Whether you’re struggling with mild misalignment or severe overcrowding, braces can be relied on to create your dream smile. With the brackets and wires, your orthodontist can gradually guide your teeth into their properly aligned positions, benefiting the health, look, and function of your smile in the process. Unfortunately, mouth sores with braces are common, especially if you aren’t aware of what to do to prevent them. Don’t worry – you can read on to learn all about how to manage and avoid them!
4 Ways to Manage Mouth Sores from Braces
When you have a mouth sore, you naturally want to alleviate the pain, swelling, and discomfort. Luckily, there are several effective ways to accomplish this:
- Avoid certain foods – Hot sauce, lemons, and tomatoes are just a few items you should avoid since they can irritate the area. In fact, it’s best to steer clear of all spicy, acidic, and sour foods.
- Rinse with salt and warm water – Creating a natural disinfectant is as easy as mixing some salt in warm water. Swish for 15 seconds at a time, and don’t swallow the solution in the process.
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers – One of the best ways to combat discomfort from a mouth sore is taking an over-the-counter pain reliever. Just make sure to follow the instructions and talk to your orthodontist about the best ones to take.
- Apply topical pain relievers – For more precise relief, you can use Anbesol or Orabase. Simply apply it to the affected area throughout the day to keep the discomfort at bay.
4 Ways to Prevent Mouth Sores from Braces
Good news: you can help prevent mouth sores too! Here are a few best practices to keep in mind:
- Use orthodontic wax – Orthodontic wax is designed specifically to protect the soft tissue in your mouth from the brackets and wires. It’s water-resistant too, so you can keep it in place throughout the day without any worry!
- Rinse and disinfect your mouth regularly – You can buy a rinse at your local store or even ask for a recommendation from your orthodontist. Otherwise, you can use the previously mentioned mixture of salt and warm water to help keep your mouth free of sores.
- Brush and floss consistently – In short, the cleaner your mouth is, the less likely it is that you’ll develop a mouth sore. So, make sure to brush and floss consistently!
- Drink lots of water – Since dry mouth can leave the soft tissue in your mouth vulnerable to cuts and sores, do your best to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
Mouth sores are common, but that doesn’t mean they have to be painful. With the above tips, you can alleviate your discomfort as quickly as possible. Plus, you can help prevent them from developing in the first place!
About the Practice
At Super Braces, your treatment will be administered and overseen by our talented, highly-trained, and compassionate orthodontist, Dr. Jamie Moon. For well over a decade now, she’s been helping patients achieve straighter teeth and even more beautiful smiles – it’s her favorite thing to do! If you have a question about how to manage or prevent mouth sores, or you want to schedule an appointment to start your journey with braces, don’t hesitate to visit our website or call (508) 755-2207.