Pain due to braces

Pain caused by braces primarily occurs during the familiarization phase. The braces achieve a movement of the teeth by transmitting traction and force to the teeth, which they first have to get used to. In the first few days after insertion and a change in the thickness of the wire, this causes pain.

After a period of one to two weeks, however, these complaints should have subsided. Orthodontists recommend a painkiller after insertion in order to reduce the pain. Hard food should also be avoided during this phase, as too much chewing can increase the pain.

Further complaints are caused by the irritated soft tissues, which also have to get used to the space requirement of the braces. These include the tongue in the case of lingual technique or the inside of the cheek in the case of braces anchored on the outside. Protruding or non-rounded wire ends also have the potential to cause discomfort, as the soft tissues are in constant contact and thus graze.

This can be remedied by the orthodontist folding the wire end over or by buffering the wires with wax. However, these complaints usually only occur with fixed appliances. Loose braces hardly cause any pain, usually only if the braces are not worn or adjusted as ordered by the orthodontist. However, this pain is not so bad that painkillers must be taken.

Aftercare

In order to maintain the treatment success of braces in the long term, after every orthodontic therapy an appropriate follow-up treatment is important. Since the shape of the jaw can change throughout a lifetime, a successfully completed dental correction is no guarantee that the teeth will remain permanently straight. For this reason, the active treatment phase (while the devices are in the mouth) is followed by the so-called retention phase.

During the first 1-2 years after the braces are removed, patients should wear retention braces at least during the night. This brace fixes the final result of the therapy to a certain extent. In addition, thin wires (retainers) are often permanently attached to the side of the tooth facing the tongue.