Braces aren’t necessarily painful, but they can cause temporary discomfort. This is completely normal, and it usually subsides after a few days as your teeth adjust to the movement. Eating softer foods, applying a small amount of dental wax and gargling saltwater can all help with discomfort. How to relieve pain from braces? Cold or hot compresses work a treat. Consult your orthodontist if you experience severe pain or ongoing discomfort.

You’ll check-in with your dentist once a month, just to make sure everything looks good and your treatment is on track.

It depends. For mild issues, like a few small gaps, you might only need braces for a few months. If you have severe crowding, overlapping and bite misalignment, you could be looking at up to 30 months. This timeframe comes down to a few things: the type of braces you get, how old you are (younger patients see results faster), compliance with wearing your elastics, your genetic response and bone density. Some people may need some extra support in the form of jaw surgery.

Most orthodontists recommend getting braces between the ages of 12 and 14 years, because the jaw is still growing and all (if not most) of the adult teeth have come through. This makes it easier for teeth to glide into place.

No, you don’t have to lose all your baby teeth before getting braces. Early orthodontics can help prevent future bite issues or guide adult teeth into a more harmonious position in the jaw. Of course, we recommend speaking with an orthodontist on behalf of patients under 16 looking at getting braces.

If you go private for your braces (skipping the NHS waiting lists), then you’re looking at anywhere from £1,500 to £10,000. Metal braces are of course the most affordable, ranging from £1,500 to £3,000. Self-ligating braces (e.g. Damon) for £1,500 to £6,000, followed by ceramic braces (£2,000–£6,000). “Invisible braces” otherwise known as clear aligners (£1,500–£5,000) and lingual braces (£2,000–£10,000). 

Metal braces are free for under 18s through the NHS if you’re deemed clinically suitable. For adults, braces are rarely made available (for free) on the NHS.

Not typically. Brackets are only placed on about 28 teeth, excluding wisdom teeth. But don’t take this verbatim — your orthodontist may recommend a different treatment plan based on your unique dental needs.

To put it simply, metal braces are more durable and cost-effective than ceramic braces, and they also work a little bit faster. So although they’re more visible (with larger brackets) you’ll see results sooner. Ceramic braces are slightly easier to clean, with rounded edges making them more comfortable to wear, and tooth-coloured (so they’re practically invisible). The downsides — a higher price point and fragile ceramic brackets, which are more likely to chip or crack.

The biggest difference between clear aligners and ceramic braces is “set-and-forget” reliability. Unlike aligners (which require at least 22 hours of daily wear and weekly tray changes), ceramic braces are fixed. So if you’re not one for carrying, changing or keeping aligner trays safe, ceramic braces eliminate the risk of treatment delays caused by aligner mishaps. They’re also slightly more efficient for complex tooth movements because they apply constant pressure 24/7.