You nailed it about the wax—mine always seemed to disappear right after I put it on. I’d find little bits stuck to my pillow the next morning, which is just... lovely. The salt water rinse was my go-to too, even if it tasted like I’d licked a pretzel. Ever try swishing with cold water instead? Sometimes that helped numb things for a bit, but then my teeth would ache like crazy after.
I never got the hang of those tiny brushes either. The floss threaders are fiddly, but at least you know what you’re getting into. Those silicone covers? I thought they’d be a game changer, but nope—felt like I was chewing on an eraser.
Funny you mention cucumbers. I used frozen grapes once when my jaw was really sore—kind of weird, but it worked in a pinch. Did you ever get those random days where your teeth felt fine and then BAM, out of nowhere, everything hurt again? It’s like your mouth has a mind of its own.
How long did your soreness last after adjustments? Mine usually hung around for a few days, then faded off... until the next round.
Those random pain flare-ups are honestly the worst—I’ve heard people describe them as “braces mood swings,” which feels about right. I’ve seen so many patients try all sorts of hacks, and you’re not alone with the wax bits everywhere (I still find some on my scrubs after a long day). For most folks, soreness after adjustments typically lingers for three to five days, but everyone’s pain tolerance is different. Frozen grapes are a clever trick—never thought of that one. Most people swear by salt water, but yeah, it’s basically like gargling the ocean.
I totally relate to the “braces mood swings”—some days I’m fine, other days it feels like my whole mouth is on strike. Frozen grapes are genius, though. I tried popsicles for relief but they got too messy. Salt water helps a bit, but yeah, the taste is just... not great. The wax thing is real—I keep finding bits stuck in the weirdest places. At least we’re all in this together, right?
- Popsicles were a mess for me too, but I actually prefer them over frozen grapes—less chewing, so less jaw ache.
- Salt water’s gross, agreed, but I think it helps more than wax. Wax always falls off for me, or I end up swallowing it...
- Anyone else feel like the “together” part only helps a little? Some days it’s just plain rough.
Salt water’s gross, agreed, but I think it helps more than wax. Wax always falls off for me, or I end up swallowing it...
Same here with the wax—every time I tried to use it, it was gone within an hour, either swallowed or just disappeared. My ortho kept saying it would help, but honestly, the salt water rinses (as nasty as they taste) seemed to work better for me too. Not fun, but at least they actually did something for the soreness.
I totally get what you mean about the “together” part not always helping. My ortho made a big deal about how having everything move at once would make it feel less intense, but there were days where my whole mouth just hurt and I couldn’t focus on anything else. Popsicles were my go-to for a while but then I got tired of the sticky mess, and chewing frozen grapes was just...not happening with my jaw pain.
One thing that helped me a bit was switching to softer foods for a few days after adjustments. Even stuff like scrambled eggs or overcooked pasta made a difference. It’s tough, but you’re definitely not alone in feeling like this is dragging on forever.
