How to Stop Braces Pain Immediately: 8 Tips by Our Kitchener Dentist
Many people think that braces are only for teens. However, as the percentage of the population that consults a dental clinic increases from 49.5% to 74.5%, anyone can need orthodontic intervention.
People who are planning to get braces must have this thought in mind that it will hurt.
And it does. Nevertheless, by following some tips, you can speed up the recovery and reduce the pain.
In this blog, our Kitchener dentists teach you how to stop braces pain immediately after getting them.
So, let's begin!
Learn More: Orthodontic Treatment Pricing: How Much Does It Cost In Toronto?
What Happens After Getting Braces?
To understand how to stop braces pain immediately, you need to know what the time following the procedure would be like.
After receiving braces, you must see your orthodontist in Kitchener on a regular basis. These evaluations and modifications occur every few weeks, usually every four to six weeks.
To adjust the braces, our Kitchener dentists tighten springs and wire, among other components. Additionally, they swap out worn rubber bands for fresh ones.
This adjustment may hurt like it did when your braces were originally placed. However, the discomfort should go away one to three days after your visit.
If you are looking for ways on how to stop braces pain immediately, you can use over-the-counter painkillers to ease this discomfort while having brace modifications.
Cold foods are another way to reduce the pain. For instance, popsicles, ice cream, or a chilled glass of milk can be beneficial.
How to Stop Braces Pain Immediately: Expert Tips by Our Dentist in Kitchener
Here are some useful tips on how to stop braces pain immediately:
1.Incorporate Cold Foods In Your Diet
If you want to know how to stop braces pain immediately, the first tip is to eat something cold.
Consider your course of action in the event of an ankle twist or other injury. You usually rest it and apply an ice pack to the injured region. That is because the cold lessens the discomfort and decreases any inflammation.
When searching for how to relieve braces pain, the same technique works wonders.
If you don't have sensitivity in the afflicted area, get some ice and press it against the aching spot in your mouth.
Additionally, eating ice cream helps alleviate the ache.
2.Save the Peppermint Tea Bags
Peppermint tea can be a great way to freshen up your breath. Overall, it has many advantages that make it suitable for your daily routine.
Once you drink the tea, don't throw the tea bags away. This is another great method from our list of how to stop braces pain immediately.
They have a plethora of healing qualities that help lessen pain and inflammation.
Any remaining heat from the teabag will also work to reduce the discomfort. To experience less pain, just place the used peppermint teabag while its hot and damp against the afflicted region.
If you don't feel like drinking the tea, you may also use peppermint essential oil. Grasp some and apply a few drops to the area(s) of your mouth that hurt.
After the application, it will numb the area for some time, offering relief.
3.Get Nonprescription Painkillers
When you ask a medical professional about how to stop braces pain immediately, they may suggest over-the-counter painkillers.
Painkillers come in a wide variety of forms, including acetaminophen, found in Tylenol; NSAIDs, found in ibuprofen; and naproxen, found in Aleve.
In particular, you should not use prescription painkillers that increase the risk of addiction.
Make sure you take prescribed drugs exactly as prescribed by our dentists in Kitchener and that they don't conflict with other prescriptions you are taking.
For instance, NSAIDs help lessen pain and inflammation, but they also thin the blood and may have unfavorable reactions with other drugs.
Not to be outdone, overuse of NSAIDS might potentially result in stomach ulcers.
Similarly, some people start taking paracetamol to treat headaches and muscular pains. Consuming paracetamol more than necessary may harm the liver.
4.Prepare Soft Foods
There are several limitations with typical wire braces, particularly with regard to what you may consume.
Don't consume hard candies, gum, and difficult-to-chew meals when wearing braces.
For the first few days following the placement of your braces, limit your diet to soft meals like cereal, mashed potatoes, and soups.
Every new set of aligners or braces requires adjustment time. During these transitional phases, be gentle with your tongue and limit your intake to softer foods by being careful with your eating habits.
Related Blog: 10 Surprising Foods That Can Damage Your Teeth
5.Brush Frequently
The best tip in our list on how to stop braces pain immediately is to maintain good oral hygiene.
After you eat your meal, food particles get trapped between your teeth. This may increase discomfort and lead to other dental problems.
Brushing is your first line of defense against tooth decay, which can lead to more issues later on.
Hence, if you want to maintain a healthy smile at all times, be sure you brush and floss daily.
6.Use Dental Wax
The wax is a barrier to prevent your mouth from being irritated by the brackets' sharp ends.
