Tips for Relieving Discomfort During Orthodontic Treatment

Make your orthodontic treatment as comfortable as possible by following these tips.

Have you ever heard the statement “It isn’t easy being beautiful”? This could certainly apply to the process of getting orthodontic treatment to create a beautiful smile. Fortunately, there are ways to minimize the temporary discomfort associated with orthodontic treatment, and in the end your beautiful new smile will be well worth the experience.

Main Causes of Orthodontic Pain

There are two main types of pain or discomfort that patients may experience during orthodontic treatment:

• Cheek Irritation—When receiving treatment with traditional metal braces, the brackets and wires may protrude from teeth and irritate the inside of your cheeks. In most cases this is only painful when the metal rubs against your cheeks such as when chewing or speaking.
• Pressure—No matter what kind of orthodontic treatment you may be receiving, your teeth are going to actually be moving in your jaw to assume their new, straight and pretty positions. Naturally this comes with some pain or discomfort. Typically this is experienced as a sensation of pressure against certain teeth or a dull ache in the jaw. This pain is typically temporary and is strongest right after seeing the orthodontist for an adjustment that initiates new tooth movements.

Tips for Beating Cheek Irritation

When it comes to beating cheek irritation, the number one tip is simply not to get traditional metal braces. This sort of irritation and pain is just not possible when using clear plastic aligner trays as part of an Invisalign orthodontic treatment program.

However, Invisalign can’t necessarily be used for all types of tooth movements. So, you may find yourself having to wear traditional metal braces, at least for some portion of your treatment. If this is the case, you can use a special wax to cover up any bits of metal that stick out and irritate your cheeks. A salt water rinse can also be helpful in relieving soreness associated with areas that have already become irritated.

If you think a wire is sticking out too far, contact your orthodontist to check it out. They may be able to trim or reposition the wire.

Tips for Relieving Pain Associated with Pressure

No matter what kind of orthodontic treatment you are receiving, pain associated with pressure will be a problem. The good news is that this pain is about on the same level as a headache and can easily be relieved or lessened with over the counter painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol.

One thing you definitely do not want to do is remove your Invisalign trays to relieve this kind of pain. This only prolongs the experience, as it will make the teeth take longer to shift into their new positions.