Comfort Tips While Wearing Braces - For Kids and Adults - Paquette Orthodontics

Comfort Tips While Wearing Braces – For Kids and Adults

By admin October 29th
Getting braces represents a big change in a person’s life, and like all big changes, it can take some getting used to. Because of advances in braces technology over the last few decades, getting braces put on is a painless process that now only takes an hour or so. However, you may feel a little sore for the first few days as your mouth gets used to your new braces. Because braces work by applying pressure to shift your teeth, gums, and facial bones, it’s entirely normal to feel soreness and discomfort after getting your braces put on or adjusted.

We’ve put together a list of tips that we feel can help you feel more comfortable with braces:

Tips For Making Braces More Comfortable
1. Maintain Great Oral Hygiene
  
  Not taking good care of your teeth and braces is a sure-fire way to cause problems. Braces create small traps where food particles and bacteria love to hide. This means it’s important to keep up with your dental hygiene to prevent painful cavities and other dental issues. Make sure to brush and floss twice a day to keep your teeth and gums healthy; rinsing with antimicrobial mouthwash can also help remove stubborn food particles and kill bad breath germs. It’s not a bad idea to give a quick brush after every meal to remove any stuck food particles from your teeth, either. No one likes walking around all day with food stuck in their teeth or braces!
2. Put Together a Braces Care Kit
  
  Staying prepared with a braces care kit is a great way to keep your braces clean and deal with any potential problems. A good braces care kit can help you tackle almost any situation that comes up whether you’re at work, school, or out and about. A good braces care kit should always have:
  - A travel-size toothbrush and toothpaste
  - An interproximal brush
  - Floss picks and floss threaders
  - Travel-size mouthwash or breath strips
  - A small dental mirror
  - Extra elastic bands and an elastic band hook
  - Orthodontic wax
  - A small carrying case to keep everything together
3. Orthodontic Wax Is like the duct tape of orthodontics
  
  Speaking of orthodontic wax, this is one of the most effective items you can have at your disposal. Orthodontic wax (sometimes called dental wax) is perfect for dealing with wire ends that are poking inside your cheeks or lips, as well as brackets that may be rubbing the inside of your lips. Simply roll a small piece of wax between your fingers to warm it up and stick it on any part of your braces that is causing you discomfort. Just remember to remove it from your braces before eating: even though orthodontic wax is non-toxic, it’s not that tasty, either.
4. Stick to Braces-friendly Food
5. Cold Food or Drinks Can Help with Soreness
  
  A simple remedy for soreness or discomfort caused by your braces is to eat or drink something cold. Cold food or drinks can have a slight numbing effect that takes the edge off any soreness you may be feeling. This can be especially helpful right after orthodontist appointments when you may feel some discomfort after getting your braces adjusted. Ice cream, frozen yogurt, smoothies, and ice water are all good choices to help with soreness.
6. Rinsing with Saltwater Can Also Help
7. Don’t Leave the Office Unless Your Braces Feel Comfortable
  
  The best way to make sure your braces feel comfortable is to talk to your orthodontist. Even though our team will do everything we can to make your braces as comfortable as possible, only you can tell us how your braces feel. Let us know if there are any brackets rubbing somewhere, wires poking your lips, or anything else that doesn’t feel right or is causing you pain. We’ll try to always keep you supplied with orthodontic wax just to make sure that nothing is poking or rubbing the inside of your mouth and causing you pain or discomfort.
Braces don’t have to be uncomfortable as long as you have the right team on your side! Since 1989, Paquette Orthodontics has helped thousands of patients create and maintain healthy, beautiful smiles that last a lifetime. In addition to our orthodontic treatment options, Dr. Paquette is also a pioneer in the field of orthodontic treatment for pediatric sleep-disordered breathing. To see what Paquette Ortho can do for you, give us a call at (704) 799-3777 today or get in touch with us online for a free initial consultation.
Previous

Comfort Tips While Wearing Braces – For Kids and Adults

Blog