Braces Discomfort and How to Remedy it

While you may experience some mild discomfort and soreness as your mouth adjusts to the braces, the good news is that you won’t experience any extreme pain. Typically, you will experience tooth soreness and check or tongue irritation.

What Types of Braces Discomfort are There?

Tongue, Cheek, and Lip Irritation
This type of irritation can occur due to the wires or brackets causing sores on the tongue or cheeks. This is common during your first week with braces. To treat this irritation, you can:

• Use wax- If you have a wire or bracket rubbing against your tongue or cheek, you can roll a piece of dental wax between your fingers and smooth it over the area of the braces causing irritation to create a barrier between your tongue or cheek and the braces. This will prevent sores from forming and allow the area to heal.

You can also let the irritation run its course. Once you’ve had your braces for a few days, you’re tongue, cheeks, and lips will get used to the braces, and the sores or rubbing will decrease.

Tooth Soreness/Tightness

Having tooth soreness for the first few days of having your braces is common. This is often described by patients as a tight feeling in their teeth. To treat this irritation, you can:

• Take pain reliever- Consider taking an over-the-counter pain to relieve, like Tylenol to ease the pain caused by your braces. Be sure to use as directed for the best results.
• Stick to a soft diet- By sticking to soft foods, you can allow your mouth to heal before using it to eat harder to chew foods. This keeps the pressure on your teeth and helps them heal and adjust quicker.
• Eat or drink cold foods/beverages- Since your first few sets of wires are activated at body temperature, you can eat or drink something cold to decrease the tightness since the wires won’t be actively pushing your teeth.

Braces Consultation in Pittsburgh

Remember that this irritation and soreness is only temporary. Your braces are an integral tool in helping you achieve a healthier, straighter smile! Give your body time to adjust to your braces, and you’ll be feeling better in no time.
To schedule your braces consultation, contact King Orthodontics today!