Discomfort During Orthodontic Treatment: You’ll Feel More at Ease Once You Know

I’m here to explain the discomfort that can arise after starting orthodontic treatment.

Hello.

I am Park Yeol, an orthodontic specialist who has been providing orthodontic care at a single location near Gangnam Station for over 20 years.

Today, I’d like to talk about the discomfort symptoms that anyone may experience at least once after starting orthodontic treatment.

Many people who are just starting orthodontic treatment worry, “Did I do something wrong?” when these discomforts appear, but if you know what to expect, you can continue treatment with much greater peace of mind.

1. Teeth feel sensitive

After starting orthodontic treatment, people often say their teeth feel sensitive, especially when drinking cold water.

When teeth that were previously in contact with each other begin to move through orthodontic treatment, the contact areas open slightly, allowing cold water or air to enter through those gaps.

This can cause a sensitive feeling, but it is also a sign that the teeth are moving properly.

Usually, after about 2 to 3 weeks, the sensation gradually adjusts and the symptom goes away, so there is no need to worry too much.

However, it would be better to avoid cold water or cold foods a little during that period.

2. A feeling that the teeth are loose

Once the orthodontic wire is attached, the teeth begin to move little by little, and during this process, you may feel as though the teeth are slightly loose.

In particular, teeth that are far from proper alignment or smaller teeth may feel looser because the same force can feel stronger on them.

However, this is also a normal response and means the teeth are moving well, so there is no need to worry.

3. The back end of the wire pokes you

In the early stage of orthodontic treatment, thin wires are used first, and then they are gradually replaced with thicker ones.

As the teeth move, the end of the wire may poke the inside of the cheek or the gums, and this is also something that can happen intermittently during treatment.

In most cases, it appears temporarily, and once the treatment stabilizes, these incidents become much less frequent.

However, if communication with the clinic is smooth when this kind of discomfort occurs, it can be resolved more quickly and comfortably.

So, a clinic with good communication is one of the important factors.

4. It’s hard to eat

During orthodontic treatment, you need to be careful with hard or sticky foods.

That’s because these foods can dislodge the appliance, and if the wire bends, it may also poke your cheek or gums.

But of course, you should avoid making meals themselves difficult by being overly cautious.

If the clinic tells you, based on your teeth’s condition, which side you should be a little more careful with when eating,

you can keep your daily meals while also keeping the orthodontic appliance safe.

Again, careful guidance and conversation in the clinic are very helpful.

5. Do the molars not fit together properly?

During orthodontic treatment, the bite of the upper and lower molars may temporarily not match well.

As the teeth move during treatment, the bite may repeatedly “open and close.”

Usually, for a few days after visiting the dentist, it may feel this way and then gradually improve.

It may not be a major inconvenience, but you might still wonder, “Is this normal?”

If you ask the clinic about it, most places will explain it well, but there are also occasional cases where they do not.

So when choosing a clinic, it is also important to check whether they answer your questions sincerely.

Conclusion)

When orthodontic treatment begins, various changes occur in the body.

Most of the discomfort that appears during the process is temporary and is also a positive sign that treatment is progressing well.

But because it can feel unfamiliar and worrying at first,

I believe it is essential to carefully check each patient’s condition in the clinic and explain things in a comfortable way.

I always want to help patients receive treatment with peace of mind and continue orthodontic care while fully understanding what is happening.

I hope today’s post was helpful to you. Thank you.

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