Putting on braces is not painful.  Don’t listen to what others tell you.  For the first 2-3 days after getting braces on, there will be some initial soreness and discomfort which can be relieved by avoiding hard foods and taking an over-the-counter pain reliever.  Any soreness will also go away quicker by using the ‘tooth exerciser’ bite wafer you receive when the braces are placed. 

Loose Brace:  Occasionally, a bracket may come loose and become an irritation to your mouth.  A broken bracket is not an emergency unless it is causing pain. Call the office as soon as possible so we may determine if we need to replace the bracket right away or if it is okay to wait.  Meanwhile, you can push a small ball of orthodontic wax onto the brace to smooth off the irritation, or you can remove the loose bracket and save it to bring to the office. 

Poking Wire:  Occasionally, a wire may stick out of the back brace.  We recommend you place a small ball of orthodontic wax at the end of the wire.  If this doesn’t work, use a piece of  unchewed, Carefree sugarless bubblegum or any other non-minty flavor.  Place it over the wire or brace that is causing the irritation.

Poking Hook:  Some of your brackets have small hooks on them so that you may wear elastics when Dr. Klayton says it’s time to wear them.  These hooks can occasionally be irritating to the lips or cheeks.  If this happens, you may either use a pencil eraser to carefully push the hook in, or you can place a ball of wax on the hook to make the area feel smooth.  If this doesn’t work, use a piece of unchewed, Carefree sugarless bubblegum or any other non-minty flavor.  Place it over the wire or brace that is causing the irritation.