Undergoing orthodontic treatment isn’t always comfortable. However, with the right preventive advice and helpful tips on how to manage uncomfortable effects, like oral sores, your treatment can fly by. By keeping your eyes on the prize of a straightened, beautiful smile at the end of it all, and staying prepared when oral sores do develop, you can remain as comfortable as possible. Read on for some helpful tips to prevent sores caused by braces.
Why Do Braces Cause Oral Sores?
Oral sores can form for a variety of reasons, but if you have braces, it’s likely due to irritation caused by your brackets and wires. While it’s not always the case that oral sores will form if you have braces, it often happens as your mouth is adjusting to your new oral appliance. If you’re experiencing chronic oral sores that won’t seem to go away, consulting with your dentist in Irving may be the next best step.
How to Prevent Sores from Braces
Have you ever heard of the phrase, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?” This is definitely the case when it comes to keeping your mouth comfortable as you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment. Being prepared and taking a proactive approach to minimize braces’ side-effects can help make your overall experience much more pleasant. Use these three preventive measures to avoid the development of oral sores or minimize their severity:
- Rinse with salt water regularly. Warm salt water is an excellent way to soothe oral inflammation and pain that your braces may cause. Plus, salt water can cleanse and disinfect any oral sores starting to form, keeping them from getting worse and more painful.
- Use orthodontic wax. Be sure to keep orthodontic wax on you for whenever your brackets start irritating the inside of your lips. Because the wax is waterproof and able to eliminate added friction, it will provide you with long-lasting relief.
- Eat soft foods. Irritation can occur due to what you eat as well, like chewier foods like chicken. To help avoid this discomfort, you can substitute soft foods like mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, and shakes and smoothies.
How to Treat Sores from Braces
If you already have oral sores from your braces, you can aid in their healing and ease the discomfort with these helpful at-home treatments:
- Take over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen to help manage any pain.
- Tea bags can help soothe inflammation and promote healing when soaked and applied to the affected area on the inside of your mouth.
- Be patient and understand that it can take a little while for oral sores to heal. If they persist past two weeks and you’re concerned, call your dentist in Irving for further guidance.
While these are helpful suggestions to prevent and manage oral sores with braces, they’re not permanent solutions. If you’ve followed these tips and are still experiencing pain, consulting with your dentist would be the best next step!
About the Author
Dr. Rafiq Hirji has been practicing dentistry for over a decade and has completed advanced training to provide a variety of specialty services, including orthodontics and children’s dentistry. He loves being able to help teens and adults align their smiles and achieve greater confidence thanks to Invisalign and traditional braces treatments. For questions or to schedule an appointment, visit Daily Smiles MacArthur Dental & Orthodontics’ website or call 972-546-4114.