The mechanism of orthodontic pain and discomfort is poorly understood partly because of the limited number of animal behavioral models for pain assessment. This study aimed to develop a behavioral model for assessment of tooth‐movement pain in rats using directed face‐grooming activity. Male Sprague–Dawley rats weighing 200–300 g were used. They were videotaped on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14 after experimental tooth movement and their directed face‐grooming behavior was evaluated. In addition, we also evaluated behavioral responses to the application of a progressively higher magnitude force and to multiple applications of an equal magnitude force. Finally, the effects of peripherally and systemically administered morphine and of the N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, MK‐801, on the behavioral responses were evaluated. The results indicated that time spent on directed face‐grooming activity increased dramatically after initiating experimental tooth movement. The change concurred with the initial orthodontic pain response. This behavioral change was reproducible and was related to force magnitude. Application of both systemic and peripheral morphine and MK‐801 could exert an analgesic effect on this pain model. These results suggest that directed face‐grooming behavior can be a reliable measure for tooth‐movement pain in rats, which could be widely used in investigating the orthodontic pain mechanism.