6 Helpful Tips for braces pain relief

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Braces are a device that dentists use to align your teeth and improve dental health. Getting braces placed on your teeth is a relatively painless procedure. But eventually the pressure from the braces on your teeth and gums is what causes pain. You’re not used to this kind of pressure and will need some braces pain relief.

You will typically feel pain from braces after you’ve had it fitted, or whenever your dentist adjusts the wires on your braces. Braces pain generally lasts four to five days, and no more than a week at most.

How do braces function?

To understand the workings of braces, you need to know the elements required. Both below components typically work at straightening misaligned teeth and getting you the smile, you always wanted.

Brackets–

Your dentist glues brackets on your teeth or on a band that goes around your teeth.

Wires-

To connect the braces placed on each tooth, wires are used. The whole structure is held in places using elastic bands. Your dentist will adjust these wires at regular intervals to fix your misalignment.

What causes braces pain?

You will start experiencing pain from braces a while after getting your braces. This kind of braces pain is because you are not used to the braces and the pressure exerted on your teeth and gums, in general. This pressure is something that you will get used to in time, as your teeth straighten out. The first few weeks after you’ve gotten braces will be the most tough, as you’re still getting used to them. Here’s how braces pain can affect you:

  • When you chew, you may experience some sort of pressure on your teeth leading to soreness of your teeth and gums

  • The insides of your cheeks will feel sore

  • You may have frequent cuts on your tongue since you would be running it over your new braces inevitably

We don’t know the specific reason for pain from braces but there are certain factors, in general, that could be contributing to it.

External factors–

Having a foreign object attached in your mouth day in and day out is bound to cause friction, leading to soreness and pain. You could experience pain in the soft tissues inside your mouth due to the constant rubbing of the braces and wires. It is found that this type of braces pain decreases over time as the tissues in your mouth tighten.

Internal factors–

The pressure that braces exert on your teeth and gums is said to cause changes in the blood flow, which may cause braces pain.

How to relieve pain from braces?

If you’re new to braces and are dealing with pain from braces described above, worry not. Here are a few tips and tricks that can help you find braces pain relief.

  1. Over-the-counter pain relievers –

    For pain that is unbearable, you don’t have to wait for any other remedy to take effect. Ask your dentist to prescribe some over-the-counter pain medicine to combat the discomfort.

  2. Eat soft foods–

    Your dentist will obviously give a list of food items that must be avoided such as chewing gum, toffee, hard candy, etc. At least in the initial period, it is better to eat soft foods such as soups, smoothies, mashed vegetables, and cereal.

  3. Clean your mouth–

    Rinse your mouth with warm salt water a few times during the day.

  4. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush–

    Using a sensitive toothbrush can help find relief from braces pain. Try the Oral-B Ultrathin Sensitive Manual Toothbrush for gentle cleaning. It comes with 20 times thinner bristle tips that stay gentle on your gums and have a deeper reach between teeth as compared to regular bristles. With cup shaped bristles, it precisely covers each tooth and provides a deep clean every time. And since braces are common among kids as well, you need a toothbrush that suits them like Oral-B Kids Manual Toothbrush. It is designed to have soft, cup-shaped bristles that surround and gently clean your little one’s teeth. Control grip helps small hands maintain good control while brushing. It also has power tip bristles that are equipped to clean hard-to-reach back teeth.

  5. Oral hygiene:

    Practice good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing regularly. Using a good anti-bacterial mouthwash will be beneficial especially with braces when you cannot reach every cranny.

  6. Ice compress–

    Place an ice pack on the sides of your cheek to reduce inflammation and soreness.

The above tips answered your question of how to stop braces pain. But for those wondering how to brush correctly with braces on, here’s your answer. Brushing when you have braces is very important to maintain oral health. Below is a brief description of the most efficient way to brush your teeth while wearing braces.

  1. The first step is finding the right toothbrush for your teeth and needs. Like mentioned above, go for a soft-bristled toothbrush.

  2. Brush starting from the top to the bottom, between each brace. Make sure the entire surface of your teeth is cleaned- front, back and in-between. This may consume more time, but it’ll benefit you in the long run.

  3. Brushing your tongue is important too as it helps removing bacteria and keeps your breath fresh.

Getting braces is a completely normal thing and is an investment for your dental health. The pain from braces that you experience is only temporary and with good oral hygiene, you will be able to overcome this phase in your life quickly.

FAQs

How do you relieve pain from braces?

For braces pain relief, you can try over-the-counter pain medication to combat the discomfort. You can also try other measures such as using an ice pack or rinsing your mouth with warm salt water.

How long will my teeth hurt after braces are put on?

You will typically feel pain from braces after you’ve had it fitted, or whenever your dentist adjusts the wires on your braces. Braces pain generally lasts four to five days, and no more than a week.

How do you get rid of braces pain naturally?

Some home remedies for braces pain relief include using an ice pack, rinsing your mouth with warm salt water, eating soft foods, among others.