When thinking about getting braces, prospective patients automatically think of the pain which many patients associate with them. Unfortunately, yes, they do hurt from time to time. However, this pain is not constant and usually not as bad as it is said to be. A good way to avoid and reduce pain which results from braces is to know exactly why they may hurt. Dr. Bob Bryan of Bob Bryan Orthodontics is here to share what might be causing your braces to hurt in Allentown, PA and some ways you can reduce the pain during treatment.
Why do Braces hurt?
Many patients know that braces hurt, but most people don’t understand why. The mouth is a very sensitive part of the body and adding new brackets, wires, and other appliances can cause some occasional pain or discomfort. According to Dr. Bryan, they can hurt for a variety of reasons including:
- Irritation inside the mouth: When you first get this orthodontic treatment on your teeth, your mouth needs a few days to adjust. This new addition on the fronts of your teeth takes up room in your mouth and your mouth now needs to figure out how to live with them. This can sometimes result in irritation as the braces and your teeth/gums are interacting for the first time. However, once the two are comfortable, the irritation should disappear.
- Broken bracket: While you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment, the brackets are constantly being used. Because of this, they sometimes can break. Broken brackets are completely normal and happen to almost everyone at least once during treatment. This, however, may cause some pain and irritation because the broken bracket can possibly be poking parts of the mouth, especially if you have traditional metal. If this occurs, make an appointment with Dr. Bryan and Bob Bryan Orthodontics as soon as possible to fix the problem and make sure no further problems or pain occurs.
- Shifting of teeth: We all know that braces shift your teeth to give you the healthy, picture-perfect smile you’ve dreamed of. This shifting of the teeth is what causes the most pain. When your brackets are tightened, they are aligning your teeth and essentially changing your teeth’s position in your mouth. This movement is what causes the most tension and pain in patients with braces.
How to prevent braces from hurting?
While they do hurt for a variety of reasons, there are also many different ways to combat this occasional pain in Allentown, PA.
- Avoid hard foods: When your braces get tightened, your teeth will naturally hurt for a little while because they are moving more than usual. During this time, hard foods should be avoided as they can bring more pain because of the amount of effort they take to chew. It also takes some time to get used to chewing with them. Some foods which are better to eat when your they hurt are soft foods such as pasta, mashed potatoes, yogurt, bananas, etc.
- Take over-the-counter or doctor prescribed medication: When your teeth hurt because of braces, there is nothing wrong with taking over-the-counter medicine or a medicine that Dr. Bryan prescribed to lessen the pain. Medicines, such as Tylenol and Advil can help subside the pain until your braces feel more comfortable in your mouth.
Dr. Bob Bryan and the team at Dr. Bob Bryan Orthodontics are experts in braces. If you have any questions pertaining to Invisalign, Invisalign Teen, braces and clear braces in Hamburg, PA, Auburn, PA, Berks County, PA, Shoemakersville, PA, Port Clinton, PA, Allentown, PA, Lehigh County, PA, Emmaus, PA, Bethlehem, PA, Lehigh Valley, PA or would like to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Bob Bryan, contact Dr. Bob Bryan at: (610) 435-2788
