Braces are the surest way to a beautiful smile with a malocclusion and crooked teeth. Yes, it is not always aesthetic (iron locks look unsightly), and wearing the system is sometimes associated with discomfort and pain. But it is braces that allow you to get a long-awaited Hollywood smile for life. When does pain occur when correcting a bite and how to deal with them quickly? Read on.
Does it hurt to put braces?
To understand whether it is painful to install the system, consider the installation steps:
- Dental treatment and plaque removal – these manipulations will exclude diseases of the teeth and gums within 1-2 years of wearing braces.
- Enamel processing for better fixation of system elements.
- Fixing braces on each tooth and connecting them with an arc, creating an effort to move the teeth in the right direction.
As a result, the installation of braces takes up to 2-3 hours. This is a long, but absolutely painless. In rare cases, tooth extraction is required. In addition to the characteristics of a particular clinical case, the need for removal depends partly on the type of bracket system, and partly on the competence of the doctor. In any situation, we try to do our best to keep our teeth safe and sound.
Most likely, the only thing that will cause you discomfort is a long sitting in a dental chair with an open mouth. Plus, the first few days will have to get used to the presence of extraneous elements.
Pain when wearing braces can occur for two reasons:
- Arc pressure on teeth
To move the teeth you need to press on them with a certain effort. Further, the tooth begins to put pressure on the ligaments and bone tissue. It looks something like this:
The pressure is maximum immediately after the installation or correction of the bracket system , so during this period many patients have toothaches. We try to calculate the pressure on the teeth as accurately as possible in order to provide effective treatment on the one hand and avoid exhausting pain on the other. How many teeth do you have after installing the braces? A few days.
- Irritation of the oral mucosa from contact with the elements of the bracket system
In case of injury and irritation of the oral mucosa, stick orthodontic wax (we have it) on that element of the system that causes discomfort to the cheek or lip.
It will relieve inflammation of the mucous membrane and weak saline solution. Dilute 0.5 teaspoon of table salt in a glass of warm boiled water and rinse your mouth 3-4 times a day.
How to reduce the pain of braces in the first weeks after installation: general recommendations?The first time after installing the bracket system is the most difficult. You need to get used to foreign bodies in your mouth, learn to eat with braces without damaging the system and preventing pain from intensifying. How?
- Eat soft and liquid foods. Mashed potatoes, soups, cereals, yogurts, fruit mousses in the early days, weeks will help you adapt to eating with braces and reduce pain during chewing.
- Some fragile bracket systems require avoiding the use of solid foods (apples, crackers, nuts). This can damage the system and cause acute toothache.
- Take a pain medication – for example, Ibuprofen, Nise, Ketorol or others. It is better to take a pill after a meal, as painkillers on an empty stomach cause indigestion. Alternatively, spread gums with local anesthetics – gels or mouthwashes.
- Eat or hold in your mouth cold – ice cream, a piece of ice. This will dull the pain and reduce inflammation.
If severe pain from braces does not subside for more than 1 week or a headache occurs, call a doctor immediately.
Where is the pain after braces?
Many patients who have undergone orthodontic treatment complain of pain after braces. It is explainable. After removing the system, the teeth tend to occupy their “native” wrong position. Plus, the enamel is loosened. Teeth become more sensitive.