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Pain and pain management is one quality of orthodontic treatment that can make people pretty nervous—and we get it. But there’s no need to fear. Our team and Dr. Dayan of One Love Orthodontics will tell you what is and isn’t painful about orthodontic treatment.
Pinpointing Discomfort
So first of all, it’s going to feel a little weird to have an appliance in your mouth if you’ve never had one in there before. That is a universal part of this experience! As for feeling pain or discomfort, there are certain factors and stages of treatment that can make it more likely.
- First Stages: There’s always an initial period of adjustment when your braces are first applied. Your teeth will begin to shift, and that can feel like soreness in some cases
- After Adjustments: Dr. Dayan periodically adjusts your appliance by tightening certain components, which is part of what puts that movement of teeth into motion. It’s fairly common for patients to experience a bit of discomfort after these visits, but nothing serious.
- Brackets and Wires: Brackets and wires can cause some irritation inside of the mouth, both against gums and soft tissues of cheeks.
- Rubber Bands/Accessories: For certain patients, we use rubber bands to adjust bite alignment. This applies additional pressure to the mouth, which can be uncomfortable. Other additional components we might use are palatal expanders or the Carriere Motion Appliance.
- Clear Aligners: Even with clear aligner trays, there can be a feeling of tightness that might not feel great at first. But just like adjustments to traditional braces, the initial tightness of a new set of aligners is meant to shift your teeth.
- More than Uncomfortable: There are multiple levels to pain, of course. It should be noted that if you’re ever experiencing serious, persistent pain, don’t try to wait it out. Please let us know so we can examine your appliance and make any necessary repairs.
Getting it Under Control
Regardless of the source of your discomfort during orthodontic treatment, there are lots of remedies available to help you out. Many times, it shouldn’t even have to warrant a visit to the office, though a visual assessment could be helpful in some scenarios if you can’t figure out what’s wrong. We’ll help you get to the bottom of it.
- Pain Relievers: Using ibuprofen or acetaminophen can reduce any pain or inflammation you might experience. As we said, this could be more likely after adjustment appointments, or if you’ve experienced any sort of trauma to your appliance. If you have any aversions to either of these medications, please let us know so that we can help find a solution for you!
- Orthodontic Wax: This is the secret weapon of braces maintenance! It can provide a smooth buffer to rough spots on your braces, or on broken wires until they can be repaired. Be sure you carry orthodontic wax in your orthodontic travel kit in case the need for it arises.
- Cold Compress: Wrapping an ice pack in a cloth and pressing it against your cheek or jaw for 10-15 minute stages can be very effective pain management at home or at work. It numbs the area and provides some comfort.
- Saltwater Rinse: Combining water with salt and swishing it around your mouth for about 30 seconds is a great way to treat any open cuts or ulcers. It promotes quicker healing and reduces pain.
- Soft Foods: It’s always smart to steer clear of crunchy or hard foods when you have braces. Dr. Dayan has an awesome list of custom, braces-friendly recipes you can check out. You see, we believe you shouldn’t sacrifice delicious treats for nice teeth. They can coexist!
- Pain Relief Gels: Orthodontic pain relief gels are easy to find in your local drugstore, which have numbing ingredients like benzocaine (aka a common oral anesthetic). This is a great way to handle specific areas of pain in your teeth or gums.
- Stay Hydrated: It’s widely observed that drinking plenty of water is really, really good for you. This tip also applies to life with orthodontic treatment. Drinking water cleanses your mouth of unwanted food particles and also encourages saliva production.
Absolutely Crushing It!
Even if you do experience occasional discomfort in your orthodontic treatment, it’s nothing you can’t handle with a little help from One Love Orthodontics. Our Brooklyn office is widely loved for handling every patient’s case with love and care—including yours. It’s no small accomplishment to make such a huge mark in New York City. We’re confident you’ll be able to feel the difference. Come see us soon!