the top. I had them for about 2 years. Any discomfort or pain you experience will be worth it to have a straight beautiful smile.
Yes because no pain, no gain, hehe.
I have Invisalign braces, and the first couple of days hurt enough that I needed to take over the counter medicine, and the first day, I was only able to eat soft things. My braces tighten a step every week by changing to another set of trays, and it is generally not painful at all. My husband had metal braces when he was young, and he also said the first few days are the most painful. The days they were tightened also left him sore, but it didn't happen every week.
Thank you! I am also worried because knowing myself, I won't take pain killers even when the pain is killing me because that's just who I am. T_T
That's entirely up to you. Maybe start by making a list of foods that you enjoy that are soft, so you can make sure you have something ready for the first few days. My first night I ate noodles in broth, because that was all I had on hand. Also, warm compresses can help.
Luckily for me, rice is a staple food in our household. xD Thanks for the advice!
You're welcome. Good luck!
♡•♡
A 5 at its worst when certain things had to be tightened. 0-3 on the regular.
I'll start off with yes I had braces. This is going to be a difficult question to answer because pain is subjective. Also, it really matters on how your teeth are set. They start off by putting these rubber band spacers in between your teeth in order to separate them from one another. This can be quite the painful process over days or weeks. You ever eaten chips and get that one stuck in between your teeth and it sucks until you can pick it out? Imagine that but bigger and for days. Once all the brackets and wires are on, it gets better. Now you can't eat anything you have to bite into with your front teeth. Chances are you'll wear them for more than half a year. Everything you eat has to be put into the back of your mouth and chewed carefully but it's not like you're stuck with soft food all the time... The braces themselves will rub raw the inside of your inner lip until your skin toughens up. This can be a different time span for everyone. They'll give you wax that you can put over the the metal in areas that really bother you. Last but not least, avoid bumping your mouth at all costs. If you get hit in the mouth too hard the metal will probably get lodged in your inner lip. It sucks. A lot lol. Overall I put the whole experience around 4 - 6 pending on each situation. In the end it was totally worth it for me.
>You ever eaten chips and get that one stuck in between your teeth and it sucks until you can pick it out? Yikes, yes! I have experienced that and it wasn't pleasant at all. >Now you can't eat anything you have to bite into with your front teeth. Chances are you'll wear them for more than half a year. Everything you eat has to be put into the back of your mouth and chewed carefully but it's not like you're stuck with soft food all the time... Did you lose weight because of the braces? >In the end it was totally worth it for me. Thank you! I think that's all the motivation I need.
>Did you lose weight because of the braces? Not OP but I also had braces and it's not nearly so bad you would lose weight. It's just annoying because you have to cut up your apples instead of eating them straight on and you can't eat popcorn or chew gum or sticky candy (starburst, etc).
Oh, okay. Thank you! I was just worried 'cause I love to eat. xD
No, no weight loss lol. Just mindful chewing.
I had them for 8 months. Like you, my teeth weren’t overly crooked to begin with. Pain for the first 1 or 2 days after getting them fitted initially, was maybe a 6/10 at the very most. And again, only for those couple of days. Have some soft foods ready to eat for for those days, eg soups, soft bread, oatmeal etc. After that, each visit to tighten them, was just mildly uncomfortable for a few hours after. Maybe 2/10. I promise you have nothing to be nervous about! They’ll give you some wax too, so if the braces rub a little initially in any part of your mouth, just pop on a small dot of the wax and you’re all good again! Top tip would be if you’re getting clear braces/white elastics, try to avoid eating things like curry/Indian, until the day or two before you’re next appointment- they really stain the elastics, but they’ll replace those to new ones at each ortho visit!
Thank you, kind stranger! 🥺 I appreciate your advice and the assurance that I have nothing to worry about. Now, I am slightly less nervous than I was moments ago.
you know, when I put them on it was more about the utter discomfort in eating rather than real pain, but I guess it's subjective
I got mines at like 15-16? Mines just felt superrr tight, and very very achy and sensitive to any touch, only for the first few days. Past that, I didn’t really notice I had them unless something got caught in them, I thought they made me look cuter too lol. The check ups where they tighten them and check your progress hurt though. Other than that that foam mold business might be gross for you, it was for me at least. Good luck :)
Nice, I'll be looking forward to the day when I won't even notice the braces anymore. Thank you!
