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Post-operative

After Your Orthodontic Adjustment

What to expect after your braces are adjusted or you move on to new aligners. How to ease soreness and keep your teeth clean.

5 min read

Urgent help: who to contact

Call 999 or go to A&E now if you find it hard to breathe, swallow or speak, or if swelling spreads to your neck, under your tongue or around your eye.

Contact your orthodontist or dentist if a wire is poking you and badly hurting your cheek or tongue, if a bracket comes off, if you have a lot of swelling or a high temperature, or if you have any other urgent worries. If you cannot reach them, call NHS 111.

Soreness After an Adjustment — What Is Normal

Your braces may have been tightened or your wires changed. Or you may have moved on to your next aligners. Afterwards, it is normal for your teeth and jaw to feel sore. This soreness means your teeth are moving. That is exactly what should happen.

  • Soreness usually starts a few hours after your visit. It is worst on day 1–2.
  • It slowly eases over 3–5 days. Most people feel comfortable again within a week.
  • Your teeth may feel tender when you bite. This is the most common problem after an adjustment.
  • If your wires or brackets were changed, your lips and cheeks may take a few days to get used to them.
  • With each new set of aligners, expect mild pressure and tightness for the first 2–3 days.

Easing Soreness

The soreness does not last, and you can manage it. Here is what helps:

  • Shop-bought (over-the-counter) painkillers work well for brace soreness. Take them as the soreness builds. Do not wait until it is severe.
  • Paracetamol (adults): take 500mg to 1g (1 or 2 × 500mg tablets). Leave at least 4 hours between doses. Do not take more than 4g (8 × 500mg tablets) in 24 hours. If you weigh less than 50kg, you may need a lower dose. Ask a pharmacist.
  • Ibuprofen (adults): take 200mg to 400mg up to 3 times a day, with or after food. Leave at least 4 hours between doses. Do not take more than 1,200mg in 24 hours, unless your dentist or doctor has prescribed a different dose.
  • You can take paracetamol and ibuprofen at the same time, or spread them out through the day. Never take more than the daily maximum of either.
  • Do not take paracetamol with other medicines that contain paracetamol, unless your dental team or doctor has told you to. These include co-codamol, co-dydramol and cold and flu remedies. Taking both can cause an accidental overdose.
  • Check with a pharmacist, dentist or doctor before you take ibuprofen if you have asthma, have had a stomach ulcer, have heart, kidney or liver problems, take blood-thinning medicines, or are pregnant.
  • Children: use children's paracetamol or ibuprofen. Give the dose on the packet or leaflet for your child's age (and weight, if given). Ask a pharmacist if you are not sure. Ibuprofen may not be suitable if your child has asthma.
  • Eat soft foods for the first 2–3 days. Try soup, yoghurt, mashed potato, scrambled eggs, soft fruit or pasta. Avoid hard or chewy foods that need a hard bite.
  • Cold foods can soothe sore teeth for a while. Try a cold smoothie or a yoghurt straight from the fridge.
  • Brace wax (orthodontic wax): if a bracket or wire rubs your cheek or lips, cover it with a small piece of wax. Roll the wax into a ball. Press it firmly over the bracket or wire.
  • Tell your orthodontist if your soreness does not get better after a week, or if your pain is severe rather than just uncomfortable.

Poking Wires — What to Do

As your teeth move, a wire can sometimes shift. It may start to poke the inside of your cheek or the back of your mouth. This is common. You can usually manage it at home for a short time.

  • Put brace wax over the end of the wire. This stops it rubbing while you book an appointment.
  • If you have no wax, fold a small piece of clean tissue or cotton wool over the wire for now. Use this until you can buy brace wax from a pharmacy.
  • If the wire is causing a bad wound or ulcer that is not getting better, contact your orthodontist. They can book you in to trim it.
  • Do not try to cut the wire yourself at home unless you have been shown how to do it safely. You could swallow a piece of wire.

Keeping Your Teeth Clean With Braces

Keeping your teeth and gums healthy with braces takes extra effort, but it is essential. Braces give plaque more places to hide.

  • Brush after every meal, and at least twice a day. Use a soft brush. Tilt it at 45 degrees to clean above and below each bracket.
  • Use small brushes that fit between your teeth (interdental brushes). Clean between the brackets and under the wires. Your orthodontist will have shown you how.
  • Use a fluoride mouthwash every day to help prevent decay. This matters most with fixed braces.
  • Water flossers or floss threaders can help you clean between your teeth under the wire.
  • If you wear aligners, clean them every day with a soft toothbrush and cool water. Do not use hot water. It can bend the plastic out of shape.
  • Avoid sugary and acidic food and drinks. Fizzy drinks do the most damage to teeth under brackets.

When to Contact Your Orthodontist

Contact your orthodontic practice if:

  • A bracket comes off or a band comes loose. Keep the bracket safe and contact the practice to book a visit.
  • A wire is poking you and wax does not help, or it is causing a bad wound
  • You have severe pain that has not settled after 5–7 days
  • The gum around a bracket is very swollen or red. This may mean gum inflammation or an early abscess.
  • A retainer breaks or is lost
  • Your aligner no longer fits properly, or you have skipped a set

Call 999 or go to A&E now if you find it hard to breathe, swallow or speak, or if swelling spreads to your neck, under your tongue or around your eye. For other urgent problems, contact your dental practice. If it is closed, call NHS 111.

This leaflet is for general information only and does not replace professional dental advice. Your dental team will discuss your individual circumstances and any risks specific to you. Treatment outcomes vary between patients depending on individual circumstances.

Sources

Links checked 18 October 2026.

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