Salt Water Rinses
Cleansing your mouth with warm salt water can be one of the best ways to relieve any discomfort inside your mouth you may be feeling from your braces, especially if your braces are cutting the side of your mouth or rubbing your cheeks. Add ½ teaspoon of salt to warm water and stir until completely dissolved. Then, swish the rinse inside your mouth for about 30 seconds at a time before spitting it out. Repeat this process until finished with all of the salt water, and do this as many times as you feel necessary until your mouth begins to feel better.
Avoid Acidic or Sugary Foods
Soft foods are much easier on your braces, especially when you are first getting used to them. Choose foods like mashed potatoes, yogurt and soups in the beginning and avoid coffee, spicy foods, citrus foods, nuts, seeds and anything else that may aggravate any sores in your mouth or break your brackets.
Drink Cold Water or Iced Tea
Cold beverages can help ease the discomfort from your braces cutting your mouth. Use a straw to sip on cold water, eat a popsicle, or suck on an ice cube to help with any discomfort inside your mouth.
Give it Time
So, when do braces stop cutting your mouth for good? The one thing that we guarantee to stop your braces from cutting your cheeks is time. Once your mouth gets used to the metal brackets, the soreness will go away. After a few weeks, the inside of your mouth will get tougher and any irritations should resolve.
If you have a broken bracket or loose wire causing discomfort inside your mouth, visit your orthodontist right away so they can fix it for you. For more information about how to deal with soreness and discomfort caused by metal braces and find pain relief, contact us today. We are here to help make your orthodontic treatment as comfortable as possible.
