Braces for underbite taking forever and a day

Salt water rinse never really did it for me, honestly. I was always worried it’d just make things sting more or get stuck in the brackets. I ended up sticking to the wax and painkillers - just felt safer somehow. Maybe I’m just extra cautious, but I needed the reassurance.

I was always worried it’d just make things sting more or get stuck in the brackets. I ended up sticking to the wax and painkillers - just felt safer somehow.

I get what you mean about being cautious - painkillers and wax were my go-tos for ages. But honestly, I was super skeptical about salt water at first too. Weirdly enough, after a few tries, it actually started to help with the soreness. Didn’t sting as much as I expected. Maybe it’s just one of those things that’s different for everyone? I still use wax when the brackets dig in though... nothing beats that for comfort.

Didn’t sting as much as I expected. Maybe it’s just one of those things that’s different for everyone?

I keep worrying about the salt water thing too - my kid is really sensitive, so I’m nervous it’ll just make things worse. Was it just plain warm water and salt, or did you use something special? Also, does the salt ever get stuck in the brackets? I know wax helps with the sharp edges, but sometimes I’m second-guessing if we’re missing something that could speed up the healing. This whole process feels endless some days…

Was it just plain warm water and salt, or did you use something special? Also, does the salt ever get stuck in the brackets?

Plain warm water with a pinch of table salt is honestly all you need. No fancy rinses - just keep it simple. I get why you’re worried about your kid being sensitive, but usually the salt water rinse is pretty mild, especially if you don’t overdo the salt. Some kids (and adults) do complain about the taste, though. If it stings too much, try using a little less salt or letting the water cool down a bit more.

As for the salt getting stuck in brackets, that’s not really something I’ve seen happen. Salt dissolves pretty quickly in warm water, so unless you’re using a ton of it or not mixing well, it shouldn’t be an issue. If there’s any grit left behind, a quick sip of plain water after rinsing will clear it out.

I hear you on the process feeling endless - underbite corrections can take a while, especially if there’s jaw involvement or if your kid’s still growing. Wax is great for sharp spots but doesn’t speed up healing much. The best thing is to stick with gentle brushing and regular rinses; gums and cheeks toughen up over time.

If there are mouth sores that just won’t heal, sometimes switching up toothpaste (avoid whitening agents/SLS) helps. And for pain, cold drinks or even sugar-free popsicles can be surprisingly soothing.

It’s totally normal to second-guess if you’re doing enough. Every kid reacts differently - some barely notice their braces after a week, others take months to adjust. Just keep an eye out for anything that looks infected (big swelling, pus, fever), but otherwise it’s mostly a waiting game. Hang in there...it does get easier.

This is super reassuring to read, thank you. I keep worrying I’m missing something or not doing the rinses right - my kid complains about the taste every single time. Did you ever have days where your kid just refused? I feel like it’s a battle some nights. I totally get what you mean about the process being slow. Some days it feels endless, but hearing it’s normal helps a lot.

Honestly, I think every parent hits that wall where the rinses become a nightly standoff. My youngest flat-out refused for a week straight - just clamped her mouth shut and glared. The taste is rough, no doubt, but I started letting her pick a “chaser” drink (like water or milk) right after, and it helped a bit. I get frustrated too, but I remind myself the slow progress means it’s working - rushing never helped us. Some nights, you just have to pick your battles, right?

Some nights, you just have to pick your battles, right?

Completely relate to that. I get anxious every time we hit another hurdle - especially with rinses and those stubborn mouth guards. I always wonder if skipping a night here and there will undo all the slow progress. Do you ever worry about that? I try to remind myself consistency matters more than perfection, but it’s tough not to stress. How’s your kid handling the braces pain itself? My daughter gets so discouraged when her teeth are sore after adjustments, and it makes all the routines way harder.

I totally get the anxiety about skipping a night - sometimes I overthink it, especially since we’re paying out of pocket for all this. I actually charted my son’s progress for a while, just to reassure myself that missing a rinse or two didn’t set us back. He’s not great with pain either, and honestly, the cost of all those waxes and special rinses adds up fast. Have you found anything that helps your daughter stick with the routine on those tougher nights?

the cost of all those waxes and special rinses adds up fast

Honestly, I feel this in my bones. I still worry every time I skip the mouthwash or don’t do the saltwater rinse before bed. What’s helped me (and might help your daughter, maybe?) is making a little checklist and keeping it on the bathroom mirror. Sometimes I reward myself with a cup of herbal tea if I get through the whole routine… silly, but it keeps me on track. Pain-wise, I found using a warm compress before bed makes it a bit less miserable. It’s tough, though - I still dread those “tightening” days.

That checklist idea is actually genius - I wish I'd thought of that when I first started. I used to just keep all my stuff in a basket, but half the time I'd forget a step or run out of something midweek. The cost does sneak up, though. I swear, between the wax, mouthwash, and those little proxy brushes, I felt like I was buying new supplies every other week. For pain, I found that sometimes just distracting myself with a podcast while I did the routine helped too. Those tightening days... yeah, they’re no joke.

