Do braces hurt?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
Fitting is painless; the ache after fitting and adjustments lasts a few days. NHS guidance says teeth may be sore for a few days after braces are fitted, and recommends soft food and painkillers during that stretch. The same ache returns, usually milder, after each 6 to 8 week adjustment, because that is the moment the orthodontist reactivates the pressure that moves your teeth. Rubbing sores from brackets are common early and orthodontic wax covers them. The NHS line for what is not normal: pain persisting more than a few days after fitting or adjustment, very red or swollen gums, or a broken brace, all worth a call to your orthodontist.
What to do
- Stock soft food and painkillers for the fitting week and adjustment days.
- Use orthodontic wax on any bracket that rubs your cheek.
- Salt-water rinses calm rubbed spots and ulcers.
- Call your orthodontist for pain beyond a few days, angry gums, or broken parts.
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