Guide to Managing Pain Caused by Braces
While braces can provide many benefits, pain is a common and unfortunate downside. This article explains why pain occurs and ways to prevent and relieve it.
Many look forward to straight teeth and other health benefits from wearing braces. The process, however, can seem long and challenging, especially if you experience pain. Yet, there are ways to manage the pain and relieve symptoms, thus making the process easier.
Why It Hurts
It helps to understand why you experience pain. Braces work by putting constant pressure on your teeth to straighten and reposition them. This constant pressure can make your teeth and jaw sore and sensitive. Other problems result from the fact that the braces themselves are metal.
You may experience pain when the brackets of your braces rub against your cheeks, lips, or tongue, resulting in cuts and sores that make talking and eating painful.
How to Manage
There are certain things you can do to relieve pain from braces.
Orthodontic Wax
When orthodontic wax is placed on your brackets, the wax prevents the rubbing that causes cuts and sores.
Over-The-Counter Pain Medication
Medications like Advil or Tylenol help to relieve pain.
(Before taking any over-the-counter pain medication, always speak to your medical professional)
Salt Water Rinse
Rinsing your mouth with warm salt water can clean cuts and sores and help them heal.
Oral Anesthetic
Applying an oral anesthetic like Anbesol or Orajel on sore areas helps to relieve pain.
What you eat can also impact how your mouth feels. Eat soft foods and avoid hard foods and candy that can damage your braces and hurt your teeth.
Experiencing pain while wearing braces is common, but it is also manageable. Visiting an orthodontist may also be required to check for loose or broken parts.
(As with any medication, you must always consult your medical practitioner to know what’s best for you.)
Suburban Essex Dental Can Help With All Your Dental Pain
Contact Dr. Paul Feldman for a consultation to discuss your dental problems. As an NJ top-rated dentist, we are here to help you, so get in touch asap so we can help you resolve your dental pain and other dental problems.
