Relief for sore teeth during braces
The #1 most common concern on Day 1 with braces is, “will braces hurt?”
As soon as you get your braces placed, your teeth start moving. The new pressure may cause some discomfort for 3-5 days.
Here are our patients' best braces pain relief tips:
Over the counter pain medications
Our patients get relief using what they would usually take for a headache (e.g. Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, etc.). For the best results, our patients recommend taking it one hour before your visits.
WARNING: If you are allergic to medication, please do not take it.
Soft foods
Our patients recommend soft, mushy foods for the first few days. Usually, the front teeth will be the most tender. Foods that most patients enjoy are:
- Mashed potatoes
- Soup
- Mac and cheese
- Rice & pasta
- Steamed vegetables
- Applesauce
- Yogurt
- Eggs
- Soft cheeses
- Ice cream (yes, you can have a treat!)
This list is just an example, so feel free to be creative with finding soft foods to eat.
Let us know what works for you!
Cold water and ice chips
Drinking ice water and holding the cold liquid near the sore areas, or putting shaved ice near the area, can give relief. Remember to test your teeth for cold sensitivity with progressively colder water first!
Next up, brushing and flossing techniques to keep braces clean.