Handling Orthodontic Issues at Home
If you’re on the hunt for braces near Brooklyn, NY, you may notice that many orthodontists have temporarily closed their doors due to the outbreak of COVID-19. While it’s important to practice social distancing so we can flatten the curve, we understand that those who already have braces may experience some pain or discomfort while at home. Thankfully, there are steps that you can take for at-home repairs to relieve yourself of frustrating discomfort. Here are some tips from Dr. Aljanabi and his team.
Necessary Tools
We recommend compiling the following tools if you are experiencing pain that needs to be addressed.
- Floss
- Disinfected tweezers
- Orthodontic wax
- Q-tips
- Salt
- Ibuprofen or another non-prescription pain reliever
- Topical anesthetic
Treating Discomfort
It’s expected to have discomfort while going through orthodontic treatment while your teeth shift into place, but the discomfort shouldn’t last for more than a couple of days. If you notice you’re in pain for longer than this, rinse your mouth with warm salt water to relieve discomfort. You can also take over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Make sure to contact us if your discomfort turns into pain that lasts for days on end.
Mouth Irritation
It’s also common for your mouth to become irritated while wearing braces, as the wires and brackets may rub against the inside of your mouth. Orthodontic wax creates a buffer between your mouth and the metal in the braces. A little bit goes a long way! Take a small ball of wax (no larger than a pea) and flatten it, placing it over the area of braces that are causing irritation.
Protruding Wire
As your teeth shift into their new positions, your wire may become too long. If you feel poking toward the back of your mouth, take a q-tip and try to push the wire against your tooth. You can also take wax and add more to the wire to cover it.
Make sure to keep our team at Brooklyn Orthodontics aware of any ongoing pain that you are experiencing. We want to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible!