Do braces hurt?

The pain caused by braces varies from person to person but is generally not too bad. You will probably feel slight pain or sensitivity in the first few days after we fit your braces. This is because your teeth are slowly moving into a new position. Your lips may feel dry due to the braces. And you may also experience some irritation or small sores on your cheeks and lips where your braces rub the inside of your mouth. After a few days, this sensitivity will pass, and you’ll soon forget you’re even wearing braces at all.

Can I eat everything after braces are fitted?

Your teeth will be sensitive after braces are fitted, so it’s best to eat soft food and drink cold drinks for the first few days. You can have smoothies, mashed potato, soup, yoghurt and ice cream. The best thing about cold drinks is that they provide some relief by numbing your mouth a little. Once you get used to your braces, you can eat as usual again. However, you’ll still need to be extra careful and avoid hard or sticky foods that can damage your braces, such as caramel.

Oral care with braces

Brushing your teeth is one of the things that can feel strange in the first few days after you get your braces. The same is true for flossing. We’ll teach you the best way to brush and floss after fitting your braces, and if you follow the procedure we show you, you’ll get used to it in no time.

You can expect some irritation on the inside of your cheeks and lips for the first few days after your braces are fitted. One way to easily relieve sore areas during the adjustment period is by rinsing with saltwater. Put a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and swish the saline solution around your mouth a few times before spitting it out. This will help the sore areas, and you can gargle as often as you like. If rinsing with saltwater doesn’t do the trick, you can also warm up some orthodontic wax with your hands and stick it on your braces to protect the areas that are causing discomfort.

Tips to combat pain

At first, it will probably feel like your braces are sticking out. This is normal, and you’ll quickly get used to this feeling. Once your teeth align better, you will start to not notice your braces anymore. However, your front teeth can be a bit sensitive to pressure at first. You may feel some pain for the first eight hours after the braces are fitted. The exact length of time varies from person to person. Rinsing with saltwater will usually provide some relief, but if the pain becomes unpleasant, then you can take painkillers.

Tips for new brace wearers

• Eat all your favourite soft foods to reduce abrasions on the inside of your mouth and avoid chewing too hard. This is a good time to enjoy ice cream, pudding, yoghurt, soft cheese, soup, stew, oatmeal and porridge. Fill the freezer with frozen berries, bananas and mangos and blend them up to make smoothies. Eating softer foods reduces the pressure on your teeth as they adjust to the changes, and it makes brushing and flossing a lot easier too.
• Brush your teeth in the morning, after meals and snacks and before bed for at least three minutes each time with a non-whitening, fluoride toothpaste. If you forget to take your toothbrush with you, make sure you rinse your mouth well after eating and brush your teeth as soon as you get home.
• Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and don’t press too hard. Make sure you tilt the brush at a 45-degree angle and brush along the top and bottom of your braces. Pay close attention to the gum line as well.
• Floss once a day. An orthodontic flosser or a floss threader makes the process a lot easier, especially during the first few days with braces.
• Don’t panic! For the first few days, your teeth may start to feel loose. While this can be quite frightening, it’s actually a sign that your braces are doing their job. If you’re still worried, please give us a call!