Can I Expect Severe Mouth Pain and Headaches with Braces?

Feeling sore after an orthodontic adjustment is not only normal, it is expected! Putting pressure on the teeth creates a kind of "Charlie Horse" (caused by lactic acid buildup) next to the teeth being moved that takes a day or two to go away. Just as massaging a Charlie Horse in a sore muscle will help it to go away fast (by increasing the circulation to the area), massaging or working the sore teeth can also shorten the length of time you'll be sore. A really great way to do... more

There is usually no pain as the braces are attached to the teeth. However, in about three hours there can be discomfort, especially as one is chewing. It becomes worse the following day. The teeth are feeling back to normal in about three days. The subsequent appointments are not as noticeable. The teeth can feel a lot better by chewing sugarless gum for about ten minutes right after the appointment. Taking some aspirin, Tylenol, or what ever one uses for pain right after the appointment... more

As a general rule, the discomfort associated with braces is of limited duration and associated with actually chewing. This means that when you first get your braces you may feel pain for several days after the appointment mostly when you chew. That is why we recommend soft foods after getting braces, and also after routine appointments, because avoiding hard or chewy foods at these times really does reduce the discomfort. Most of the time with braces you... more