Getting braces is a breeze, ranking at a mere 1 on the pain scale for 80% of people. Embarking on your first orthodontic treatment journey doesn’t have to be painful, although some procedures are more uncomfortable than others.
So do you want to know in more depth how much do braces hurt on a scale 1-10? Let’s dive into the subject to share helpful tips to make your orthodontics experience a breeze.
Adults are less used to discomfort so we tend to recommend more comfortable and aesthetic forms of treatment for this type of patient when possible. Some patients are unusually sensitive to pain. Having braces might be unfamiliar, but it’s not deeply painful.
The gum inflammation is normal from having braces. We urge our patients to resist the irritation before covering it with comfort wax we provide so keratinized tissue (calluses) can create a natural relief and comfort for the braces throughout treatment.
How to Get Pain Relief for Braces in Austin
Does it change depending on where you are? Colder climate patients tend to feel less pain as our latest alloys tend to soften with colder air. In Texas, you can compensate with cold water or a frozen cotton swab pushed with the finger on the wire, not gums. Eating soft foods such as mashed potatoes and avoiding chewy or crunchy foods when a wire is first inserted will keep your appliances intact and accelerate your tooth movement by allowing the teeth to stay stable so new bone can form around them. if you want more information about food and braces, we have written blog posts about “What can you eat with braces?” and “What can’t you eat with braces?”.
The alignment wires we use change their crystalline structure and material property and get softer when you eat colder foods! so, if you are having a hard time, have some ice cream, use an ice pack on your cheeks, or drink some cold water!
In Austin, icy cold drinks s the way to go. Cold drinks not only change the crystalline structure of initial orthodontic wires, making them less stiff, but also relieve inflammation itself. So, consuming icy cold foods is the best natural solution to pain with braces!
It is important to note that our technology is totally different and improved. Your orthodontic appointment frequency and mouth adjusts will be a lot lower than your parents used to be! Thanks to Dr. Viecilli’s research, and others, we nailed it to make sure you get the least amount of the discomfort and side effect with the most amount of tooth movement. No oral anesthetics are ever needed!
Our orthodontic team canprovide you with all the tools to assure your experience will be the most comfortable possible. But remember, it will never be like you have nothing in your mouth. You have to make sure to keep your teeth clean and gums inflammation under control to minimize pain both during treatment and braces removal.
If you don’t brush your teeth, you’ll pay the price with more pain throughout your treatment or have the risk to have it interrupted to prevent damage to your teeth and gums. Sometimes, the parents have to assist with brushing to prevent painful bleeding gums. We don’t want any family to leave without their children with teeth straight and a loss of investment.
Although pain is usually highest and most unusual in the beginning of braces treatment, having your braces tightened a couple of times can renew the inflammatory process. But this usually occurs for just a few teeth. The longer the treatment goes on, the less the level of discomfort for the patient tends to be. Sometimes, rubber bands are added to connect the top and bottom braces at the end of treatment. This can also cause some mild pain and discomfort. If you want more information, we have written a blog post about “How to relieve pain from rubber bands on braces?”.
How do we put orthodontic treatment appliances on?
Putting braces on your child your mouth is a simple and virtually painless process. We etch your teeth with a slightly acidic substance that may be a bit sour when washed off. This is to make the enamel more porous to attach brackets to your teeth using color-matched dental cement and thread thin wires through them. After treating the surface of the enamel, we add glue to the bracket and cure it, attaching it to the tooth.
Tightening braces with o-ties or metallic ligatures might cause some discomfort. Your orthodontist will adjust the wires to gradually shift your teeth into alignment. It’s like a little pressure, nothing to worry about. And if you need it, over-the-counter pain relief is available. We only recommend Tylenol- ask the Doc about dosage. For instance, Dr. Cameron Freelove, an orthodontist Sammamish WA relies on, agrees with the recommendation. many pain relievers can slow down tooth movement and prolong the pain overall.
Old clear braces for adults used to be milled and be very sharp around the corners. They also had elastics around them, which tend to stain. Our self-ligating metal transparent braces have rounded edges and do not stain because they don’t need the tiny elastics that keep the wire attached to the braces! Most patients are frustrated that their o-ties get yellow during treatment with transparent braces but we spend 4x the cost to make sure you don’t have to come back to the office to change your o-ties if you take a turmeric shot or drink some wine.
Relax and we guarantee our ceramic Japanese high tech self-ligating brackets will keep the wire in place and reduce your dental visits while optimizing aesthetics.
Removal
We use Instruments that do not damage the teeth, and a black light that makes the glue fluoresce do we touch your teeth the least amount of time possible! We use the latest scientific advancements to make sure you are comfortable. When it’s time to say goodbye to your metal braces, the removal process is painless. A bit of mild discomfort might be felt to disconnect the brackets from the braces, but your tooth is secured during the process. so overall, it’s a breeze. Your orthodontist will clean your teeth and possibly suggest a permanent retainer, to maintain your newly-aligned smile.
Braces Pain Relief – Smartarch to Optimize Comfort During Treatment
If braces start causing discomfort, don’t worry! We have tips to ease the pain. Orthodontic wax provides a protective barrier, and pain medications can offer relief. Always consult your orthodontist for the best treatment options.
With braces, pain is no longer a concern. Get ready to embrace your journey to a confident smile! Learn more about the innovative SmartArch wire that can speed up your treatment time and require fewer adjustments. This wire was invented by Dr. Rodrigo Viecilli, orthodontist here at Limestone Hills Orthodontics. It is laser treated to soften specific areas and make sure all teeth have ideal forces from the start.
Smartarch can reduce inflammation and stay with your mouth on it up to 4 months because it can replace up to 3 wire changes! it’s the most expensive archwire in the world but our office team offers it for free because our Doctor is one of the inventors. Each little area of the wire between the brackets has a different stiffness optimizing the force for each tooth! Amazing!
Does Invisalign Hurt as Much as Traditional Metal Braces?
The research shows that with conventional wires, Invisalign or clear aligners in general may actually hurt less and cause less side effects than braces. But the Smartarch is a game changer, and no research has been done comparing the two, but our personal opinion is that it’s a tie with slight favor to the Smartarch which is scientifically validated.
Radiant Smiles and Confident Journeys With Dr. Viecilli and Limestone Hills Orthodontics Treatment
Your comfort, well-being, and radiant smile are at the heart of what our orthodontist and our friendly staff deliver to your family or yourself (yes we also treat adults!).
Trust in our expertise, and get ready to unveil a confident, beaming you with a beautiful smile. Your dream smile awaits, and we’re here to make it reality. Contact us today for a free consultation!
