The first weeks of orthodontic braces can be exciting, frustrating, and sometimes painful. Even if you try your hardest to do the right thing, braces can cause soreness to your mouth.
As your teeth begin to move, it's normal for your teeth to ache and for your jaw to feel sore to some extent. You might get canker sores when the brackets rub the insides of your lips and cheeks. Fortunately, there are many over-the-counter treatments available to reduce the pain and irritation from braces. Some of these include Rincinol PRN, ComfortBrace Strips, OraChill, and OrthoDots. In a pinch, good 'ol dental wax also helps.
Some of the common problems that can occur when you have braces include:
Bracket Comes Loose: To fix this problem, apply a small bit of orthodontic wax to the bracket. You might also want to apply a little between the braces and the soft tissue of your mouth. Call your orthodontist to have the bracket replaced at your earliest convenience.
Bands Come Loose: This is a more serious problem, which your orthodontist needs to fix. Try to save the band for repair, if you can.
Protruding or Broken Wires: Poking wires are very common. You can use an eraser from the end of a pencil to move the wire to a less painful spot. If you are unable to move it, apply orthodontic wax or OrthoDots to the tip. A poking wire can sometimes tear up the insides of your cheeks and may get infected. To prevent this, rinse your mouth with warm salt water or antiseptic rinse. Call your orthodontist -- most of the time, you can just drop in to get the wire clipped, without an appointment.
Loose spacers: Most people only wear spacers for one week to 10 days. They're not comfortable, but they're necessary to make room for orthodontic bands. If a spacer comes loose, call your orthodontist, because they will need to be repositioned or replaced.
Avoid Problem Foods: It will be difficult to bite foods like hamburgers or burritos with your front teeth. It's better to to cut your food into small pieces and chew slowly and carefully. Avoid hard and chewy foods that can break your hardware, stringy foods that can get caught in your braces, and sharp foods like tortilla chips. Take corn off the cob. Avoid nuts, hard carrots, biting into apples, chewing on ice, and bubble gum.
With a little patience, the first weeks in braces will fly by. In time, your braces won't hurt as much. But after each adjustment, you could develop some soreness and new canker sores. Just repeat the steps that you took previously, and you'll feel better in no time.
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