Some soreness is common when braces are first fitted and after adjustment appointments. Your teeth may feel tender when you bite or chew, while brackets and wires can irritate the inside of your cheeks or lips during the first few days.
This discomfort is usually temporary, with soreness gradually subsiding over several days as the teeth respond to orthodontic pressure. If the pain becomes more severe instead of subsiding, or is accompanied by swelling or a damaged brace, contact your dentist or orthodontist.
Why Do Braces Hurt?
Braces move your teeth by applying light, continuous pressure. While that pressure is necessary for tooth movement, it can leave the teeth and surrounding tissues feeling sore for a short period.
A few things can contribute to the discomfort:
- Pressure from tooth movement: As the teeth begin to move, the tissues supporting them respond to the force from the braces. This might cause a dull ache or tenderness, especially when biting or chewing.
- Adjustments to the braces: During review appointments, the archwire or other components may be changed to continue guiding the teeth. It is common for some soreness to return for a few days afterwards.
- Brackets and wires rubbing against the mouth: The inside of the cheeks and lips may become irritated where they come into contact with the appliance. This is particularly common when braces are new and can sometimes lead to small mouth ulcers.
- Elastics, springs or expanders: These may be added at different stages of treatment to apply force in specific areas. The teeth or jaw can feel tender when they are first introduced or adjusted.
The aching caused by tooth movement comes from changes around the tooth itself. The sustained pressure squeezes the ligament on one side and pulls it taut on the other. This triggers a temporary inflammatory response and changes in the surrounding bone, allowing the tooth to move gradually.
For this reason, braces discomfort usually feels like pressure or tenderness across several teeth. Sharp, severe or persistent pain is different and should be checked by your dentist or orthodontist.
How Long Does Braces Pain Last?
Braces are usually most uncomfortable during the first day or two after fitting or adjustment. The soreness should then gradually subside over the following days. In fact, a review 1 and meta-analysis of 37 randomised trials involving 2,277 patients found that orthodontic pain increased soon after fixed braces were fitted, peaked around the first day, and then decreased each day over the first week.
- First 24 hours: The teeth become sensitive, and chewing anything firm feels uncomfortable.
- 24 to 72 hours: This is usually when the soreness peaks.
- Days 3 to 4: The discomfort should start to subside, although individual teeth may still feel sensitive.
- Day 5 to 7: Most people feel close to normal again by this stage.
How to Relieve Braces Pain
If your braces feel sore after fitting or adjustment, there are a few things you can do to make the next few days more comfortable.
1. Take Pain Relief if Needed
If the soreness is making it difficult to eat, sleep or get through the day comfortably, an over-the-counter pain reliever may help.
Research reviewed by Cochrane 2 found that oral painkillers can reduce orthodontic pain, although there is not enough evidence to say that one option works best for everyone.
Always follow the instructions on the product label. If you have a medical condition, take other medication or are unsure what is suitable for you, check with your doctor or dentist.
2. Use Orthodontic Wax for Rubbing Brackets or Wires
If a bracket, hook or wire keeps rubbing against your cheek or lip, orthodontic wax can help protect the sore area.
Place a small amount over the part of the brace causing the irritation. The wax acts as a barrier between the brace and the inside of your mouth, reducing further friction.
If a wire is sticking out or a bracket has come loose, contact your dental clinic so it can be checked.
3. Apply a Cold Compress
A cold compress against the outside of the cheek may help reduce soreness after braces are fitted or adjusted.
You should also avoid chewing ice for relief. Hard foods and objects can damage brackets or bend orthodontic wires.
4. Rinse With Warm Salt Water
If your braces have irritated the inside of your cheek or lip, a warm salt-water rinse may help soothe the area.
The American Association of Orthodontists 3 recommends mixing about half a teaspoon of salt with one cup of warm water for mouth soreness.
This can help with minor irritation, but if a bracket or wire keeps rubbing against the same area, the appliance itself may need to be checked.
5. Stick to Softer Foods for a Few Days
When your teeth are tender, softer foods can make eating much more comfortable.
Good options include:
- Yoghurt
- Smoothies
- Mashed potatoes
- Soup
- Scrambled eggs
- Oatmeal
- Soft pasta
- Tofu
As the soreness subsides, you can gradually return to your usual braces-friendly meals.
