After an Orthodontic Adjustment
What to expect after braces are tightened or adjusted.
- Pressure and tenderness can occur after an adjustment
- Softer foods may be more comfortable for a day or two
- Keep brushing and cleaning between the teeth
- Use wax for minor irritation
- Call us for broken appliances or severe, unusual pain
Tooth tenderness
Teeth can feel tender when orthodontic forces change — that pressure is the treatment working, and it is generally temporary. If pain medicine is needed, use what is appropriate for your child per the treating clinician’s instructions or the product’s weight-based directions. Never give aspirin to children.
Keep the cleaning up
Do not scale back brushing because the teeth are tender — plaque control matters most right around brackets and at the gumline. A soft brush and a gentler touch get the job done on sore days.
Call us if…
- Severe pain that does not fit ordinary adjustment soreness
- Significant swelling
- Broken wires or loose brackets
- An appliance cutting the cheek, lip, or tongue
- Your child cannot keep the teeth clean because of an appliance problem
Coastal Kids Dentistry & Orthodontics · (619) 562-5437 · coastalkidsdo.com/handouts/after-an-orthodontic-adjustment
Sources & standards
This guidance is aligned with the standards of care of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry: AAPD Oral Health Policies & Recommendations