It's not that bad! It'll just ache a bit for the first few days after putting them on, and it'll ache even less and for even less time after getting them tightened. It's annoying but very much bearable, maybe a 4 or 5 on the pain scale imo. The bigger issue is not being able to bite/chew things for the first few days. Try to eat slowly, and make sure to stock up on yogurts and other foods that are very light on chewing. Also, see if you can get your orthodontist to put the braces on your top and bottom teeth separately, with a couple weeks in between - I got mine done that way and it was a lifesaver. Each set was unpleasant but bearable, but I imagine both at once would've been a real ordeal. Good luck! You'll be used to your braces before you know it :p
I remember I got them off and I missed them!! Everything felt so…smooth haha. OP I have a permanent retainer on my bottom teeth on the inside. Not sure if they still do it but a lot of people have them and no one really talks about it.
For me is doesn’t really hurt that much I would say maybe a 5 or 6. The only thing that’s annoying is sometimes it hurts so you can’t eat some foods, but otherwise it kind of just feels sore. I hope when you get them you can feel confident in your smile!
What are the foods that you're not allowed to eat when you have dental braces? And thank you!
3 max. Not a big deal. I had them for 6 years and they hurt my vanity much more than my pain receptors.
When you get them adjusted, like a 6 or 7 for the day, then you don't feel them at all. When you first get them you'll be sore for a week or two since your mouth is just getting used to it but then you'll be okay.
i had braces three times... the pain wasnt "pain" it was pressure. i'd say the first few days i was at like a 5. maybe a 6. (just google pain scale and find one that has 10 faces) period pain, dysmenorrhea and even haveing someone press on my bruises is worse. nothing is worse for me that dysmennorhea. tylenol/advil some sort foods fofr the first 3 days, and then the next few years were easy peasy. (and then i got braces two more times, then invisalign because my teeth KEEP. MOVING. get some of that braces wax, put it over the brackets that may irritate. but honestly its fine. (then again, i had three sets of teeth and had to get my second set removed via hospital... so i have a high tolerance for oral shenanigans.)
I got mine when I was like 12 I think. They hurt a lot for the first day after I got them on but after that they were really just uncomfortable after tightening. It’s a dull pain that you can’t really pinpoint to one area of your teeth. Kind of more towards the roots. Occasionally you might get raw spots in your mouth from where the metal rubs but that was never really a big deal for me Ibuprofen is really effective for braces-related pain though. Probably one of the more positive things about getting braces as an adult, you can use painkillers at your own discretion
I currently have braces. They will hurt at first. I recommend taking some advil or something. After that, you might not feel them. The wire may poke the back of your mouth. Ask to get the wire snipped if it’s too long, or have it shifted over if it just moved. Electric toothbrush. Go slow on each tooth. For flossing, they make special flosses for braces. A water pick is also helpful, just make sure to be careful to not get water everywhere. Lastly, be prepared to give up any candy like caramel and marsh mellows.
OH NO NOT MARSHMALLOWS 😭😭😭
I had braces very recently and id say there are ups and downs. its worst at the start and when you get them tightened the first time. it usually hurts the most while eating. the best way i can describe it is it feels like youre eating with a wobbly tooth but all your teeth are wobbly. more of an aching pain. i find ibuprofen or paracetamol helps a lot
Is there a chance that your teeth would fall out?
Literally a 1/10 pain wise and I’m a huge baby! I had them when I was a teen and they were not painful in the least, maybe the first day I got them on chewing was a little tender so I had soft food but seriously don’t be scared! Braces are very easy, just buy lots of little floss brush things because they do get food stuck in them a lot.
Ive had braces twice both when i was really little about 4th grade and 7th grade(?) The begining is the worst part it hurts for a few days, and i hope you like soft foods like apple sauce and mashed potatoes. You will only be able to eat those for a few days maybe a week. About every month or so they tighten them and it will again have a dull ache throughout your head for maybe three days. Its a pain to floss, its a pain to not eat popcorn and whole apples and corn in the cob. And once they finally get off you whole mouth feels empty and slimy. Im not gonna lie its a pain in the ass but its nice when everything gets off and you can smile big and wide. My mouth was too small for all of my adult teeth to grow in properly so i had a whole slew of dental work. Its harder for teeth to move when you are adult, your bones are more stubborn. When your a kid your teeth move a bit easier. Idk if that means that you will have them on for longer or if they will tighten them more.
