Anyone know how to ease the pain of new braces?!
Question: Anyone know how to ease the pain of new braces?
Any advice?
Answers:
Yes sweetie, they are painful. I'm afraid there isn't much else you can do but take some pain killers, put that wax on the braces to control the friction against your lips, and stick to soft foods. No offense to your family, but I don't think chewing on steak will make it any better. If anything, that will cause more tenderness. Just let it heal on its own and in a week or 2 it should be better. You shouldn't chew gum either, that's exactly what the dentist doesn't want to you do. You could also try putting a wet towel in the freezer to make it more cold. Ambasol or Orajel might do the trick. Call your dentist for advice as well. I had braces for about 4 years so I feel your pain. Just be patient. Think of how pretty and straight your teeth will be once the braces are gone! It's all worth it in the end. Good luck!
me
Chewing hard food will only make you miserable. Don't listen to your relatives. They don't know what they're talking about.
Eat soft foods until your mouth gets used to the braces. SOFT foods, not chicken nuggets, for heaven's sake! Your "bite" changes, so you must chew very slowly and carefully. Our ArchWired.com website has a page with soft food recommendations.
http://www.archwired.com/soft_foods.htm
Do warm salt water rinses several times a day. Use a lot of dental wax. Get Rincinol PRN mouth rinse to help heal the mouth sores (available at most drug stores in the dental section).
Take Advil or Tylenol to help take the edge off the pain, if possible.
In two to three weeks the mouth sores will heal and within a month or two you'll be able to CAREFULLY eat more challenging food. Stay away from foods that are hard to chew until your mouth sores have healed and you feel you can bite and chew properly. Take SMALL bites. I personally know a child in our community who died when he choked on food he could not chew properly with new braces. It was heartbreaking.
http://www.ArchWired.com
TAKE ADVIL 2-3 EVERY 4-6 HRS