You have just gotten your braces and your teeth hurt every time you eat a sandwich. No doubt you are looking for one thing – how long is braces pain going to last? Fortunately, there is some predictability in this process, and most patients find it dissipates much quicker than expected.

Here at Central Coast Orthodontics in Santa Maria, we explain this process to our patients every week. Now let's see what is really going on in your mouth, how long does each phase take, and how you can shorten the duration of your suffering.

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Why Braces Cause Pain in the First Place

It is important to remember that the teeth do not sit in your mouth just for decoration; they are held in place by ligaments that react to the applied pressure. After brackets and wires are attached by your orthodontist, these ligaments will start stretching and remodeling to allow the movement of your teeth into a proper position. The applied pressure is the exact thing that moves the teeth, and therefore, it is the exact thing that leads to pain. In other words, being sore is a sign that you're doing well with your braces, not a sign that something is wrong.

The Braces Pain Timeline, Stage by Stage

In general, the pain goes through several distinct stages:

• First 24 hours: Minor or barely perceptible, because the wires are not applied completely yet.
• Days 2 to 3: The peak of the pain, when your ligaments are reacting to the pressure, and your teeth become sensitive when chewing.
• Days 4 to 7: The pain gradually decreases, and most patients can eat soft or medium-texture foods.
• One week later: The pain is over until the next adjustment.

In that case, all future tightening results in mild discomfort lasting for two to four days. But as the process goes on, it becomes shorter and less intense because your mouth adjusts to the pressure. Whether you have traditional braces or LightForce braces, most people experience only negligible discomfort after one or two months.

What's Normal, and What's Not

In most cases, tenderness, sensitivity while biting, and rubbing from brackets against your cheeks or lips are considered to be normal. However, sharp or localized pain, swelling, a loose or broken bracket, and discomfort that does not go away within a week, are not normal symptoms at all. Should you experience any of them, do not wait until it goes away. Rather, read life with braces guide or contact our Santa Maria office to have your problem solved before it becomes even worse.

Tried-and-True Methods to Hasten Relief

Although you cannot bypass the adjustment period altogether, you can certainly make it more comfortable for yourself:

• Rinse your mouth with warm salt water. One teaspoon of salt mixed with eight ounces of warm water is ideal for soothing inflamed gum tissue.
• Apply orthodontic wax to any brackets that rub against your cheek or lip.
• Consume soft foods such as yogurt, mashed potatoes, and smoothies for the first few days.
• Take an over-the-counter painkiller according to the directions on the bottle.
• Place a cold pack on your face, or drink ice water to numb the pain.

Braces Pain vs. Invisalign Discomfort

A common question from some patients is whether Invisalign is more comfortable compared to braces. Actually, the aligners will create some soreness due to pressure as well, particularly when you start using a new tray. At the same time, the pain is less intense compared to the one that follows the braces adjustment. If you are still considering which of these treatment options to choose, our Invisalign timeline guide will help you understand what to expect.

Every Smile Is a Little Different

The age of the patient and the type of the treatment affect how soreness appears. Patients of different ages experience it in different ways, so it makes sense to find out how it goes in case of children, teenagers, and adults. It is also important to know what you can expect when you start wearing braces in adulthood. Even after the braces are removed, you may have some soreness while wearing a retainer for several days.

The Bottom Line

Now, how long will braces hurt? Well, for most people, the initial pain should peak between two to three days and reduce over the week following the treatment, and each subsequent visit to adjust the braces will be shorter than the last one. In case your pain seems different, more severe, or just won't stop, we can help at our Santa Maria clinic. Come see us at Schedule a visit with Central Coast Orthodontics today.