Salt water rinses were a lifesaver for me as well—helped with both the soreness and keeping things clean.
Totally agree about the salt water. My kid hated the taste at first, but it made such a difference after those first few days with new wires. We tried the silicone covers too, but they’d always end up in the napkin at dinner. The wax was messy, but honestly, it saved us from a lot of tears. It’s wild how something so simple can help so much. The drooling phase was hilarious… we still laugh about it now. Hang in there—it really does get easier once you’re past the first month or so.
Salt water rinses definitely help, but I do get a little nervous when people rely on them too much for soreness. They’re great for keeping the area clean and soothing, but sometimes persistent discomfort can mean something else is going on—like a wire poking or even a bit of an ulcer forming. I’ve seen a few kids try to tough it out with just rinses and wax, and end up with more irritation because they didn’t mention it at their next visit.
The wax is a lifesaver, though I’ve noticed some kids get a bit too enthusiastic with it and end up swallowing little bits. Not ideal, but not dangerous either. The drooling phase is real—some of my patients have called it “the waterfall” stage. It does pass, usually faster than you think.
I’d just say, if anything feels sharper or more painful than mild soreness, it’s worth checking in. Salt water helps, but it’s not a cure-all. Sometimes a tiny adjustment can make a world of difference.
My kiddo has “the waterfall” stage down to an art. I remember that first week after she got her braces on for her deep bite—she kept a paper towel tucked in her sleeve at all times, just in case. She’d try to talk and then pause, mid-sentence, with this look like, “Wait, am I drooling?” It was both hilarious and a little heartbreaking.
We started with salt water rinses too (my grandma swore by them for everything), and it did help soothe the initial soreness. But I totally get what you’re saying—there was one spot that stayed sore longer than the rest, and it turned out a bracket was rubbing her cheek raw. She didn’t want to bother anyone about it, so she just kept using wax and rinsing, but it got worse. The orthodontist ended up making a tiny tweak, and suddenly she was fine. I wish she’d spoken up sooner instead of toughing it out... but I get it, kids don’t always want extra trips to the dentist.
Funny thing about the wax—she was convinced she could make it stick better if she chewed it a bit first. Not sure where she got that idea, but it led to a couple of “oops, I swallowed it” moments. No harm done, but we had a good laugh about it.
Honestly, the biggest difference I noticed between her treatment and my nephew’s (he had braces for buck teeth) is how much more fiddly the deep bite stuff was. His main issue was his front teeth sticking out, so once those started moving back, he felt relief pretty quick. With my daughter’s deep bite, the discomfort came and went in waves as they adjusted her bite over months. Different kind of patience required.
If there’s one thing I’d pass on: if your kid says something feels sharp or weird, trust them. Even if it seems minor. The little adjustments really do make a world of difference—sometimes even more than all the rinses and wax combined.
And yeah... drooling does pass. Eventually.
Reading this brings back memories I’d rather forget, honestly. When I got my braces (for a deep bite too), I was convinced I’d never swallow or speak normally again. My mouth felt like a leaky faucet for weeks—carried tissues everywhere, just in case. And the wax... I was so nervous about using it that I’d end up with half of it stuck to my tongue instead of the bracket. I agree, those little tweaks at the ortho make a bigger difference than you expect. I always worried I was being dramatic, but turns out, if it feels sharp, it probably is.
I always worried I was being dramatic, but turns out, if it feels sharp, it probably is.
Honestly, you nailed it with that line. I remember thinking I was being a total wimp when I’d have to ask for more wax or tell my ortho something felt off. But after the third time getting a cut in the same spot on my cheek, I realized there’s no gold medal for powering through unnecessary pain. If it hurts, it’s worth mentioning.
About the wax—don’t get me started. The first few times I tried using it, I’d end up with this weird blob stuck to my teeth, half dissolved, and then I’d panic and try to fish it out with my tongue. Eventually, I figured out a little trick: dry the bracket and tooth as much as possible with a tissue before putting the wax on. Sounds simple, but nobody tells you that part. If you do that, it actually sticks instead of sliding right off.
The saliva thing is so real, too. I swear my mouth was like Niagara Falls for at least a month. I carried a little pack of tissues everywhere and just sort of accepted drooling as my new normal. It did get better though. Your mouth adjusts, and suddenly you realize you haven’t needed a tissue all day.
One thing I wish I’d known from the start: don’t be shy about telling your ortho what’s bugging you. Even tiny tweaks can make a huge difference in comfort. At first, I thought tightening days would be the worst, but sometimes it was just a rogue wire poking out that made things miserable. They can snip those ends in like two seconds.
As for the difference between deep bite and buck teeth treatments, I was surprised by how specific some of the adjustments were. My friend had braces for buck teeth, and her elastics were set up totally differently than mine. She barely noticed her bite changing, but for me, it felt like my whole jaw was shifting every time they made an adjustment.
It’s wild how personal the process is. But yeah, if something doesn’t feel right—say something. You’re not being dramatic at all.
