Do braces hurt on the first day

Braces may cause pressure, tooth tenderness, and cheek rubbing while teeth and soft tissues adapt to new appliances.

An archwire transfers force through brackets to the periodontal ligament around each tooth, which can make biting tender. Brackets and wire ends can also rub the inside of the lips or cheeks until the soft tissues adapt, and discomfort can recur after an adjustment.

Choose softer foods, chew slowly, and use orthodontic wax over a rubbing bracket or wire end. Keep brushing around brackets and follow the orthodontist's instructions about pain relief, because a loose bracket or protruding wire may need adjustment rather than simply waiting.

Contact the orthodontic practice for severe or worsening pain, a wire that is cutting the cheek, a loose appliance, facial swelling, fever, or inability to eat or drink. Seek urgent help for breathing or swallowing difficulty.

Ask what discomfort is expected for your appliance, how to place wax, and which pain relief is suitable for you. Ask what to do if a bracket loosens or a wire extends beyond the last bracket.

Initial tenderness comes from force on the tooth-supporting ligament and soft-tissue adaptation.