Keeping track of all the supplies is a whole thing, isn’t it? My kid started braces for an underbite last year, and I swear, our bathroom looked like a mini dental aisle for a while. What’s helped us (besides the checklist taped to the mirror) is doing a quick Sunday night inventory - just lining everything up and seeing what’s running low. That way, I’m not making emergency trips midweek when the wax runs out or the little brushes disappear.

The cost really does add up. We switched to store-brand mouthwash and found some cheaper alternatives for wax online - no difference so far, at least for us. For pain, we’ve tried a few things: ice packs right after tightening, sticking to soft foods for a day or two, and honestly just letting them binge-watch their favorite show as a distraction. Podcasts sound like a great idea too; I’ll suggest that next time.

Those tightening days… I wish there was a magic fix. It’s just one of those things you kind of have to ride out. But it does get easier as you figure out your own routine.

But it does get easier as you figure out your own routine.

I wish I could say it’s gotten easier for us, but honestly, some weeks it still feels like a scramble. The checklist idea is solid, but I’ve found that even with all the planning, my teen will still forget to use the little brushes or misplace the wax. As for pain, I know soft foods help, but we actually had better luck with warm saltwater rinses than ice packs - maybe just personal preference? Sometimes I feel like every mouth reacts a bit differently to all this.

Yeah, the checklist thing sounds great in theory, but honestly, we could wallpaper a room with all the “systems” I’ve tried to keep my kid on track. Half the time the little brushes end up in her backpack or just disappear into this weird black hole of dental supplies. And about pain - funny you mention warm saltwater rinses, because that’s actually what worked best for me too, not the cold stuff. Ice packs just made everything feel numb and weird. Everybody’s mouth seems to have its own quirks... sometimes I wonder if there’s really such a thing as a “normal” braces experience.

Totally hear you on the “black hole” of dental supplies - my kid’s wax and those little brushes seem to vanish into thin air, too. And yeah, saltwater rinses have always been my go-to for pain. I swear, the “normal” braces journey is just a myth… everyone’s got their own weird little issues. Sometimes I think the only universal thing is how unpredictable the whole process feels.

Seriously, it’s wild how fast those little dental tools disappear. I’ve bought more packs of wax than I can count, and somehow there’s never any when I actually need it. Saltwater rinses are a lifesaver though - my mouth would be a mess without them.

I totally get what you mean about the “normal” braces experience being a myth. Mine’s been all over the place, especially with an underbite. Some months things move fast, then nothing happens for ages… or something random pops up, like a bracket coming loose right before a trip. Has anyone else had to deal with those surprise setbacks? Sometimes I wonder if it ever feels straightforward for anyone.

I totally relate to the random setbacks. I’ve had brackets pop off right before family events, and it’s stressful. Have you ever tried those little ortho wax containers that attach to your keychain? I lose the regular packs constantly, but the keychain one actually sticks around. The “normal” experience definitely doesn’t exist - mine’s been nothing but unpredictable too. Does your ortho say anything about why some months are slower? I always worry it means something’s wrong, but apparently it’s just how teeth move sometimes...

Funny you mention slow months - my ortho just keeps saying “everyone’s timeline is different,” which honestly feels like code for “we don’t really know.” I’ve had entire checkups where nothing seemed to move, then suddenly a gap closes overnight. The unpredictability drives me nuts. I actually started tracking my own progress with photos and notes, just to see if there’s any pattern... but so far, it’s mostly random setbacks and the occasional surprise improvement. Those keychain wax containers sound way more practical than the tiny boxes I keep losing in my bag.

Ugh, I totally get what you mean about the unpredictability. I kept thinking my teeth would move in some steady, logical way, but nope - random bursts and then weeks of nothing. The “everyone’s timeline is different” line makes me a little anxious too. Tracking progress with photos is smart, though. It’s weirdly reassuring to look back and realize there actually *is* change, even if it doesn’t feel like it day to day. Also, those tiny wax boxes are the worst for getting lost - I’ve started stashing backup wax in every bag I own... just in case.

Also, those tiny wax boxes are the worst for getting lost - I’ve started stashing backup wax in every bag I own... just in case.

Haha, I thought I was the only one with a weird wax hoarding habit. There’s probably a rogue box rattling around in every coat pocket I own at this point. And yeah, the “weeks of nothing” thing is so real. For me, it felt like my bite wasn’t changing at all for months, then suddenly one tooth moved overnight and everything felt different. Looking back at old photos was honestly the only thing that kept me sane during those slow stretches.

Honestly, I stopped buying the official wax after losing like three boxes in a week. Found a generic brand online that comes in a big tub - way cheaper in the long run, and I just refill my little case. The slow progress is rough, but my ortho warned me it’d be a marathon. Sometimes I wonder if it’s just my anxiety making me hyper-aware of every tiny shift...