It does not hurt at all to get braces put on. The soreness that people talk about happens about 3 – 5 hours later, and it is best described as a dull ache. Whenever your teeth are feeling sore, it is usually more comfortable to eat softer foods. In these situations, over-the-counter pain medications can help to ease the pain (Ibuprofen / Advil works the best). Sometimes after adjustment appointments your teeth might be sore as well, but it’s usually much less than at the beginning.