Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: New or Tightened Braces
• Part 2 of 2: Sharp bracket, hook, or wire
• Tips
• Warnings

Aligning your teeth with braces is not easy. Everyone who has worn braces has had to endure at least a few days of pain or soreness. Pain relievers, soft foods, and dental wax may help during this period. In case of severe pain, you should immediately contact your orthodontist or dentist.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: New or Tightened Braces

1. 1 Take pain relievers. Try an over-the-counter pain reliever NSAID like ibuprofen. Read the instructions and take the recommended dosage for your age. In order for the medicine to be better absorbed, it is better to take it with a small amount of food.
   • Take pain relievers only when needed, and never take them for more than 10 days.
2. 2 Eat cold, soft foods. Braces become tight and pull on the teeth if they are warm. Cold foods or drinks can help relieve tension for temporary relief. Try ice cream, smoothies, yogurt, or applesauce. There should be no filling or lumps in these products. You can try sucking on crushed ice, but ice cubes are best avoided as they are too hard.
   • However, if you have temperature-sensitive teeth or any unusual braces, this can lead to a different kind of pain. Some people benefit from warm drinks. Just do not eat both warm and cold foods at the same time, as this can damage your tooth enamel.
3. 3 Avoid hard or sticky foods. Skip raw vegetables for a few days until your teeth heal. During this time, it is best to eat soft cooked vegetables, soft fruits, and applesauce. You can also eat soup, fish, and white rice. Sticky products such as chewing gum or toffee, which can dislodge braces, should be avoided even after the pain has subsided.
   • When the acute pain has passed, you can eat solid foods by cutting them into thin slices or small pieces.
4. 4 Use dental floss to remove stuck food. Trapped food can be the cause of pain, especially if your braces have recently been tightened. Use the Platypus flosser to avoid the dental floss clinging to the braces.
   • Flossing every day will help keep your teeth clean. If braces are installed, it is important to do this, even if nothing is stuck between the teeth, as the floss helps to remove plaque that forms around them.
5. 5 Massage your gums with your toothbrush. Gently brush your toothbrush in a circular motion over the sore gums.
6. 6 Try to distract yourself. The thought of not going to school or work may sound tempting, but you may regret it. Avoid sitting at home and stick to a normal daily routine to take your mind off the pain.
7. 7 See your orthodontist for other medications. To relieve pain, he may recommend a gel, paste, mouthwash, or some kind of protective coating. Although these medications are readily available in pharmacies, your orthodontist may recommend which one is most effective.

Part 2 of 2: Sharp bracket, hook, or wire

1. 1 Find the site of the wound. Feel the wound in your mouth with your tongue or finger if you don't know exactly where it is. The painful or swollen area can be felt. Try to determine which bracket, hook, or wire is rubbing against this area.
2. 2 Cover the metal part with dental wax. You can buy dental wax at a drug store or orthodontist's office. Wash your hands, then roll up a small piece of wax until it softens and takes on the shape of a ball. Press it against the irritating metal part and then align it with your finger or tongue. This method is equally applicable for sharp brackets and hooks, and for wire.
   • The wax can be left on while eating. Nothing will happen if you accidentally swallow a bite.
3. 3 You can use lip balm temporarily. If you don't have tooth wax, you can apply a small amount of non-toxic lip balm to the irritated area. If you swallow a little of the balm, then nothing bad will happen, but a large amount can cause an upset stomach. Only use the balm until you find tooth wax.
   • Some people may have an allergic reaction to para-aminobenzoic acids, sometimes found in sunscreen lip balms. Call an ambulance if you feel dizzy or swollen in your mouth.
4. 4 Bend the wire or hooks into a more comfortable position. This can only be tried with a thin, flexible wire or hook that rests on the cheek or gum. Press it down gently against your teeth with a clean finger or with a new rubber pencil eraser.
   • Do not touch the wire between braces or if it does not bend easily.
5. 5 Ask your orthodontist to cut the sharp edges of the wire. He can easily shorten the wire. Many orthodontists will do this for free and may accept you without an appointment.
   • Since this is not an emergency, your orthodontist will likely not want to see you outside of office hours. Do not remove wax until you have received an appointment.
6. 6 It takes time for it to become easier. Over time, due to the constant friction of the braces, the inner surface of the mouth will become coarse. The pain will go away on its own, unless there are sharp and cutting parts on the braces. This can take several days or even weeks.
   • Dental wax can slow this process down. As the pain subsides, use smaller and smaller pieces of wax to help your mouth adjust to the braces.
7. 7 Breathe in through your mouth to dry these areas. Inhale deeply, filling your mouth with air. Turn your lips outward with your fingers. It can provide temporary relief from mouth pain.
   • Do not do this in places where there is a lot of dust, pollen, or car exhaust.
8. 8 Gargle with salt water. Dissolve a small spoonful of salt in a glass of warm water. Rinse your mouth with this solution several times, then spit it out into the sink. For the first few days, rinse your mouth as often as possible until the pain goes away. This will help relieve the pain associated with swelling and will be a good prevention of infections.
   • The saline solution can be replaced with an antimicrobial mouthwash. Read the instructions before use. You do not need to swallow it.
9. 9 If pain persists, see an orthodontist. If the pain is very severe, then you can go to the orthodontist without an appointment. If the pain is moderate, but lasts for a week or longer, then make an appointment with your treating orthodontist.The doctor will either diagnose the problem with the braces or prescribe less painful treatments for you.

Tips

• If painful sensations appear, remove the braces for 10-20 minutes, if their design allows it. Do not try to remove fixed braces. Do not remove the elastic bands, they should be on the braces all the time.
• The above methods can be used to prevent the onset of painful sensations. Pain is better prevented than treated.
• Do not hesitate to contact your orthodontist if you need to consult or make an appointment.

Warnings

• If you have serious problems, for example, you cannot close your mouth or the pain is so severe that it prevents you from sleeping at night, then see an orthodontist as soon as possible.
• When taking pain relievers, always stick to the recommended dosage and do not take them for longer than you need to. Pain relievers may not completely clear up pain, so consult your doctor before increasing your dosage. These medications have side effects.
• Lemon juice and other acidic foods should not be consumed. Because of them, the pain in the mouth can only worsen.