Continue avoiding very hard, sticky or chewy foods that may damage your braces. HealthHub 4 advises avoiding foods such as caramel, popcorn and nuts, while crunchy foods like apples and carrots can be cut into smaller pieces before eating.
When Should You Contact Your Dentist or Orthodontist?
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Soreness from orthodontic tooth movement should gradually subside. However, if the pain is getting worse, feels unusually intense, or comes with other symptoms, it is worth having it checked.
Contact your dentist if you experience:
- Severe or worsening pain: Mild tenderness is expected after an adjustment, but pain that stays intense, becomes worse after several days, or continues longer than expected should be assessed.
- Swelling, fever, pus or throbbing pain: These are not typical signs of braces soreness and may point to an infection or another dental problem that needs attention.
- A loose or broken bracket, band or wire: Damaged components can irritate the mouth and may affect your orthodontic treatment.
- A wire digging into your cheek or gum: Orthodontic wax may protect the area temporarily, but the wire should be checked if it continues to cause irritation.
The level of urgency depends on the problem. A loose bracket or protruding wire is usually not a dental emergency, but you should contact the clinic so we can advise whether it needs prompt repair or can wait until your next appointment.
Severe tooth pain, facial swelling or another urgent dental problem requires more immediate attention. If this happens outside regular clinic hours, our Jurong East and Yishun clinics provide emergency dental care daily from 8 am to midnight, including weekends.
Difficulty breathing or swallowing is a medical emergency. If either occurs, seek immediate medical attention.
Frequently Asked Questions About Braces Pain
How long does soreness last after a brace adjustment?
Soreness after an adjustment usually lasts for a few days. Research on fixed braces shows that orthodontic pain is typically strongest around the first 24 hours and then declines over the following days.
If the pain is becoming more intense instead of subsiding, or continues longer than expected, contact your dental clinic.
What can help relieve braces pain quickly?
What helps most depends on where the soreness is coming from.
If a bracket or wire is rubbing against your cheek or lip, orthodontic wax can cover the irritating area and stop it from rubbing further. If your teeth feel sore after an adjustment, softer foods, a cold compress, or an over-the-counter pain reliever may help.
For a mouth ulcer caused by rubbing, topical anaesthetic gels or sprays can also provide temporary relief.
Does orthodontic wax help with bracket irritation?
Yes. Orthodontic wax can be placed over a bracket, hook, or wire that is rubbing against the inside of your mouth.
The wax smooths over the irritating surface and gives the sore area time to recover. If a bracket is loose or a wire has shifted, however, the wax is only a temporary fix. Contact your dental clinic to have the brace checked.
Can I rinse with salt water every day while wearing braces?
Warm salt water can help soothe a sore or ulcer caused by braces. Swish it around your mouth, then spit it out.
It should be used alongside your usual brushing and interdental cleaning, not as a replacement for your normal oral hygiene routine.
What should I do if my tooth is throbbing at night?
A mild ache after a recent adjustment can usually be managed with softer foods, a cold compress, or suitable pain relief.
Strong throbbing pain that keeps you awake is different from the usual soreness caused by braces. If it is getting worse or comes with swelling, fever, or tenderness around the tooth, contact a dentist. These symptoms may point to a separate dental problem that needs attention.
Get Your Braces Checked at TWC Dental
If your braces are causing ongoing discomfort or something does not feel right, you do not have to wait until your next scheduled review. Our dental team can assess the problem and advise whether an adjustment or repair is needed.
TWC Dental provides braces treatment in Singapore at our Jurong East and Yishun clinics. For urgent dental concerns, emergency appointments are also available daily from 8 am to midnight, including weekends at our emergency dental clinic in Singapore.
Contact TWC Dental to book an appointment.
1. Pain profile during orthodontic levelling and alignment with fixed appliances reported in randomized trials: a systematic review with meta-analyses – PubMedÂ
2. Painkillers for relieving pain caused by orthodontic treatment | CochraneÂ
3. What is an Orthodontic Emergency? | American Association of Orthodontists
4.How to Care for Your Teeth When You Have BracesÂ