Is Braces Painful? What to Expect and How to Cope

Is braces painful? Most people feel some pain, but it is usually short-lived and manageable. If you are asking “will braces hurt?” before you start, here is what research from Nigeria and elsewhere says about how much, how long, and what actually helps.

Is braces painful? What Nigerian patients report

A 2025 study in the Nigerian Medical Journal surveyed 347 orthodontic patients at centres in Lagos. About 90% experienced pain after their appliance was fitted, with an average score of 5.59 out of 10. Most described the pain as distressing (47.6%), and for most it lasted between 1 and 6 days (75.8%). Difficulty with eating and brushing was the daily activity most affected [1]. This was a self-reported online survey, so the numbers show what patients felt rather than a clinical measurement.

A second Nigerian study, at OAUTHC in Ile-Ife, tracked quality of life in patients with fixed braces. On one measure, quality of life got significantly worse in the first week of treatment, while another measure showed improvement over the whole study period [2].

So yes, braces usually hurt at first. But for most people it is a few days of soreness, not months of pain.

Will braces hurt, and when?

Pain tends to follow a pattern.

• The first days: The British Orthodontic Society (BOS) says you can expect “some aching and tenderness in the gums as your teeth begin to move, but this normally wears off after a few days”. Some people stay tender for longer [3].
• Peak soreness: A classic study of 170 patients aged 8 to 53 found that 65% reported pain after 4 hours and 95% after 24 hours. After 7 days, 25% still reported some discomfort [4]. That sample was European, so use it alongside the Nigerian data rather than instead of it. Nottingham University Hospitals says teeth ache for the first 24 to 48 hours after the brace is fitted [5].
• After adjustments: The BOS says “some further discomfort may be experienced when the brace is adjusted subsequently, but this depends very much on what adjustments have been made” [3].

We did not find evidence comparing braces pain with other dental procedures, so we will not make that comparison.

Is braces painful compared with aligners?

If you are choosing between the two, the pain evidence slightly favours aligners at the start. A systematic review in Progress in Orthodontics found, “based on a moderate level of certainty”, that Invisalign patients “appear to feel lower levels of pain than those treated with fixed appliances during the first few days of treatment”. The differences disappeared after that, and the review found no evidence on other aligner brands [14]. So the question “is braces painful?” has a fair answer: a little more at the beginning than aligners, and similar after the first days. Pain is only one factor in the choice, and our guide to braces vs aligners covers the rest.

Eating and brushing with sore teeth

In the Lagos survey, difficulty with eating and brushing was the daily activity most affected by pain [1]. That fits what the NHS advises: soft food for the first days, and no hard, crunchy or sticky foods or chewing gum while you wear braces [10]. Keep brushing, because poor cleaning with braces brings its own problems, such as white spots.

What helps with braces pain?

Pain relievers. A Cochrane review of 32 randomised trials found, with moderate-quality evidence, that painkillers are more effective at reducing pain after orthodontic treatment than placebo or no treatment. Paracetamol, anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs) and local anaesthetic all reduced pain at 2, 6 and 24 hours. The review says it is uncertain whether NSAIDs work better than paracetamol [6]. A 2020 meta-analysis of 19 randomised trials also concluded that analgesics are effective [7].

A note on ibuprofen-type drugs. Anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs) block prostaglandins, which may slow tooth movement. The research here is mixed. One 2025 review says NSAIDs remain preferred by many clinicians [8], while an older review calls paracetamol the drug of choice for orthodontic pain [9]. Ask your orthodontist which painkiller and dose is right for you. In the Lagos survey, paracetamol was the most commonly prescribed [1].

Soft foods and wax. The NHS advises eating soft food for the first days and taking painkillers if needed. It also advises avoiding hard, crunchy and sticky foods and chewing gum [10]. Your orthodontist can give you wax to place over parts of the brace that rub [11]. For a poking wire, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) suggests covering the end with orthodontic wax [12].

Other options. A Cochrane review of 14 trials found only low-quality evidence that low-level laser therapy may reduce short-term pain, and concluded the results were inconclusive [13].

