Braces work by applying pressure to your teeth until they progressively straighten and align using a combination of brackets and wires. Therefore, after wearing them, it’s typical to feel some initial pain in the teeth, gums, and jaw.
Braces often cause mild pain or discomfort as a side effect. However, the discomfort should only be felt right away after your Yakima orthodontist inserts or fixes your braces or wires. Braces pain rarely lasts more than a week and usually goes away after four days.
Although the majority of patients feel some discomfort while undergoing orthodontic treatment, the result is a beautiful smile.
How Long Does Braces Pain Last?
Braces-related pain and irritability are temporary and manageable.
Usually, the most troublesome period follows the fitting of braces during the first three days. Your teeth are already shifting due to your braces, and the soft tissue in your mouth and on your lips is not used to being physically rubbed by the brackets and wires. Expect to have gum and tooth pain.
Usually, this stiffness and suffering last for one to two days, up to nearly a week.
How To Deal With Braces Pain?
You may feel irritation and braces pain after tightening, but there are ways to get rid of braces pain. Here are some dental tips in this regard:
Oral Anesthetics
Rub an oral anesthetic directly on sensitive teeth and gums for quick pain relief from braces. It can be applied with a cotton swab or your finger. Your teeth and gums become less sensitive to pain from moving teeth due to oral anesthetics.
Pain-Relief Medicine
The use of the medicine for braces pain is an additional choice. Take the medication an hour before your session if you are aware that you always experience some discomfort following an orthodontic appointment. It will make your session less painful and uncomfortable.
Carefully read and follow the medication’s dosing instructions.
Soft Foods for Braces
There are many limitations when wearing standard wire braces, particularly in terms of what you can consume. With braces on, you shouldn’t eat hard candies, gum, or meals that are difficult to chew. You may wish to limit yourself to skipping just crunchy meals immediately following the placement of your braces and after each tightening. You can achieve this by eating only soft foods, such as cereal, mashed potatoes, and soups.
With each new set of aligners, even if you opted for Invisalign and don’t need to worry about wire straightening, there will be an adjustment period. Be gentle with your mouth during these times of transition by eating only softer foods.
Orthodontic Wax
Most likely, orthodontic wax will be sent home with you. This wax protects the inside of your lips, cheeks, and gums from the braces brackets. The wax forms a barrier that prevents your mouth from being irritated by the brackets’ sharp ends.
Use orthodontic wax according to the directions provided. In general, you shape the orthodontic wax to cover the irritated bracket. You don’t need to be concerned about mistakenly swallowing any because it is nontoxic wax, but remember to remove it before brushing your teeth. After you brush your teeth and after eating, reapply the wax.
Ice Your Gums
The benefits of cold foods and ice packs are similar. For 20 minutes, simply place an ice pack wrapped in a towel on the outside of your mouth. The cold would ease discomfort and decrease inflammation.
Wrapping Up
Both literally and symbolically speaking, wearing them can be painful. Fortunately, most people who have their braces tightened only experience minimal discomfort for a few days. You can stop the pain from your braces as quickly as possible by following the dental tips stated above.