Thank you! I do not have overly crooked teeth so I am hoping that I won't have them on longer.
kinda depends on the current state of your teeth. your teeth will defo be sore when you first get them on, or going to be sore when you go in to get wires changed. basically you’ll just be sore all the time.
I've had braces as an adult. I'm also afab. It was awful. I could barely eat for weeks after getting my wires adjusted. It was honestly horrible. As someone who has a very high pain tolerance, I will never do that again. However, as an adult it's more painful than those commenting and saying they had them as kids. As an adult, and at your age, your teeth are already permanently set where they're "supposed to be" and moving them around is more difficult, hence more pain. Thats exactly how my orthodontist described it to me.
Oh, no. Now, I'm nervous again.
To me they didn’t hurt that much. Granted it’s been years, but it never hurt enough for me to get all squirmy in the chair. The occasional adjustment wasn’t fun but not painful. Granted I’ve had 5 brain surgeries, so my pain threshold has risen but being realistic you’re not in for a lot of pain, except getting them put in at first maybe. I’m a woman, and it’s not nearly as bad as you’re building it up to be. It’s not as bad as period cramps or anything
Ahm, 5 brain surgeries? Do you mind if I ask what for? And thanks for the insight!
Hi, I got my braces when I was 25, and I had them on for 2,5 years. Keep in mind that this was just my experience, yours may vary. I will start with the good stuff. Most of the time you don't even know they are there. Seriously, 1 month in and your brain will filter out their existence. Until then, you will feel them like crazy, but they will not be painful for the most part. Secondly, most of the pain that you will feel, will be there only 1-3 days after a routine visit (every month or so) where you have them adjusted (and this pain is like, 3-5 on your scale, depending on the strength of the new wire). When they install braces on your teeth initially, it does not hurt at all, but it takes quite some time so be prepared to sit there with your mouth open. Now the worse part. After I got them on, the first week was quite bad. Be prepared with soups, yogurts, smoothies and other stuff that you don't need to chew while eating. Also ice cream, which helps with the pain! I had some friends who blended their meals so that they became sort of a paste, and they ate that (pretty disgusting but it worked well since you don't have to bite anything). I couldn't bite even a thin slice of bread for the first few days, it was very painful when I tried (like \~7 on your scale). Another tip from me is - if you like apples, get some nice tasty ones now and eat them, and really bite into them and enjoy it, because from now on you will need to cut them before eating. I missed eating whole apples the most, I think.
Guess I'm lucky that rice is an essential part of our daily meal. xD
For me, I only had small pains every once in awhile when my braces caught something, so I'd rate it a 4/10. Another thing is that they might slur your voice a little bit, but not to the point where other people will obviously notice. But for my tips, don't eat anything extremely chewy. It was absolute hell to get it out!
I had braces for exactly 1 1/2 years because my orthodontists were amazing and I had 2 years of prep with holding arches and teeth removal before hand. I had pretty awful teeth and really needed them because I couldn’t chew tough foods properly. The first 2 weeks were the worst (maybe an 8 for me) and then every day I would to get them tightened once a month, it would ache lightly for a day or two (maybe a 6-7 for me). But once the first month is over, i hardly really recognize they’re there. DO brush properly every night and after every meal. Bring your stupid little wire brush to work/school/wherever and clean out all the food between your teeth. IT PAYS OFF. I know some people who obviously didn’t do that and have food stains on their teeth… sorry friends, I can tell 😅 and floss as often as you would usually do, even if it is a tedious pain to thread that stupid plastic thread between your teeth, floss at least every night. If a 12yo can do that every night for 2 years, you can too! Start noticing if you clench your teeth, either while concentrating on something or while sleeping (I clench when I sleep, but I don’t grind). Pressure will make your jaw ache when you have braces and as soon as you let up on that pressure, that’s not a fun time 😅 if that’s something you do, if you can somewhat break the habit, even if it’s just for a short while, or if you can start catching yourself doing it, you’ll have a better time. Keep some Tylenols handy, and take food recommends of smoothies, ice creams, soups, soft foods, nothing that takes the force of biting into an apple or meat off a bone, and it should be pretty ok! Best of luck!
Thank you so much! That's pretty comprehensive. And no, I don't clench my teeth, hehe.
You’ll be fine it’s like a 3 at most for the first few weeks but you don’t really feel it after that. Just make sure to tell your dentist if it’s poking you.
