Tips for General Soreness

General Soreness Information

When you get braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth, and teeth may be tender to biting pressure for three to five days. Stick to a soft diet until your teeth do not hurt chewing. Irritated gums and other sore spots can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with salt-water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of warm water and rinse your mouth vigorously. An alternative (better tasting) mouthwash is the Healthy Gums Rinse by The Natural Dentist. Placing Orabase on the affected area may also help relieve discomfort; Orabase can be found in a pharmacy. If the tenderness is severe, take Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or whatever you normally take for a headache or similar pain. Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and Naproxen Sodium (Naprosyn, Anaprox) actually slow the tooth movement, so it is not advisable to use them frequently while wearing braces.

The lips, cheeks and tongue may become irritated for one to two weeks as they learn a new posture and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We'll show you how!