General Soreness
When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth, and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. Stick to a soft diet until your teeth do not hurt to chew. Irritated gums and other sore spots can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt-water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in eight ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. If the tenderness is severe, take Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain. Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and Naproxen Sodium (Naprosyn, Anaprox) actually slow the tooth movement, so it is not advisable to use them frequently while wearing braces.
The lips, cheeks, and tongue may become irritated for one to two weeks as they learn a new posture and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We’ll show you how!
Loose Brackets or Bands
If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it if needed for comfort. If the bracket or band can be removed easily, place it in an envelope and save it to bring to your next appointment.
Loose Wire
Using a pair of tweezers or needle-nosed pliers, try to put your wire back into place. It is okay to use a piece of floss to tie the wire into place: tie the floss around the bracket in place of the missing colored o-ring. If you cannot put the wire into a comfortable position, and covering the end with wax doesn’t help, as a last resort use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If the end of the wire is still sharp place wax on it.
Poking Wires or Wire Irritations
Once in a while, a wire may come loose and the broken wire may cause some discomfort. There are a few things you can do to help with that discomfort while you are waiting to come see us for the repair:
- Wax – Try putting some of the wax over the wire to keep it from poking your gums or cheeks.
- Temporary Fix – You can also try to gently (“gently” is the key word here) push the wire back into place with a pencil eraser or cotton swab.
- OrthoDots – Made of silicone, OrthoDots are a game changer for people experiencing orthodontic discomfort. They provide instant relief by creating a protective barrier between braces and the mouth, reducing friction and pain caused by wires and brackets for up to 24 hours! You can find them at most drug stores.
Lost Separators
You’re brushing your teeth. You look in the mirror and … a separator is gone! It’s okay, it happens now and then. Usually, it just means it’s time to get a new band, so call us to set up an appointment.
Headgear
Sometimes discomfort is caused by not wearing the headgear as instructed by Dr. Lee. Please refer to the instructions he provided. If the facebow (metal piece) is bent, please call our office for assistance. The headgear should hurt less the more it’s worn, so be sure you get in the prescribed number of hours.