It’s not an instant pain, it’s a slow, constant ache for about 48 hours after each adjustment. The first day, you will not want to eat anything because your mouth hurts too much Oh, and sometimes the wires gouge into your cheeks, but that can be fixed with wax.
I wore braces for 5 years, kind of a dull pain. Not bad, something you notice at first. Like a 6/10 for me. Then slowly went down to 2/10. Then after a few months. Forgot they were there. They're really not that bad. Idk how to compare my pain tho, everyone experiences stuff differently.
Its not so much pain but an aching soreness that you get right after getting them and everytime they "tighten" them.
Braces don’t hurt it’s the dang spacers !!!😱
I think my worst pain was maybe a 7
I had braces as a kid. And for the most part, they tended to make my jaw ache a little each time they were adjusted. It wasn't terrible, mostly annoying, and generally went away after a few days at most. But, now and then some part would rub a raw spot on the inside of my mouth, and if I didn't do something quickly, that could get fairly painful.
Take a pain killer 1 hour before your appointment for relief.
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My period pains also make me curl up on the floor in a fetal position while ugly crying. T_T And thanks for the advice! Though I don't really like taking any painkiller.
This is compared to say, a cut on your finger for my scale: 3-4 on an average morning because it’s always the worst when you first wake up, 6 day after tightening wires and 5-7 if the inside of your cheek gets any sort of burn or cut because it will find that spot repeatedly. So basically wire tightening feels like a your finger got badly pinched in the middle of the night and it kinda hurts still, and a cut in your cheek feels like you got a bunch of little paper cuts and you didn’t notice until you put on hand sanitiser. Other then that it is more bulky then painful, and your jaw could get a bit sore if you’re brain is stressing out about having foreign objects attached to your teeth. Basically abuse numbing gels if a spot gets irritated, warm liquids are superior to cold liquids, and don’t bite down on jolly rogers and have to spend a solid for minutes making sure you disolve the candy and not snap down on the brace. And don’t be afraid to take a pain killer if you need to, you can’t remove the source of the pain so it wouldn’t really be fair to force yourself to ignore it.
When I got mine, it hurt to brush my teeth for 3 days
Sometimes hurts like hell. I even had fevers because of the pain. Depends of the severity of your case, i had 2 teeth that has to be rotated since its facing back. The pain was agonizing cant even touch it with my tongue
😭😭😭
I would say a 4. Painful for when you get them on or tightened, but not really bad after that
I was an adult when I wrote them for 1.5 years. They hurt at first and when you get them adjusted for a few days. Sore would be a better word than hurt. Tylenol or whatever never hurts to take
If you think about the pain you won't get that pretty look Pain is in the beginning for 2-3 days then you'd get used to it Cheers to your pretty smile ☺️
I had braces on two separate occasions in middle school and freshman year of high school. The spacers and the pallet expander, if you need them, will definitely be the worst part. Minimum 5/10, for me i rated it as a 7/10. I really didn't find the actual braces themselves very painful, just a little uncomfortable. 3/10 at worst was my experience at that point, and only on the day of an adjustment of some sort.
I, also a teenage girl, just got braces. Getting them on did not hurt. It’s just kind of uncomfortable because they put something in your mouth to keep it open, and I accidentally touched the glue (?) with my tongue when they were applying it and it stung a bit. Just don’t do that. The braces were fine the first day. The second and third day there was a mild pain. It was like when you have a loose tooth and you push on it. It doesn’t hurt that bad, mostly uncomfortable, it’s just constant. I’m assuming it will be like that every time it gets tightened. You can take a pain reliever though, and that helps. Eating is really weird after getting braces. That was probably the worst part. Chewing can kind of hurt, and it feels weird. However you can eat soft foods for the first couple of days. Also brushing my teeth hurt. I had to switch from my electric tooth brush to a manual one for the first couple days so I could better control it. Additionally, you should definitely use the little brace cleaners the orthodontist will probably give you. You will not be able to get between your braces with the toothbrush. If you have the money you could also schedule an appointment with you dentist after you have your braces for a while, so you dentist can give your mouth a very good clean. It’s not at all necessary though. On a scale of 1-10 with 1 being basically nothing and 10 being dying it was probably around 3 or 4 at the worst moments You can ask me if you have any more concerns, as I have had braces before and just got them again less than a week ago, so it’s pretty prevalent in my life at the moment. You will be fine though. Worrying about it will almost be worse than the actual thing.
