Wearing braces for the 1st time | Family Dentist in Keller TX

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Wearing braces for the first time can be exciting, but the process of straightening your teeth using braces comes with some discomfort. The pain you experience when wearing braces is caused by particular reasons.


Here the common causes of soreness and discomfort when wearing braces for the first time:


1.    Your teeth are moving into their proper positions.

2.    The pain is caused by your lips and cheeks rubbing against your braces.

3.    Eating hard food can cause discomfort because your teeth have just started to re-align.


It may take a few weeks for you to get used to your new braces and for them to become less painful. It may also take a while for you to learn how to eat and talk with your new braces.


In the meantime, what can you do to minimize the pain?


•    Soft diet

Your dentist will advise you to avoid hard foods for the first few days. You may slowly start eating hard foods when the pain has lessened. A soft diet such as eating soup, mashed potatoes, pasta, and yogurt is recommended for a while.


•    Take over-the-counter pain medication

Over the counter pain medicines such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can help reduce pain and soreness while you’re scheduling an appointment with your orthodontist.


•    Brush gently

Brush using a soft-bristled toothbrush. This can help ease the pain.


•    Gargle with warm salt water three times a day

Rinsing with a warm saltwater solution can also help heal any wound you may have on the inside of cheeks, lips, and gums. Rinsing with the solution three times a day will help you heal up better.


•    Wax application

Most orthodontists give their patients some wax for the braces. Wax can be applied on irritating areas until they’re healed. If your orthodontist didn’t provide you with wax, you could buy it from pharmacies.


Discomfort is perfectly normal when getting braces for the first time. Nevertheless, it will all be worth it. When the braces have already straightened your misaligned teeth, you’ll definitely enjoy an improved self-confidence when you finally have that beautiful, healthy smile.