Clear Braces

During your orthodontic treatment, you may experience some discomfort. For example, after your braces are on, your lips and cheeks no longer rest against the smooth surface of your, so your lips, cheeks, and even tongue may be sensitive at first to the brackets.

However, ceramic brackets are typically more rounded than metal brackets, so they don’t have as many protruding edges to irritate the inside of your moth.

In either case, your lips and cheeks usually toughen up and get used to your new braces and appliances after a month, and this general soreness will lessen and require fewer interventions, such as numbing gel and over-the-counter pain relievers.

Taking over-the-counter pain medicine when you first get your braces on at the very beginning of treatment is helpful for many people to get used to the discomfort.

We recommend taking medicine for the first 4 to 5 days, starting with the day you get your braces or appliances on. Remember, you may not be sore right after getting your braces on, but you probably will be by the next day. Follow this helpful advice and you will be much more comfortable.

As the teeth begin to move, patients will feel some soreness around the teeth, especially the front teeth if they are crowded. This soreness will likely start about 12 to 24 hours after braces are adjusted or after you start wearing a new set of clear aligners. Soreness will likely last anywhere from 1 to 5 days.

Over-the-counter pain medications may help alleviate discomfort, however, we recommend using them sparingly. The following medications, provided the patient is not allergic and there are not contraindications in the patient’s medical history, work very well to minimize soreness:

• Generic Ibuprofen (which is equivalent to Advil or Motrin) may be taken 2 to 3 times daily.
• Generic Naproxen (which is equivalent to Aleve) may be taken up to 2 to 3 times daily.
• Acetaminophen (Tylenol) may also be used, but it is not quite as effective as the Ibuprofen or Naproxen.

Dr. McNutt can answer questions you may have about the proper dosage and when to take the medicine throughout the day.

Chewing sugarless gum prior to a meal may be helpful. Teeth may be sore while you chew your food. You may notice the soreness most when you are eating a meal, and the front teeth may be especially sensitive.

Here is a helpful tip: Chew a piece of sugar-free gum for about 30 minutes prior to sitting down to eat. You should use the teeth that are the most sore to chew the gum. This will help work out some of the soreness and you will be more comfortable when you eat.

Note that frequent or extended periods of gum chewing are not advised, as this will put orthodontic appliances through a lot of wear and tear.

Occasionally a small sore spot or even an ulcer may form on your gums or cheek. If this happens, apply some orthodontic numbing medicine on the sore spot. You may also place a small amount of orthodontic wax over the braces in the area that is bothering you. Warm salt water swishes may also help soothe the sore area and help it heal more quickly.

Occasionally a wire might poke the lips, gums or cheeks. Applying some orthodontic wax is a good solution. You may also apply some orthodontic numbing medicine on the sore spot. Sometimes you will be able to slide the wire back around into the proper position yourself but be gentle. Contact us by phone to schedule a repair.

Save anything that ever comes off and bring it to your next visit! If a part of your braces slides off the wire into your mouth, carefully retrieve it and save it in a plastic bag. The brackets are very expensive to replace. Bring it with you to your next orthodontic appointment so that we can reapply it to your tooth.