By Dr Ruchi Saxena, Orthodontist | Align & Smile Dental Care, Sector 18, Noida
If you have been thinking about getting braces but keep putting it off because you are worried about pain, discomfort or how difficult the treatment will be, I want to tell you something first:
You probably have less to worry about than you think.
As an orthodontist, one of the most common questions I hear from patients before starting treatment is:
“Doctor, will braces hurt?”
And I completely understand why you ask.
You may have seen someone struggle with braces years ago. You may have heard stories about painful tightening appointments. Or perhaps the thought of having brackets and wires in your mouth simply sounds uncomfortable.
So, let me walk you through what braces treatment actually feels like—from the day you get your braces to the months that follow.
No scary stories. No unnecessary medical jargon. Just an honest conversation between you and your orthodontist.
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First things first: Do braces hurt?
Getting braces fitted is generally not painful.
When I place braces, I am not cutting your gums or drilling your teeth. The brackets are carefully bonded to the teeth and connected with an orthodontic wire.
What you are likely to notice afterwards is something quite different from pain.
You may feel:
* Pressure on your teeth
* Mild tenderness when biting
* A feeling of tightness
* Some sensitivity while eating
* Your lips or cheeks feeling slightly irritated initially
This happens because your teeth are beginning to respond to the gentle, controlled forces used during orthodontic treatment.
For most people, this initial discomfort is temporary.
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“Doctor, what will I feel on the first day?”
This is probably the question I wish more patients would ask.
Your first day with braces can feel strange simply because your mouth has something new in it.
Your tongue may keep exploring the brackets.
Your lips may feel slightly different.
Your teeth may feel tight.
And you may find yourself thinking:
“Is this going to feel like this for the whole treatment?”
The answer is no.
Your mouth adapts.
Within a relatively short time, you stop noticing the braces so much. They become part of your routine—just like wearing glasses, a watch or any other new addition to your daily life.
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Will my teeth hurt after braces are put on?
You may experience some tenderness, particularly when biting or chewing.
I usually advise my patients to keep softer foods handy for the first few days if their teeth feel sensitive.
In an Indian household, this doesn’t mean you have to survive on soup!
Foods such as khichdi, dal-rice, idli, dosa, soft vegetables, curd, upma and other soft foods can be comfortable initially.
As the tenderness settles, you can gradually return to your normal diet—with some sensible precautions to protect your braces.
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What about the “tightening” of braces?
You may have heard people say:
“My braces were tightened and it hurt terribly.”
Modern orthodontic appointments are a little more nuanced than that.
During your regular appointments, I assess how your teeth are responding and make the adjustments required according to your treatment plan.
Depending on what we are doing at that stage, you may feel some pressure or tenderness afterwards.
But orthodontic treatment is not about forcefully moving teeth.
It is about applying carefully planned forces over time.
Every patient’s teeth respond differently, which is why I monitor your progress throughout treatment rather than simply following a fixed schedule.
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Can braces cut your cheeks and lips?
This can happen, particularly during the initial adjustment period.
Your cheeks and lips have been used to a smooth tooth surface. Suddenly, there are brackets and wires there.
The good news is that the tissues inside your mouth usually adapt.
If a bracket is rubbing against your cheek or lip, orthodontic wax can provide temporary relief.
If a wire is genuinely poking you or something feels sharp and persistent, please contact your orthodontist rather than trying to ignore it.
A small problem is usually much easier to solve when you tell us about it.
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“Will I be able to eat normally?”
Yes—but braces do require you to become a little more careful.
I don’t want you to feel that your life has to stop because you have braces.
You can enjoy most of your usual foods, but very hard, sticky or crunchy foods can damage brackets or wires.
One of my biggest pieces of advice is:
Don’t use your front teeth to bite into extremely hard foods.
Cut harder foods into smaller pieces and chew them with your back teeth.
Your braces are working hard for you. Help them do their job!
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“Doctor, will everyone notice my braces?”
Probably—but perhaps not in the way you imagine.
When you first get braces, you notice them much more than everyone else does.
You may look in the mirror and think your braces are the first thing people will see.
After a few days, you be
