Traditional metal braces are a tried and proven way to address mild to complex misalignments like gaps, crowding, overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites, and many people who have worn them now enjoy having gorgeous and healthy smiles that they are eager to show off. However, wearing them can lead to discomfort if you don’t know how to protect your soft tissues. Here’s a quick look at how you can avoid oral sores and abrasions while wearing traditional braces.
Use Orthodontic Wax
When you start wearing braces or after you have them adjusted, your inner lips and cheeks will probably need some time to get used to the metal appliances being there. While the brackets and wires of your braces can poke, scrape, and otherwise irritate your soft oral tissues, you can help prevent this by attaching small bits of orthodontic wax to pointy parts of your appliance that are causing discomfort. This will reduce how much your braces can irritate the inside of your mouth and make it easier for your tissues to adjust to them.
Rinse with Warm Salt Water
Rinsing with a solution of salt and warm water can be a great way to ease oral irritation, kill harmful bacteria, and loosen plaque and food debris. To help reduce your discomfort when wearing braces, mix a quarter teaspoon of salt into eight ounces of warm water and swish the solution about your mouth for about thirty seconds before spitting it out. This method can be a fantastic way to instantly relieve oral discomfort.
Keep Your Orthodontist’s Dietary Guidelines in Mind
Patients wearing braces should take care to avoid foods and beverages that are hard, crunchy, chewy, sugary, and acidic since these items can erode the cement holding the brackets in place or detach them from the teeth. These foods and drinks can also be stressful to the soft oral tissues by irritating sore spots and helping harmful bacteria multiply. It’s best to make sure you adhere to your orthodontist’s dietary instructions by sticking to a soft, mild diet that doesn’t require vigorous chewing while drinking plenty of water when you are wearing braces.
Don’t let temporary oral discomfort discourage you from achieving a gorgeous new smile. Consulting with your orthodontist can help you understand the best ways to stay comfortable when wearing braces.
About the Author
Dr. Davis Witt earned his dental degree at the University of Connecticut and his certificate in orthodontics at the University of Washington at Seattle. He is proud to be a member of the American Dental Association and the American Association of Orthodontists. His offices in Holden, Shrewsbury, and Auburn offer traditional braces as well as clear aligner treatments. To learn more about how braces may be able to help you, contact him online.
