I do wonder if all this pain is actually necessary, or if my ortho could go a bit easier on the tightening.
I get what you mean, but do you think if they went lighter on the tightening, it’d just drag the whole process out longer? I’ve had a couple of appointments where my ortho eased up because I complained, and then it felt like nothing happened for weeks. Honestly, sometimes I’d rather just get the pain over with if it means finishing sooner. But yeah, when it shoots up to your ear, that’s next-level. Ever tried alternating Tylenol and Advil? It’s not perfect, but sometimes it takes the edge off for me.
That ear pain is rough—I've seen a lot of people surprised by how much the discomfort can radiate. It’s wild how teeth and jaws are all connected, right? I totally get wanting to speed things up, but honestly, there’s a balance. Too much force can actually slow things down because your body needs time to adapt, and if the roots or tissues get too inflamed, it can backfire. On the flip side, going super gentle does stretch out the timeline, and that’s frustrating in its own way.
Alternating Tylenol and Advil is a solid move for most folks, as long as your stomach and health allow it. Sometimes ice packs on the outside of your jaw help too, especially those first couple days after tightening. If the pain ever feels unbearable or you’re getting weird symptoms like numbness or swelling, definitely mention it—sometimes there are little tweaks that can make a big difference.
It’s not just you; this process is uncomfortable for pretty much everyone. But you’re getting through it, and it really does pay off at the end. Hang in there—your future smile will be worth it.
That’s exactly how it’s been for me, too. After my first tightening, I was honestly shocked at how my ear hurt more than my actual teeth. It freaked me out a bit because I wasn’t expecting it to travel like that. I tried the Tylenol/Advil switch and it helped some, but ice packs were lifesavers—especially when I couldn’t sleep. It’s weirdly comforting to know this is all just part of the process, even though it feels pretty intense in the moment.
That ear pain threw me for a loop too. The first time it happened, I was convinced my jaw was falling apart or something—like, why does my ear hurt when it’s my teeth getting moved around? Ice packs are the real MVP, though. Ever try holding a bag of frozen peas to your face at 2am? Not glamorous, but it works. Did you ever get weird headaches too, or just the ear thing?
