Is it normal for braces to hurt this much? Like, I knew there’d be some discomfort, but my teeth feel like they’re throbbing and I can barely eat anything except yogurt. Even talking hurts sometimes lol. I’ve tried wax and painkillers but not much luck. Does this get better after a while, or am I just being a wimp? Any tricks that actually work for getting through the first few weeks?
my teeth feel like they’re throbbing and I can barely eat anything except yogurt. Even talking hurts sometimes lol.
Honestly, I kinda feel like the pain level is way more intense than people say. Like, everyone acts like it’s just “pressure” or whatever, but when I first got mine, it was more like my whole mouth was throwing a tantrum. I tried ibuprofen too, but it barely took the edge off.
One thing I noticed though—after a couple days, the pain shifted from that deep throbbing to more of a dull ache. Not sure if it’s the same for everyone, but for me, the worst was the first 3-4 days after each adjustment. I started using one of those soft-bristle baby toothbrushes and it helped a bit with sensitivity. Also, cold stuff (like ice water, not just yogurt) actually numbed things for a while, but hot food was a no-go.
I don’t think you’re being a wimp at all. People downplay it too much, honestly. It does get better, but yeah, it’s rough at first. Hang in there—eventually you’ll be able to eat more than just mushy foods.
Yeah, I’m on my first week with braces and honestly, I was not ready for this level of pain. People kept saying “you’ll just feel a little tightness,” but nah, this is more like a full-on tooth rebellion. I tried Tylenol and it helped a bit, but eating is still basically a no-go unless it’s soup or something super soft. Even mashed potatoes felt like too much at one point.
I did notice that cold stuff helps a ton, like you said. I’ve been sipping ice water and even just holding it in my mouth for a sec before swallowing. Also, I switched to one of those silicone baby spoons for eating, so if my teeth accidentally touch it, it doesn’t hurt as much as metal. Not sure if that’s just me being dramatic, but it works.
It’s weird how everyone’s experience is slightly different, but yeah, the first few days are brutal. I’m just hoping it gets better soon because I kinda miss crunchy food already...
My kid’s on week two and honestly, I’m still worried about how much it hurts. I know everyone says cold stuff helps, but our ortho actually told us not to overdo the ice water since it can make the wires stiffen up and maybe even snap? Not sure if that’s just being overly cautious, but we’ve been sticking to soft foods and room temp drinks. The silicone spoon idea is genius though—wish I’d thought of that sooner. Hang in there... it’s rough watching them miss their favorite snacks.
The silicone spoon idea is genius though—wish I’d thought of that sooner.
Title: BRACES HURT WAY MORE THAN I EXPECTED... WHAT HELPS?
Yeah, the pain level caught me off guard too. It’s not just “a bit sore”—it’s like my whole jaw is protesting. Wax helped a little with the inside of my cheeks, but didn’t touch the actual tooth pain. I did notice that after about a week and a half, the ache started to fade, so there’s that.
About the cold stuff—interesting point about the wires. I got the same warning, actually. I switched to lukewarm smoothies instead of ice-cold ones, and it seemed to help without messing with the hardware. Ibuprofen worked better for me than acetaminophen, but your mileage may vary.
One other thing: I found that distracting myself with gaming or coding (anything that keeps your brain busy) made me notice the pain less. Not a cure obviously, but it helped me get through those first rough days when eating was just not happening.
You’re not being a wimp—this stuff is legit rough at first. It does get better, though.