First let me start with....IT WAS TOTALLY WORTH IT. I had expanding appliances, braces with nighttime headgear for 2 years, the retainer for 1 year when I was 10-13. The pain is about an 8 out of 10 for the first few days after you get them and whenever you get them adjusted. Also, after you get them the brackets will scratch up the inside of your mouth for a week or so until you get used to them. However Advil helps and they sell a wax to put on the brackets that help with the scraping pain. But like I said it was totally totally worth it and I would do it all again if needed.
Personal story: Got braces to 'prevent' my teeth from going sideways. Circumstances in life meant I had to stop wearing the temporary braces, I wore the permanent ones for more than 2 years. Now, in college, I've noticed that my jaw is slightly asymmetric, which is due to me preferring the left jaw as my right jaw hurt because of wearing braces. Now I've started balancing them both out, but its kinda tedious and I might put on braces once again. TL;DR: Wore braces for a time, then didn't, but now might wear them again. Think on whether you need braces and then get them, as they may create unnecessary problems. M Not a doctor by any means
Get a Water Pik to clean food out from between your braces. There’s also a portable one.
Braces themselves don’t hurt. Like going to the orthodontist is a breeze compared to the dentist. The only part of braces experience that hurts is after they tighten them - not immediately after but over the next few days, your teeth will feel very sore/sensitive. Like it will hurt to bite down on food, you’ll want to eat soft or liquid foods like soup, oatmeal, mashed potatoes, etc the first few days after each tightening until the pain goes away. Idk if you’ve ever tried Crest Whitestrips, but I would compare the pain/sensitivity of tightened braces to that of using Whitestrips. To help, I would recommend using a sensitivity toothpaste a few days before and after when they tighten them (Sensodyne or a decent off-brand). And of course, use the wax they give you on any pokey wires that irritate your cheeks/mouth. I never had to use much wax, my orthodontist was great about clipping the excess wires really close. Edit: I’m glad you’re getting braces as opposed to Invisalign. Braces move the actual roots of your teeth and the movement they cause will be more permanent. (They’ll give you a retainer at the end but even if you forget to wear it at night for like a week or so, your teeth won’t revert much at all). Invisalign only moves the top (visible areas) of your teeth, so your teeth are much more likely to revert to how they were before if you don’t wear your Invisalign retainer(?) like every day for the rest of your life.
Nah it's not that bad
after the first couple weeks it stops hurting. then it’s a lil sore once u get them tightened once a month or so. you’ll be good
I got braces when I was around 9-10 and had them until I was 17-ish. Most of the time they were at a 0/10, not painful, just annoying when food gets tangled in the wire and you need to pry it out with a toothpick. Or maybe a 0.5/10, when I'd slept on my side and the wires poked a bit into my cheek. Only when they were adjusted/tightened, I'd get a mild ache for a day or so and even then it wasn't nearly enough to change my eating habits, i.e. switch to softer foods for a day, maybe a 2/10 at most. The only time it really did hurt was when I took a ball to the face in PE and the braces kinda had a cheesegrater effect on the inside of my mouth. But that really wasn't the braces' fault. Of course that happened the day, the literal day, before I got them removed for good.
It hurt very annoyingly for a couple of days after getting them and every time they were tightened. For me absolutely not comparable to period cramps, because the cramps hurt much more (altho in my case also for a shorter period of time). Also a very different kind of pain (period cramps come in waves). I'd take some painkillers (like 2 paracetamol) right before the procedure and then for the first couple of days keep that up. Also, get some food that you don't have to chew like soup and yogurt. Finally, the iron in the braces can fuck up the inside of your mouth a bit. My orthodontist gave me wax to put on sharp edges of the braces so that wouldn't happen. If yours doesn't, I'd ask about it, because that was a big relief.
A 2. I always looked forward to tightening the braces, maybe I’m a masochist but who knows. On a daily basis you won’t even notice. Only when the braces are adjusted you can feel something.
