Your mouth is probably going to be sore and irritated after getting new braces because your mouth hasn't adapted to them yet. Here our orthodontists at Burnaby Heights Orthodontics discuss ways you can alleviate the mouth, cheek, and lip discomfort brought on by new braces.
Time
The most important factor when dealing with pain and irritation from new braces is time. It is going to take your mouth a couple of weeks to adjust to the new braces and get "tougher". After your mouth is accustomed to the feeling the discomfort will go away.
In the meantime, we have provided a list of methods below that can help you manage the discomfort.
Rinse Your Mouth With Salted Water
It's been proven that rinsing your mouth out with salted water will help ease 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 approximately 30 seconds, spitting it out into the sink once the time is up. Repeat this pattern until the cup is empty. You can do this as many times as you need to.
Hydrogen Peroxide and Warm Water
If the saltwater doesn't help ease your pain, try this concoction which has a similar outcome.
In a glass add 50% water to 50% hydrogen peroxide, then swish a mouth full of the contents in your mouth for 30 seconds ( spitting it out after) until the mixture is gone.
Barrier Products & Alleviating Pain
Try the products below to help alleviate the discomfort you feel, while adjusting to your new braces:
Dental Wax
The most popular choice people make when looking for discomfort relief from braces is dental wax. Dental wax creates a barrier between your braces and inner mouth, decreasing the amount of friction allowing sores and irritation to heal.
To apply dental wax follow the steps below :
- 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 the wax in place, making a small bump on top of the bracket/wire. This should prevent further friction from occurring.
Lip Protectors
These flexible protectors are “bumpers” that cover your braces from end to end. They work as a shield to protect your gums and lips 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 from braces, providing up to 6 hours of pain relief.
GUM® Canker-X
GUM® Canker-X is another aloe vera-based item. It's a gel that assists the healing of mouth sores and helps protect the mouth from further mouth sores, canker sores, small cuts, and abrasions by, acting as a barrier.
Comfort Brace
Comfort Brace Protective Strips have a similar appearance to whitening strips and work to build a barrier that sits between the inside of your braces and cheeks/ lips. They protect the inside of your mouth from the braces, allowing it to heal.