How to Relieve Braces Pain
Reviewed by Dr. Susan Korch, DMD, MS
Braces are usually tender for three to five days after placement and for a day or so after each adjustment. Orthodontic wax over anything rubbing, cold food and drink, soft meals, and an over-the-counter pain reliever handle nearly all of it. The soreness gets milder with every subsequent visit.
The first few days with new braces are the worst they will be, which is worth knowing while you are in them.
The ache is not damage. It is the ligament around each tooth responding to steady pressure, which is exactly what has to happen for teeth to move. It settles as your body adapts, and each adjustment after the first is noticeably easier than the one before.
Here is what actually helps.
What Helps, in Order of How Well It Works
Orthodontic wax. The single most useful thing you have. Dry the bracket with a tissue first, then press a small ball of wax over it. Wet wax will not stick, which is why people conclude it does not work.
Cold. Cold water, ice water, iced drinks, and cold soft food all genuinely reduce the ache. Ice cream on the first evening is a legitimate clinical recommendation and one of the few times we will say so.
Soft food for two or three days. Yogurt, pasta, eggs, soup, smoothies, mashed potato. Nothing that needs a real bite. See our full food guide.
An over-the-counter pain reliever, taken as directed on the label. Most useful in the first two days, and worth taking before the ache peaks rather than after.
Salt water rinses. Half a teaspoon in a cup of warm water. Helpful for irritated cheeks and gums rather than for the deep ache.
Time. Unsatisfying but true. Tenderness peaks around day two and is usually gone by day five.
The Different Kinds of Discomfort
Not all braces pain is the same thing, and the fix depends which you have:
| What it feels like | What it is | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Dull ache when biting, all teeth | Teeth moving. Normal, expected | Cold, soft food, pain reliever, time |
| A sharp spot rubbing the cheek or lip | A bracket or wire against soft tissue | Wax. Call us if it persists |
| A wire poking at the back | A wire that has shifted or a tooth that has moved | Wax, and call us. See emergency care |
| Teeth feeling loose | Normal during movement. They firm up afterwards | Nothing needed |
| Severe pain that is not easing, or swelling | Not routine | Call us straight away |
How Long Does It Last?
After your braces go on: tender to bite on for three to five days. Your lips and cheeks may feel rubbed for a week or two while the inside of your mouth toughens.
After an adjustment: usually a day, sometimes two, and much milder than the first time.
After a new aligner tray: typically the first night, then it eases.
It gets easier. Nearly every patient reports the first week as the hardest of the whole treatment. If yours is getting worse rather than better, that is worth a call, because it is not the normal pattern.
What We Use in the Office
Most braces pain happens at home, and the list above is for that. Discomfort during an appointment is a different problem, and it is one we can do something about directly.
We use the Dental Pain Eraser, a handheld device that applies a gentle electrical impulse to the treatment area. It interrupts discomfort signals on their way to the brain, which temporarily reduces sensitivity where we are working.
It is drug-free and needle-free. No injection, no numbness afterwards, nothing to wear off before you can eat.
Most patients describe a light tingling, brief and easily tolerated, including younger patients.
It is quick to apply, so it does not lengthen your appointment.
It is most useful for children and teenagers who are anxious, for patients with sensitive teeth or gums, and for anyone who would rather avoid conventional approaches. Our team will tell you whether it suits what we are doing that day.
When to Call Us Instead
Call (717) 533-7400 if:
- Pain is severe, or is getting worse rather than better after day three
- There is swelling in the face or jaw
- A wire is poking and wax is not holding it
- A bracket has come loose
- Something simply does not feel right
You will not be bothering us. Working out whether something is normal is our job, not yours, and a two-minute phone call usually settles it. See orthodontic emergency care.
Ask Us About Comfort
If discomfort is putting you off treatment, say so at your consultation. It is a more solvable problem than most people expect.
Korch Orthodontics · 357 West Governor Road, Hershey, PA 17033 · (717) 533-7400
Frequently Asked Questions
We understand that new technology often brings questions. The following information is designed to provide clarity on how the Dental Pain Eraser works and what you can expect during your orthodontic visit, helping you feel informed, comfortable and confident in your care.
How long does braces pain last?
Three to five days after your braces are first placed, and usually about a day after each adjustment. It is at its worst around the second day and eases from there. Each adjustment is milder than the last, because your teeth and your mouth both adapt.
What can I eat when my braces hurt?
Anything soft and preferably cold. Yogurt, smoothies, ice cream, soup that has cooled, pasta, scrambled eggs, mashed potato. Cold helps twice over, since it numbs slightly as well as needing no chewing.
Does it hurt as much every time they are tightened?
No, and this is the part people are most relieved to hear. The first week is by a distance the hardest. Adjustments cause an ache for a day and most patients stop thinking about them entirely after the first couple.
Do clear aligners hurt less than braces?
Generally a little, and differently. Aligners produce pressure for the first day of each new tray rather than a sustained ache, and there is nothing rubbing your cheeks. See clear aligners.
Can I take something before my appointment?
Yes, an over-the-counter pain reliever an hour beforehand is reasonable if you know adjustments make you sore. Mention it to us and we can also use the Dental Pain Eraser during the visit.
