Beautiful and straight teeth are nowadays the ideal of beauty and more and more young people and adults use orthodontics to have their teeth straightened. The orthodontist can create an aesthetic result with a variety of appliances. For this purpose a fixed appliance is often unavoidable. But especially the first time after the fixed braces have been put in place can cause severe discomfort to the patient. But why does the braces cause pain and how can this pain be alleviated?
Why do braces cause pain?
During the first days after the insertion of the fixed or loose braces, all tissues within the oral cavity must adapt to the new condition. The cheeks, lips and tongue have less space. The brackets or wires irritate the mucous membrane and cause small wounds.
The flow of saliva is thereby stimulated more strongly and the entire oral cavity is extremely sensitive due to the adaptation to the new condition. Protruding wires can also cause wounds within the oral cavity, which are very unpleasant. Another problem are the wire ends, which must be strongly rounded in order not to produce injuries to the oral mucosa.
But it is not only the soft tissues within the oral cavity that can cause discomfort from the braces, toothache is also possible. Through the fixed and loose braces a strong pressure and tensile load is transferred to the teeth, so that they receive an impulse to shift. These pains can be severe, but they subside after a few days.
After each new insertion of the wire, where a different wire thickness is used, and where therefore new or greater force is applied to the teeth, these complaints can be short-lived. The same applies to the tightening of wires with removable braces. The pain can be so severe that it is only possible to eat soft food for a short time because chewing hurts.
Oral hygiene is also crucial. The appliance makes oral hygiene more difficult, but it is very important to prevent the development of caries. An unnoticed caries due to poor oral hygiene in the hard to reach places also causes pain. Since multiple factors play a role, it is advisable to consult your orthodontist or dentist if pain persists.
