All You Need to Know About Braces – Tips For Dealing With Pain
Each time you have a check-up adjustments are made to the arch wire or metal band that extends across your smile. This may include bending, adjusting, tightening, or replacing the wire with a thicker wire to help move your teeth. Ties that hold the arch wire to the brackets may also be changed, along with completing any other necessary adjustments.
Each adjustment is a step toward straight, healthy teeth, it is natural for your braces to cause discomfort around your teeth and gums. If you experience soreness, there are a few simple tips you can try to help ease the pain.
Use an Oral Anesthetic
Orajel and Anbesol are a few pain relievers that can be applied directly to your teeth and gums. Use a cotton swab or your finger to apply the numbing gel to the areas of discomfort. The gel may not taste fantastic, but it does help to desensitize the mouth and decrease the pain of shifting teeth.
Take Over-the-Counter Pain Relief Medicine
Be proactive! If you take pain relief medication an hour before your appointment, it will help ease any potential discomfort. An over-the-counter pain medication should do the trick, but make sure to follow the usage directions provided on the container. It’s not recommended to take pain pills regularly, but they can be beneficial when the pain can’t be subdued by other remedies.
Use an Icepack
Just like with an injury, it’s important to apply cold pressure to the area of discomfort, as inflammation increases pain. An icepack, or a gel-icepack applied to the outside of your mouth will help decrease inflammation and ultimately help to ease the oral discomfort.
East Soft Foods
Your teeth will very likely be sensitive as they shift after your braces are tightened. Avoid crunchy, hard or difficult to eat foods and opt for more soft foods. Mashed potatoes, smoothies, pudding and soup are good options because they don’t require much chewing and involvement of the teeth.
Drink Cold Water
Ice cold water is a great, inexpensive way to ease discomfort after you get your braces tightened. The cold temperature provides a numb sensation in the mouth and decreases inflammation in the sore gums.
Apply Dental Wax
When you apply dental wax to the metal segments (brackets) of your braces, this will reduce rubbing and friction against the sensitive parts of your mouth. The wax should be applied to the painful areas by rolling a small amount of the wax into a ball, this will make it soft and easy to apply. Then place the wax directly onto the bracket that is rubbing against your mouth. Be sure to dry the tooth and bracket thoroughly prior to applying the wax. If you happen to swallow some wax, it will not harm you.
Be Patient
While it may be uncomfortable to get your braces tightened, just remember that the pain is temporary and will go away in a few days. Hopefully, and discomfort will all be worth it when you get your braces removed and you are left with a beautiful, healthy smile.
Up next…All You Need to Know About Braces – Eating
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