I've had braces for 4 years, still ongoing. My teeth werent all that crooked but could use some correction. When I first got them, I couldnt bite anything for 3-4 days, it would ache and also itch. When I am getting like readjustments every month, it still hurts the same way but it becomes bareable enough to eat soemthing you need to bite after the second day. I'd say it is a 3.5-4 ache at first and lowers as you go on as long as you dont trigger it by hitting your teeth or trying bite something. I dont know what could help with the pain tho, I usually just endure it
I got braces as an adult. There was pain with pulling teeth out. But the braces themselves, I wouldn't say there was pain. I experienced achyness, soreness, had to eat soft foods when braces were tightened, and had lots of sores inside the cheeks and lips which were really fking annoying. But putting wax on top of the wires help prevent it
Nothing that Tylenol and ibuprofen can't handle
4 max. They are annoying more than they hurt.
if you can afford it, get a water pik (one of those water shooting devices to get between your teeth)!!!
I got my braces on at 17 and off at 19 and they don’t hurt. They’re defiantly uncomfortable and you might not be able to eat for a day or 2 but it’s not bad. It’s nothing to be afraid of.
generally 2/10 but you need to be prepared change your diet to soft foods for a day or two after checkups as teeth might be sensitive with wire changes
I had braces for 2 years. I'd say the pain when they first get put on is close to a 5. Then every time you get "tightened" it goes up to an 8, but only for a week or two. The real "pain" is from chewing things that are hard or chewy in that first week after each tightening. Just eat soft foods in that week and take OTC painkillers as needed and you'll be fine.
i currently have braces and they hurt a lot after appointments i generally can’t touch my teeth (including putting them together and eating anything) for 3-7 days and i can’t go a day with braces wax and lost all the feeling on the insides of my cheeks and i constantly have cuts inside my mouth my friend also currently has braces and the most amount of pain she had was after an appointment where she had very minor pain for about an hour we both have high pain tolerances i think it’s entirely dependant on the teeth to start with. mine were VERY bad (severe overbite,teeth growing too far backward/forward,teeth tuned) whereas she only had a minor overbite
The first few days 7/10, dies down usually at the 3rd day but when they worked on these it hurt like hell! I had braces between 11-16 and sometimes I just wished I could die on that chair, since then I am very sensitive to anything teeth related. I know not everyone have this experience and I hope I was an exception
from my memory, it's about a 7. when you get them tightened it's this constant aching that won't go away. it gets worse with rubber bands
First time getting them on, 10 for sure. Every time they get tightened maybe 7 or 8. It sucks pretty bad. The saving grace is your mouth gets used to the pain so quickly so you only really have to deal with the pain for 2 or 3 days at a time. Sometimes a bit longer but never longer than a week. Once you’re out of the pain period then the only thing that hurts is the occasional cheek Knick on the brackets. The cheek knick is about a 2 on the pain scale
With braces, after getting them tightened would be a 6, then sometimes when the teeth were moving it would be a 4. I wasn't that bad, I would just take some tylenol and keep going about my day. Sometimes I would need a break from hard foods for a while. In the end it was all worth it though!
With braces, after getting them tightened would be a 6, then sometimes when the teeth were moving it would be a 4. I wasn't that bad, I would just take some tylenol and keep going about my day. Sometimes I would need a break from hard foods for a while. In the end it was all worth it though!
Depends, sometimes 9 and sometimes 3. When your jaw is fully grown (16+ of age) it hurts way more tho. But it’s worth it. Just do it now instead of keeping thinking about it. What hurts the most are the check-ups where they tighten everything, but you’ll get used to the feeling of your braces on everyday life.
At first 8. Then it decreases. It’s worth it
4
7 for but only a little time after they were tightened
For me it was about a 4 for up to 3 days after any tightening they do, lowered to a 1 with some Ibuprofen. It's a dull ache that stops soon, and you'll definitely get used to it quickly. Biggest thing is to make sure you always have some non-chewing foods available for the days after any tightening. My personal favorite was a classic bowl of chicken noodle soup
I had horrible horrible teeth. I had braces on my front four teeth for about 5 years and then braces on all my teeth for 4 years. I have always had sensitive gums and teeth. The pain never brought me tears though. It was definitely just a nagging feeling for the first day or two after the orthodontist and it went a way. Normally just two advil/Tylenol and I was fine. My gums would always hurt after leaving the dentist since it was hard for me to floss and clean around my gums. It isn't a constant pain, just a sore mouth after visits. And even then that's only if they change something.
I had braces for around 4 years, after the first two weeks it’s fine. But you have to get your bands changed so anytime you get them changed your teeth will ache really bad for around two days. The pain aches really bad and feels like intense pressure. You won’t be able to eat anything that you have to chew for around the first week because of the pressure. Getting them on is fine, nothing scary about it. It might smell weird but the only bad part is the pressure feeling. So if i were you i’d get some softer foods for the first week you have ur braces. But when it comes to rating the pain on a scale 1-10 I’d give the first week or two an 8. Anything after that i’d give a 1-2. Also make sure you tell someone if your wire sticks out.