When braces pain is not normal

Contact your dentist or orthodontist if:

• your teeth stay painful for more than a few days after the braces are fitted or adjusted [10]
• your gums are very red, swollen or painful [10]
• a bracket is loose or broken, or a wire is poking or loose [10][12]
• you have sore spots or mouth sores that do not settle [12]

Seek urgent care for heavy or uncontrolled bleeding, trouble breathing or swallowing, or a broken jaw [12].

The bottom line

Is braces painful? For most people, braces cause a few days of aching after fitting and after some adjustments, then settle. Soft food, a suitable painkiller and orthodontic wax cover most of it. If pain is severe or does not fade, call your clinic rather than waiting.

Thinking about braces? Read our full guide to braces on teeth, compare them with aligners in braces vs aligners, and book a consultation at Ask The Dentist in Ibadan to talk through your options.

Frequently asked questions

How long does pain last after braces are fitted? In the Lagos study, most patients (75.8%) said it lasted 1 to 6 days [1].

Do braces hurt every time they are tightened? Some discomfort can follow adjustments, but it depends on what was changed [3].

What can I take for braces pain? Painkillers work better than no treatment [6]. Ask your dentist which one and how much.

What should I eat? Soft food in the early days. Avoid hard, crunchy and sticky foods and chewing gum [10].

References

1. Umeh OD, Etim SS. “Evaluation of Orthodontic Patients’ Pain Experience, Perception and Management of Pain from Orthodontics Centres in Lagos, Nigeria.” Nigerian Medical Journal 2025;66(3):1195-1205. https://nigerianmedjournal.org/index.php/nmj/article/view/849
2. Agbaje HO, Kolawole KA, Otuyemi OD. Evaluation of early changes in oral health-related quality of life amongst Nigerian patients undergoing fixed orthodontic appliance therapy. Int Orthod. 2018;16(3):571-585. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ortho.2018.06.003
3. British Orthodontic Society. “FAQs.” https://bos.org.uk/patients/treatments/faqs/
4. Scheurer PA, Firestone AR, Bürgin WB. “Perception of pain as a result of orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances.” Eur J Orthod 1996;18(4):349-357. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8921656/
5. Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. Fixed appliances. https://www.nuh.nhs.uk/orthodontics-fixed-appliances/
6. Monk AB, Harrison JE, Worthington HV, Teague A. “Pharmacological interventions for pain relief during orthodontic treatment.” Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2017;11:CD003976.pub2. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29182798
7. Cheng C, Xie T, Wang J. The efficacy of analgesics in controlling orthodontic pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Oral Health. 2020;20:259. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7501721/
8. Colceriu-Șimon IM, Feștilă D, Emoke H, Pancsur A, Șimon MȘ, Olteanu CD, et al. The effects of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs used for orthodontic pain management on tooth movement: a comprehensive review of the literature. J Clin Med. 2025;14(9). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12072613/
9. Karthi M, Anbuslevan GJ, Senthilkumar KP, Tamizharsi S, Raja S, Prabhakar K. NSAIDs in orthodontic tooth movement. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2012;4(Suppl 2):S304-S306. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3467920/
10. NHS. “Braces.” https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/braces/
11. University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. “Orthodontics.” https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/services/oral-maxillofacial/orthodontics/
12. American Association of Orthodontists. “What is an Orthodontic Emergency and How Do You Handle Them?” https://aaoinfo.org/whats-trending/what-is-an-orthodontic-emergency/
13. Fleming PS, Strydom H, Katsaros C, MacDonald LCI, Curatolo M, Fudalej P, Pandis N. “Non-pharmacological interventions for alleviating pain during orthodontic treatment.” Cochrane 2016, CD010263 (summary). https://www.nationalelfservice.net/dentistry/orthodontics/pain-orthodontic-treatment-non-pharmacological-interventions/
14. Cardoso PC, Espinosa DG, Mecenas P, Flores-Mir C, Normando D. “Pain level between clear aligners and fixed appliances: a systematic review.” Prog Orthod 2020;21:3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6970090/