Starting braces is a major step toward a healthier and more confident smile. Even so, the first few days can bring unfamiliar sensations, especially if this is your first experience with orthodontic treatment.
At Humphrey Orthodontics, Dr. Mark Humphrey helps patients in Wentzville and St. Peters understand what is normal, what can be improved with simple home care, and how to manage discomfort with braces in the most effective way possible. Knowing what to expect will help you stay comfortable, confident, and prepared throughout every stage of your orthodontic journey.
Understanding Why Braces Cause Discomfort
Before exploring tips and remedies, it helps to understand why braces create tenderness in the first place. When Dr. Humphrey places your metal braces or clear braces, the brackets and wires begin guiding your teeth into improved alignment. This movement stimulates the ligaments around each tooth, which can cause temporary soreness. Patients often describe this sensation as pressure, tightness, or mild achiness.
It is also common for the soft tissues of the mouth to take a few days to adjust. The cheeks, lips, and gums are adapting to new textures, which can lead to small areas of irritation. Although this temporary tenderness is expected, there are many ways to manage discomfort with braces and make the adjustment period much easier. With the right approach, you can stay comfortable and focused on the long-term benefits of your treatment.
How Long Does Discomfort Usually Last
Most patients in Wentzville and St. Peters feel the most noticeable soreness during the first three to five days after getting braces. The same timeline often applies after routine adjustments at Humphrey Orthodontics, since new wires or tightened brackets encourage continued tooth movement.
During this period, you may notice sensitivity when chewing, brushing, or touching your teeth together. Irritation on the cheeks and gums may also be more noticeable in the first week. Fortunately, these sensations gradually fade as your mouth adapts.
Minor tenderness can return after future adjustment appointments, although it is usually less intense than the first week with braces. This cycle is completely normal. With consistent care and proper techniques, you can manage discomfort with braces during every stage of treatment.
Use Orthodontic Wax for Soothing Relief
Orthodontic wax is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect irritated cheeks and gums. Humphrey Orthodontics provides wax to all new patients, and Dr. Mark Humphrey often recommends using it whenever a bracket or wire feels rough against the inside of your mouth.
To apply orthodontic wax, simply dry the area with a tissue, pinch a small piece of wax between your fingers, and press it onto the bracket or wire that is causing irritation. The wax creates a smooth barrier that reduces friction and allows irritated spots to heal faster.
Wax can be used throughout the day and replaced as needed. Many patients keep a small container in their backpack, purse, or car so they can apply it anytime discomfort appears. Although it is not meant to be eaten, swallowing small traces of wax is completely safe.
Using orthodontic wax is one of the most reliable ways to manage discomfort with braces during the early stages of treatment. It keeps your mouth protected while you adjust to the new appliances.
Take Over-the-Counter Pain Relievers
For patients who experience mild to moderate tenderness, over-the-counter pain relievers can offer quick and dependable relief. Medications like ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help reduce soreness during the first few days after getting braces or after an adjustment at Humphrey Orthodontics. These medications are easily available at your local Walmart or Walgreens.
Always follow the instructions on the label and only take medication as directed. If you have any medical conditions, allergies, or concerns, speak with your physician before taking pain relievers. Most patients only need medication for a day or two, and many do not need it at all. The discomfort from braces is temporary and improves quickly once tooth movement becomes familiar.
Over-the-counter pain relievers work best when taken before eating or before going to bed on the most sensitive days. This approach allows you to stay comfortable during activities that require extra pressure on your teeth.
Stick to Soft Foods During the First Few Days
Eating soft foods is one of the most helpful ways to manage discomfort with braces, especially during the first week. Since your teeth may feel sensitive while chewing, softer textures reduce pressure and make meals far more comfortable.
Great soft food options include:
- Yogurt
• Mashed potatoes
• Scrambled eggs
• Pasta
• Soups
• Smoothies
• Applesauce
• Soft fruits like bananas or ripe berries
• Steamed vegetables
Patients often find that soft foods are easiest after adjustments as well. As tenderness fades, you can return to a more varied diet. Just be sure to avoid sticky or hard foods throughout treatment, since these can damage brackets or wires.
Eating the right foods during sensitive periods supports faster healing and helps you stay comfortable and confident throughout your orthodontic journey.
Try Salt Water Rinses for Gum Irritation
A gentle saltwater rinse is one of the most effective home remedies for irritated gums or cheeks. Warm salt water helps reduce swelling and cleans areas of the mouth that may feel sore from new brackets or wires. Dr. Mark Humphrey recommends this option to many patients as it’s simple, inexpensive, and highly effective.
To create the rinse, dissolve half a teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of warm water. Swish for thirty seconds, then spit it out. You can use this rinse three to four times per day during the first week with braces or anytime irritation returns.
Salt water rinses are especially helpful at night when your mouth may feel more tender. They cleanse and soothe the tissues so you can sleep more comfortably.
Use Cold Compresses or Cool Drinks
Cold temperatures naturally reduce inflammation and numb tender areas, which makes cold compresses or cool drinks another great option to manage discomfort with braces. A reusable ice pack wrapped in a thin cloth can be held to the outside of the cheek for ten-minute intervals. This technique helps reduce swelling and provide relief from pressure.
Cold foods and drinks can also help, such as:
- Ice water
• Chilled yogurt
• Smoothies
• Frozen fruit
• Popsicles
Patients enjoy using this approach after adjustments at Humphrey Orthodontics, especially during the warmer months. Cooling the mouth is a simple but highly effective way to reduce soreness throughout the day.
Keep Your Mouth Clean to Prevent Additional Irritation
Although brushing may feel slightly tender at first, maintaining excellent oral hygiene is one of the most important steps to managing discomfort with braces. A clean mouth heals faster and avoids issues that can increase irritation, such as plaque buildup along the gumline.
Dr. Mark Humphrey recommends brushing for two minutes twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush. You should also floss daily using floss threaders or orthodontic floss designed for braces. Patients in Wentzville and St. Peters often find that flossing becomes easier with practice, so do not worry if it feels awkward at first.
Rinsing with water after meals is also helpful, especially if you do not have time to brush immediately. Keeping your braces clean supports a smoother, more comfortable treatment experience.
Know What is Normal and When to Call Your Orthodontist
Understanding the difference between normal tenderness and potential problems is important for every patient. Mild soreness, slight pressure during chewing, and minor irritation from brackets are all expected parts of wearing braces. These sensations usually improve within a few days and respond well to home care.
However, you should contact Humphrey Orthodontics in Wentzville or St. Peters if you experience any of the following:
- A wire that is poking your cheek or gums
• A bracket that has come loose
• Pain that feels sharp or severe
• Discomfort that lasts longer than one week
• Sores that are not improving with wax or salt water rinses
Dr. Mark Humphrey and his team are always happy to help and can quickly fix issues that cause unnecessary discomfort. Relief is often immediate once the problem is addressed.
Staying Comfortable Throughout Your Orthodontic Journey
Discomfort from braces is temporary, manageable, and completely normal. Whether you rely on orthodontic wax, soft foods, over-the-counter pain relief, or gentle rinses, each step will give you a more comfortable and positive experience during your treatment.
Humphrey Orthodontics is committed to supporting you through every stage of treatment. If you want to learn more about how to start your smile journey with Dr. Humphrey, schedule your free consultation at our Wentzville or St. Peters office today!