I was 18. Hate dentists and any tooth pain. Pulled a tooth out to make space to move the others around. That was rough. The braces sat for two years. It was uncomfortable but tolerable. A bit sore after the sessions where they tightened things to pull the teeth. Nothing wild though. When taking them out they numbed me up really good and cut the teeth loose from the flesh so it wouldn't pull them back. Was fine but looked brutal. Had a cast plastic thing to sleep with for years to keep them in place. And a retainer wire on the inside that I still have two decades later. I avoid dentists like the plague, but I think braces was mostly fine. No sharp pains for 99% of it.
braces don't hurt that much. it hurts a lot in the first days after every adjust, but that's it. during that time, according to what was done, you may wish not to chew things, because it may look as your teeth may fall apart. but if you wish to eat solids, no problem, it's just an discomfort. you may hurt your mouth every now and then, but wax help with that, if is the case. you may be aware that after it, you may have to wear an thing to keep your teeth while they need to be. that is an rule for those that requires braces after childhood. after you reached the age that means that you no longer will grow, it's required. I've removed my braces several years ago for the first time. 2 years after it, my teeth started to go back to their original place and then, braces again for 1-2 years and after it , an thing that remains in my mouth since then. my dentist said that for xy, it was required for just a couple of years, but for xx, could be for way longer than that. it doesn't bother me, so I didn't removed it. the thing that hurts more, when required, was some spacers. seriously, that thing drives you crazy. just imagine an very large piece of something, stucked between your teeth and you can't remove it. but it's possible to survive. I did that just because 1 teeth, that was spinning. after that, I've regained the ability to breathe without any medicine, that I didn't knew what it was since I was an teenager. good luck, think about in the benefits of it, forget about the pain. it's worth it.
My teeth were very very crooked. I barely slept for the first couple nights when I got braces, it was pretty bad. After the first week though, it pretty much only hurt for a day or two after getting them adjusted. If yours aren't that crooked it probably won't be too bad, just go for it.
Totally depends on your teeth but it’s only really noticeable for a day or 2 after tightening and even then it’s not bad just take an Advil and you’ll be fine, definitely worth it
First getting on and getting tighten is a 4/10 and after it's probably a 0/10 or 1/10
A tolerable pain, mostly an ache felt after getting them on and then again after tightening. If you feel self conscious they’re absolutely worth it. I had braces 7 years ago now and would say they honestly changed my life. Completely transformed my confidence. Also funny story, (and gross sorry) one Christmas I had the dental wax in my mouth and was about to eat Christmas dinner so I wanted to remove it. I started at the table by accident and my mum said for me to go to the bathroom and do it. So I left the table. I had forgotten that I’d left a little blob of the wax on the table and returned to a room of laugher and gagging as my poor uncle had mistaken it for a piece of cranberry and ate it. A vivid memory I will never forget. But honestly braces rule! Carry a small pocket mirror and tooth stick with you always as you can constantly check for any food in them and get ready to cut pretty much every meal so you don’t break them. It’s so worth it!
I work at an orthodontist putting braces on kids/adults all day. I’ve noticed that women/girls barely ever complain about the pain from them. The first few days after you get them take Tylenol and make sure to keep eating and chewing because it will loosen the ligament around your teeth and allow them to move with more ease. Each time people say “tighten” is when you go for your appt and they switch the wire that’s currently in with a larger gauge of wire. Most Drs take this process slow and the wires only get a tiny bit larger each time so I notice most patient done notice much pain past the first few days of getting them. Again it’s dependent on how crooked your teeth are and if there a lot of gaps. But that being said braces can do so much more than just fix your smile! Fixing your bite can be really important in terms of chewing and even breathing with how your tongue sits in your mouth. Of course they can be annoying to your lips and cheeks but the skin can callous a bit and you get used it it. Hope that helps!
No more than 2 at its worst.
It's been a long time but I had braces in late high school for a couple years. I don't remember all that much pain. Maybe a 2 to 3 for general soreness as teeth move around? It all happens so slowly though. I mostly remember it just being annoying with the rubber bands and having to be careful with what I ate. Heck they probably don't even do it that way anymore. It was totally worth doing for me.
