The discomfort associated with braces remains a primary driver of anxiety in potential orthodontic patients and it is cited as the No. 1 cause for patients who discontinue treatment before the recommended duration has been reached, according to the European Journal of Orthodontics. Advances in the size and shape of the appliances coupled with techniques that spread the force of the treatment more evenly over longer periods have helped ameliorate some of the negative aspects of orthodontia, but nearly every patient experiences pain at some point during the course of treatment.
Step 1
Take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, immediately after an orthodontic adjustment. Ibuprofen in over-the-counter medications such as Advil is effective as is the higher dose prescription brand Motrin. Discuss the proper dose and duration of treatment with NSAIDs with your orthodontist as there are concerns that too much of the anti-inflammatory agents can inhibit tooth movement after adjustments.
Step 2
Take a preemptive dose of pain reliever one hour before an adjustment procedure if your orthodontist approves and agrees that it will not interfere with the desired tooth movement. A preemptive dose of 400 mg of ibuprofen taken one hour before the procedure significantly decreased chewing pain two hours after the procedure, according to a study by Steen Law, et al, published in the European Journal of Orthodontics in 2000.
Step 3
Apply a topical analgesic or pain reliever like Ortho Gel to areas of irritation caused by the brackets or the archwire rubbing against the inside of the mouth. This type of pain is more manageable than that dull ache caused by tooth movement.
Step 4
Wear mouth guards, available at your orthodontist's office or sports equipment shops, before engaging in physical activity. Clear plastic guards that you heat in water, then bite down on, mold to the shape of your teeth and the braces, but you'll need to replace them every so often as your teeth begin to change position.
Step 5
Cut strips from an extra clear plastic mouth guard to use during activity that is not necessarily physical but still could place undue pressure against the lips and braces, like playing a trumpet or other musical instrument. Heat the strips in water as you would the entire mouth guard then mold them to the braces themselves. Use one strip for the top and one for the bottom.
Step 6
Use wax for braces on the back teeth that poke against your cheeks. Wax should be available in unlimited supply at your orthodontist's office.
Step 7
Ask your orthodontist to inspect particularly troublesome spots. Sometimes painful irritation is the result of a bent bracket or archwire and a simple fix could solve the problem.
Tips and Warnings
- Always consult your orthodontist about pain that persists well beyond your adjustment date. Report any infected irritations in the mouth to your orthodontist or family doctor.
