If you have had braces for a long time, you may have gotten adjusted to them. However, if you have got them recently, you may be experiencing issues adjusting with a device inside your mouth stuck to your teeth at all times. This uncomfortable adjustment period is completely normal and only lasts for a week or two. However, you can take steps to ease the pain. 

Thanks to advancements in the dental field, braces are more comfortable than ever. While braces are not exactly painful, they can cause some degree of discomfort for the first couple of weeks. There are a number of precautions you can take to reduce the soreness. Visit your dentist in Brookline, MA today. 

How to make wearing braces less uncomfortable for a newbie 

• Talk to your dentist about it. 

It is normal if your braces feel uncomfortable in your mouth for the first one or two weeks. However, if they keep hurting even after two weeks, do not suffer in silence. Talk to your dentist where it hurts, and they may be able to make adjustments to make the braces more comfortable for you. Ensure to inform your dentist if your braces make it difficult to eat, sleep, or talk and if you experience bleeding and pain. 

• Use orthodontic wax. 

If your braces hurt the inside of your mouth, your dentist may recommend you to use orthodontic wax. Orthodontic wax is small beads of wax made of paraffin or beeswax that can be placed over the brackets, wire, or other dental appliances inside the mouth. The wax becomes a smooth barrier between your skin and the braces, which prevents pain and soreness. 

• Rinse your mouth with salt water. 

Rinsing your mouth with salt water can help reduce pain and inflammation and help heal any sores that you might have acquired during the process. Mix half a teaspoon of salt into a glass of warm water and rinse the solution for 30 seconds. 

• Eat cold and soft foods. 

Eating cold foods to help ease the pain is the same as using cold therapy to ease the pain. Having cold and soft foods like ice cream, frozen yogurt, pasta, and soup can be helpful, especially in the first few days of getting braces. It helps as your mouth is still adjusting to braces. 

It is common for braces to cause discomfort when you first get them, but it does get better. Visit a dentist today to know more.