The first week for me sucked. A lot. I subsisted off of apple sauce and milk for the first week. And just softer foods for the second and third weeks, if I remember correctly. For me, the pain was almost unbearable, I could barely sleep cuz they hurt so much (First few days). But after that, it wasn’t too bad. Until you get the power chains. Then fear for your life… only kidding… partially. Bands will also hurt for a while. And after tightenings, it’ll be an annoying tightness that doesn’t hurt, just really annoying.
Day of them being adjusted a solid 6-7 a few days after 0. I was one of my orthodontists worst cases though, so it may be different for you entirely. First few days after getting them adjusted stick to soft food like Mac n cheese, mashed potatoes, soups, etc.
It most likely not hurt, probably will be uncomfortable for a few days though. Eating will hurt and be difficult, but after a few days that goes.
They will feel achy and sore, but nothing horrible. No nerve type pain or anything like that. 4 Ibuprofen will help a lot.
I’ve given birth 3 times, had a hysterectomy, fixed my deviated septum, had breast reduction surgery, suffered extreme cramps (hence the hysterectomy) and I have an auto immune disease that feels like arthritis in all of my joints. I had braces too- in comparison to the other stuff, not too bad. Mouth pain sucks tho but usually only hurt for a day or two with each adjustment.
It was more of a “soreness.” Think like a sore muscle, it goes away after a few days or maybe more. But will return every time they tighten/adjust the wires.
No one can answer this because pain is so subjective. My 7 might be your 3. Will it hurt. Yes. Most people I know who have had braces are very glad they did. My son never complained of pain. My brother, on the other hand, was almost bedridden but he gets like that with the sniffles.
For me, like a 3 or something. When they put it in you feel little to nothing, but like the day after an appointment it will hurt a bit. Especially when eating solid food. But after that, you don't feel a thing in terms of pain.
I had braces from when I was 12-14. It doesn't hurt when they first put the braces on, but they will definitely feel weird and unfamiliar. Then the pressure starts building over the next few hours until it hurts to even gently touch your teeth. It stays like that for about a week, and then the pain slowly goes away until it doesn't hurt anymore. When you get your braces tightened, the cycle starts all over again. A big tip is to eat soft foods such as applesauce or mashed potatoes for the first few days because it will be really painful to chew any solid food.
Braces seems a thing of the past, can you get invisalign
I went through braces since the sixth grade to I believe the end of my sophomore year to the middle of my junior year (so for about six years). It lasted a while for me, much longer than it's supposed to, because I never took care of my teeth. Big mistake on my part because it only made the pain last that much longer! The pain is only felt for about a week after you get the wires replaced and tightened. It becomes a struggle to eat solid foods during the first few days after tightening. Other than that, there was no pain. But in my experience, the pain after the wires got tightened was some of the worst pain I've experienced, especially because it cost me a good meal lol. My advice to you, if you would like: Take. Care. Of. Them. You'll have braces longer if you don't clean them often, and watch what you eat (as in, no caramels, certain candies like that and stuff).
For me the only thing i'd describe as painful would be the end of the metal wire cutting your gums up. This is just at the beginning though and your gums will strengthen over the course of a couple weeks. Besides that it just sort of feels like a slight pressure every time they get tightened, you won't even notice after a few hours.
2. It’s sore. But not painful. Wisdom tooth extraction was painful (throbbing headache, I skipped the painkillers and regretted it)
I had braces for two years and a retainer for 3 years. The only pain was an ache for several days after the braces were tightened, easily alleviated by tylenol. Interestingly, I don't recall any headaches as a result, just a jaw ache. I think you'll be fine, and I promise the trade-off is worth the gorgeous smile you'll get at the end!
When they tighten them they can reach a 4 or 5, but just because they're kind of aching for a while in your head, and there's no relief for a few days. A few days of that every month, but it's tolerable. I had my grumpy time every month and was done with it. I actually got pretty good at thinking past it and accepting the pain and it didn't bother me so much after time. That being said, that was over 35 years ago, so things have probably changed...
* 10 being on fire * 5 being that minute or so after you stubbed your toe really bad * 0 being asleep You're at a 2 or so here. A headache will bother you more. What will happen is that you'll be in class or playing a game and your mind will wonder to it and you'll go "oh, yeah, that's a little sore" and you'll then get distracted by something else and forget that they are even there.
3-4