There is a good chance that your mouth is going to be irritated and sore after you get new braces. This is because your mouth isn't familiar with them yet. Today our knowledgeable team of orthodontists at SmileTown Orthodontics Braces & Invisalign share simple ways you can help alleviate the pain caused by new braces.
Time
The key factor when dealing with pain and irritation from braces is time. It's going to take your mouth a couple of weeks to get used to the braces and become "tougher". As soon as your mouth has adjusted to the braces the pain, discomfort, and irritation will fade away.
Till then, we have listed several ways you can help manage the pain.
Salted Water Rinse
Rinsing your mouth out with salted water is proven to help alleviate the pain caused by braces.
This mixture is made by stirring 1/2 a teaspoon of salt into one cup of warm water until it has completely dissolved. When that has finished swish the water in your mouth for about 30 seconds, spitting the water out into the sink once the time is up. Continue this pattern until the water is gone. You can repeat this process as many times as required.
Hydrogen Peroxide and Warm Water
If the salt water doesn't help ease your discomfort, try this brew which has a comparable outcome.
Add 50% water and 50% hydrogen peroxide to a glass, then swish a mouth full of the contents in your mouth and spit it out after 30 seconds. Repeat this process til the cup is empty.
Barrier Products & Alleviating Pain
You can use any of the following products to help ease the discomfort you feel while getting used to your new braces:
Dental Wax
Dental wax is the most popular choice among patients that are seeking pain and irritation relief. Dental wax creates a barrier between your inner mouth and braces, lowering the amount of friction. This lets sores and irritation heal.
To apply dental wax follow these steps:
- Wash your hands.
- Brush your teeth to clean the area you are applying the wax to.
- Roll a small piece of wax into a ball, using just enough wax to cover the wire or bracket causing the irritation ( this makes the wax easier to apply).
- Gently press the wax on the spot (wire or bracket) that's creating the irritation.
- Spread your wax in place, making a small bump on top of the wire or bracket. This should prevent friction from happening in the future.
Lip Protectors
These flexible protectors are “bumpers” that cover your braces from one end to the other. They act as a shield protecting your lips and gums from the braces.
GUM® Rincinol PRN
GUM® Rincinol PRN is a mouth sore rinse that uses aloe vera as its base. This product helps heal the irritation caused by braces, offering up to 6 hours of pain relief.
GUM® Canker-X
GUM® Canker-X is an aloe vera based gel that helps your mouth heal from sores and protects it from future mouth sores, canker sores and small cuts and abrasions by, acting as a shield.
Comfort Brace
Comfort Brace Protective Strips look like whitening strips and work to build a barrier that sits between the inside of your cheeks/ lips and braces. They protect the inside of your mouth from braces, allowing it to heal.