Emergency Care

When you get your braces, you may feel general soreness in your mouth, and your teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. Stick to a soft diet until your teeth do not hurt to chew. Irritated gums and other sore spots can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm saltwater mouthwash.

If the tenderness is severe, take Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or whatever you normally take for headaches or similar pain. Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), and Naproxen Sodium (Naprosyn, Anaprox) slow tooth movement, so using them frequently while wearing braces is not advisable.

The lips, cheeks, and tongue may become irritated for one to two weeks as they learn a new posture and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this discomfort.

Sometimes discomfort is caused by not wearing the headgear as instructed by Dr. Judd. Please refer to the instructions provided by the professional. If the face bow (metal piece) is bent, please call our office for assistance.

If your appliance is poking you, place wax on the offending part.

If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, leave it in place and put wax on it for comfort. If the bracket or band can be removed easily, place it in an envelope and save it to bring to your next appointment.

Try to put your wire back into place using a pair of tweezers or needle-nosed pliers. It is okay to use a piece of floss to tie the wire into place. If you cannot put the wire into a comfortable position and covering the end with wax doesn't help, as a last resort, use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If the end of the wire is still sharp, place wax on it.

Using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or place wax on it so it is no longer poking.