Discomfort with Braces: What Is Normal and What Helps
For adults with fixed braces: why teeth ache after fitting and adjustments, how long soreness usually lasts, what helps, mouth ulcers and when pain is not normal, from NHS and British Orthodontic Society (BOS) guidance, NHS leaflets and research reviews.
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Medical disclaimer: This page is for general information only. It does not replace an examination or treatment by a dentist.
Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, principal dentist, reviewed this page. He is a General Dental Practitioner: BDS, BSc (Hons), MSc (Leeds), PG Dip Implant Dentistry, PG Cert Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry.
Why do teeth ache after braces are fitted or adjusted?
Braces work by pressure: NHS guidance says the wire applies a small amount of pressure to your teeth, which over time moves them into position.
How teeth move with braces and the orthodontic treatment process have their own pages, and what to eat with braces is among the options in this section.
A 2023 review notes suggestions that the pain comes from inflammation, pressure and swelling in the periodontal ligament, which holds each tooth in its socket.
How long do braces hurt after fitting or an adjustment?
NHS guidance says teeth may be sore for a few days after braces are fitted. The BOS treatment leaflet (2019) says slightly sore teeth are common for 3 to 5 days after first fitting and after each adjustment appointment.
A 2023 review of 37 randomised trials (2,277 people, average age 17.5, searched to October 2022) pooled pain scores after fixed braces were first fitted, on a 0 to 100 scale:
| Time after first fitting | Average pain score (0 to 100) | Trials |
|---|---|---|
| Just after fitting | 12 | 13 |
| 6 hours | 41 | 11 |
| Day 1 | 42 | 29 |
| Day 3 | 30 | 30 |
| Day 7 | 9 | 23 |
Results varied widely between trials, so the authors caution against relying on the averages alone. Pain had not completely gone by day 7, and peak pain averaged 68 in four trials (expected range 6 to 100). Pain was higher when chewing than at rest (two trials, days 1 and 3, high certainty) and, in a subgroup analysis, at 6 hours and on days 3 to 7 in trials where teeth had been taken out as part of treatment.
Most trials measured only the first fitting, not later adjustments.
What helps with braces pain?
NHS guidance says that while teeth are sore after fitting, you may need to eat soft food and take painkillers to help relieve the pain. NHS Lothian's 2025 leaflet says some people have more discomfort than others, but painkillers such as paracetamol can control it.
What do NHS medicines pages say about paracetamol and ibuprofen?
The NHS pages for paracetamol and ibuprofen, written for adults aged 18 or over, each list examples of when the medicine may not be suitable. Both say to check the packet or leaflet, and to ask a pharmacist or doctor if you are not sure.
The ibuprofen page says it can cause more side effects than paracetamol, and if you can take paracetamol, it is a good idea to try it first. It says to avoid ibuprofen in pregnancy unless a doctor or pharmacist advises it.
Both say to get help from NHS 111 if you take more than the packet or leaflet says (for ibuprofen, also if you accidentally swallow its gel or spray and feel unwell) or think you might be having serious side effects.
Questions about this treatment? Book online or call the practice.
How do you use orthodontic wax, and what about mouth ulcers?
North Cumbria's 2025 leaflet says to use comfort wax if the brace rubs. Plymouth's 2024 NHS trust leaflet, past its review date, says to soften a small piece of white wax by rolling it into a ball in your fingers, then put it onto the part of the brace that is rubbing.
NHS guidance on mouth ulcers lists braces among their causes and says ulcers should clear up on their own within a week or 2.
As non-urgent advice, NHS guidance says to see a dentist or GP if a mouth ulcer lasts longer than 3 weeks, is different to ulcers you have had before (for example, bigger than usual or near the back of your throat), or bleeds or becomes more painful and red, which may be a sign of an infection. Most mouth ulcers are harmless, it says, but a long-lasting one is sometimes a sign of mouth cancer and should be checked. It also says to see a GP for other symptoms such as ulcers anywhere else on your body (for example, your skin or genitals) or painful, red or swollen joints.
What is not normal, and when should you speak to a dentist?
NHS guidance lists three non-urgent reasons to contact whoever is treating your braces. They are: teeth that are painful for more than a few days after your braces are fitted or adjusted; gums that are very red, swollen or painful; and braces that are broken.
NHS Lothian's 2025 emergencies leaflet says a wire can slip out or break and occasionally be painful by irritating the gum, and if it is causing pain, it needs an extra appointment to fix the wire, which the leaflet calls an emergency appointment.
What does NHS toothache guidance say?
NHS toothache guidance, which lists problems with braces among its causes, says to see a dentist if you have toothache that lasts more than 2 days; that does not go away when you take painkillers; with a high temperature, pain when you bite, red gums or a bad taste in your mouth; or with a swollen cheek or jaw. It says not to go to a GP, who cannot give dental treatment.
It says to go to A&E if you have toothache and the area around your eye or your neck is swollen, or swelling in your mouth or neck is making it difficult to breathe, swallow or speak. Do not drive to A&E: ask someone to drive you or call 999 for an ambulance, and bring any medicines you take with you.
To see a dentist in an emergency or out of hours, it says to call your dentist, whose answerphone may say what to do if they are closed. If you do not have a dentist or cannot get an emergency appointment, it says to call 111 or visit 111 online, or find a dentist near you and ask for an emergency appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Does braces discomfort get easier over time?
North Cumbria's 2025 NHS leaflet says your teeth may feel sore but this will ease off, and you soon get used to wearing the brace. For pain, it says to take the same medicine you would for a headache, following the directions for use.
Is paracetamol or ibuprofen better for braces pain?
A 2026 review found no significant difference between them at rest or when chewing, up to 48 hours. Each result pooled three or four of its 13 trials (searched to July 2025), in people aged 9 to 30 with fixed braces or separators. Certainty was moderate for most, very low for one; four trials favoured ibuprofen, two paracetamol, five neither.
Do braces hurt more for adults?
A 2023 review of 37 trials found no significant effect of age, and no consistent effect of sex, on braces pain. Its authors still call both effects inconclusive. Trial average ages ran from 11.8 to 35.1 (overall 17.5), and the authors note other studies reporting more intense pain above age 13 or 16.
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Reviews of Deepcar Dental Care are on our patient reviews page. Our page on orthodontics at Deepcar Dental Care covers orthodontic treatment at the practice.
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