To apply orthodontic wax, you mold wax over the bracket. For people who want good solutions on how to stop braces pain immediately, it is the best method.
It reduces irritation and prevents mouth ulcers. If you ingest some of it, there is nothing to worry about, as it is completely harmless.
Before brushing your teeth, you need to remove the dental wax. After eating and cleaning your teeth, reapply the wax.
7.Use Warm Salt Water Rinse
Braces have a tendency to leave your mouth with wounds and sores.
Before you know it, your mouth may be a hotspot of pain from the wires digging in and the metal rubbing against your skin.
When combined with the overall pain caused by wires, the pain may intensify rapidly.
Using warm salt water to rinse and gargle is one of the greatest remedies.
Bring the kettle to a boil, let the water cool, and add the salt. Wait about sixty seconds, then take a mouthful and move it about your mouth.
Spit it out when finished, and repeat as needed.
The pain will quickly subside, and the wounds will heal more quickly as well.
8.Massage Your Gums
This is the last tip on how to stop braces pain immediately.
You should massage your gums for pain alleviation. All you need to do is gently use your finger to massage your gums in a circular motion.
Before you massage your gums, rub a block of ice over them. However, you should only do this for as long as necessary to relieve your swollen gums.
7 Signs To Rush To a Dentist in Kitchener for Braces Pain
If you have used all the tips on how to stop braces pain immediately and the situation has not improved, you need to visit a dentist.
To maintain the well-being of the orthodontic treatment and its efficacy, it is important to recognize these symptoms.
Among these signs are:
Severe or Persistent Pain: Although some degree of discomfort is normal, particularly following orthodontic modifications, severe or persistent pain is not and needs to be assessed by an orthodontist.
Broken or Loose Brackets: Quick treatment is needed to prevent future issues if any portion of the braces breaks or becomes loose.
Extended Mouth Sores or Ulcers: See a professional if the mouth sores caused by the braces don't go away in a reasonable amount of time.
Signs of Infection: Severe redness, swelling, or pus near the gums and teeth immediately require medical care.
Speech or Eating Difficulties: Braces may need to be modified if they interfere with speech or eating.
Wire Protrusions: A wire should be properly corrected if it is protruding and causing discomfort.
Loose Teeth: While some slipping is normal, teeth that become visibly loose are a sign of danger.
How to Relieve Braces Pain After Braces Removal
De-bonding braces, sometimes referred to as taking off braces, usually don't hurt.
In fact, after having their braces taken off, the majority of patients express exhilaration and relief.
This feeling of relief comes with the excitement of seeing their gorgeous smile after the ordeal they've gone through with their braces.
A qualified orthodontic staff handles the process of de-bonding. They employ a particular instrument made just for this task.
In the beginning, the adhesive used to secure them must be carefully scraped off.
Then, the metal bands affixed to your molars will be taken off.
The wire that joins the brackets and bands is also removed during this procedure.
After completing the de-bonding process, you enter the retention phase. This is an important time in your orthodontic treatment.
Your orthodontist in Kitchener will place a bonded retainer behind your teeth during this time. This kind of retainer is covert and difficult to see. As an alternative, you may receive a removable retainer.
In some situations, they may advise utilizing Invisalign as a retainer.
Retainer wear, even Invisalign, may be uncomfortable at first. This may be the same as your pain when your braces were originally put on. You become used to your retainers just as fast as you did to your braces.
Learn More: 3 Different Types of Retainers After Braces
FAQs
For how long do you feel the pain after getting the braces adjusted?
The pain usually goes away one to three days after your session. In addition, you can stop braces pain after tightening by using over-the-counter pain relievers and consuming cold foods.
What is the duration of braces pain?
It's normal to feel uncomfortable between 4 and 7 days after getting braces or simply having them tightened.
How to relieve braces pain?
Consume light meals like smoothies, soups, and mashed potatoes. Avoid sticky, crunchy, or hard items, which may worsen the pain. If sharp edges bother you, put orthodontic wax on them. Gargle with warm salt water to ease gum irritation and reduce inflammation. Consider taking an oral anesthetic to numb the area and ease pain.
Summary
These are all the simple and effective tips on how to stop braces pain immediately.
Using them makes you less likely to experience inflammation and other dental issues.
Regular orthodontic checkups in Kitchener are essential to a successful braces treatment. These consultations enable any required changes to be made to the braces, guaranteeing their optimal functionality and comfort.
These checkups also help monitor general oral health, address problems early, and ensure that treatment is proceeding according to schedule.
To get the best dental care, contact KWC Dental today!