Dental Veneers Changed My Life

Just Got Braces? Try These Pain Relief Measures

19 February 2019 by Harold Coleman

A mouth full of misaligned teeth can be repaired with wire braces. Whether you're a teenager or an adult who has set out to fix their teeth, the desire for a straighter smile can be strong. However, while you may have expected some discomfort from the new braces, you might be surprised to be experiencing some real pain. What pain-relieving measures are possible other than ibuprofen and other oral medications?

1-Using Oral Anesthetics

The gels available for cavities, sold in drugstores and grocery stores, may be familiar to you. Indeed, you may have used one of those oral anesthetics to soothe cavities in the past. Luckily, those gels can sometimes soothe your teeth again when they've got braces. The gels typically include eugenol, benzocaine or other numbing agents that should work as soon as you apply the gel to your aching teeth. The pain should subside for a few hours. Just be mindful of applying the gel only to teeth; gel can also numb the tongue, which can feel both strange and uncomfortable. To keep the gel applied to just the right spot, you may want to use a cotton swab instead of fingers.

2-Using Brace Wax

The pain may not be from your teeth or the braces; it could be that the sensitive tissues inside your mouth, particularly your lips and cheeks, are scratched by the new metal wires and brackets on your teeth. So-called "brace wax" is a soft, gummy material which you can place on top of the parts of your braces that are rubbing up against cheeks. 

The wax will harden slightly after it's placed, and that's great--it will remain right where you put it. However, for this to occur, you must keep the place dry for a few moments. This can prove tricky, considering how wet your mouth is all the time. To do this, make an exaggerated smile for a minute or two so that air can get into the mouth. You can also try using a bit of cotton or toilet paper against your cheek so the wax doesn't get wet for a while.

Avoiding Citrus Juices and Foods

Because of the minor cuts new braces may have caused both during installation and after, citric acid can burn and aggravate your oral cavity. Hold off on lemonade, oranges, orange juice and other similar offerings for about a week.

Your comfort should slowly be returning once your mouth adjusts to the braces and you utilize these relief tips. If the pain is too much, you should also contact an orthodontist office, like Accent On Dentistry - Rowena R Martir DMD; further office adjustments might be required.

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