Do braces hurt?

Stage by stage

Stage	What it feels like	How long
Separators	Something wedged between the back teeth	1–2 days
Bonding appointment	Awkward, not painful; no needles	The appointment
First 48 hours	Generalised ache, tender to bite	Peaks at 24h, eases by day 4
First fortnight	Cheek and lip rubbing, sometimes ulcers	Until the tissue toughens
Adjustments	Milder version of the first days	1–2 days, less each time
New elastics	Aching at the jaw and canines	2–3 days
Expander turns	Pressure across the palate and nose	Minutes after each turn
Debond	Firm pressure, then relief	Under an hour

Why it aches

The ligament suspending each tooth becomes inflamed under sustained pressure. That is the same process that allows teeth to move, so a degree of soreness is a sign treatment is working rather than a sign anything is wrong.

What actually helps

• Cold water and cold food. Consistently the most effective thing patients report.
• Ordinary pain relief for the first two days, taken as directed.
• Soft food for forty-eight hours after each adjustment, not just after bonding.
• Warm salt-water rinses for irritated cheeks and ulcers.
• Wax on any bracket that rubs, applied to a dried surface so it sticks.

What is not normal

Sharp pain in one specific tooth, pain that worsens after day three rather than easing, swelling, or a tooth that has become mobile after an impact. Those warrant a call rather than waiting for the next visit.