Metal braces are an effective way to straighten teeth that are misaligned, but realize that it can take time to adjust to having them on your teeth. At times they can feel uncomfortable and cause you to experience pain. Here are 3 common reasons why braces could be hurting you.

Protruding Wires

It is possible for the metal wires that connect all the brackets together to loosen and eventually stick out, which will cause the wire to poke the gums and create a lot of pain and overall discomfort. Look at the brackets and the parts that touch your cheek, sine you'll likely see wires sticking out from your braces that have a sharp edge.

Loose wires should be adjusted by your orthodontist. Don't try to put these wires back on your own, since you may do it incorrectly. There is potential to mess with how the braces are aligning the teeth, or damaging the braces in the process.

Recent Adjustments

You will be returning to your orthodontist regularly for adjustments to the braces. It is normal to feel discomfort after these visits, since more pressure is put on the teeth to continue moving them to a new position. You'll eventually notice that the sensation goes away on its own, but the initial day or two can cause you to feel a lot of pressure that doesn't feel so good.

Some solutions to this problem include using some numbing cream or a pain reliever. The good news is that the pressure means that the braces are working and doing their job. If you were not experiencing that sensation, it means that the teeth are not moving.

Stuck Food

While braces have that initial adjustment period, they will eventually get to the point where you do not notice that you're wearing the braces. That can change if something becomes stuck between the braces, like food or chewing gum, that causes you to feel discomfort.

The food particle itself could be causing you pain because it is rubbing and making your mouth irritated, especially on your lips or cheeks. Be aware that not removing stuck food is bad for your teeth and lead to cavities. The braces create many new areas where food can become stuck, and you may have a cavity that developed over time

Do not hesitate to contact your orthodontist if you are ever experiencing braces-related pain. They may have suggestions on what you can do to fix the problem.