I totally get what you mean about the wax being easier for kids. I tried the silicone covers too, and honestly, they just felt weird and never stayed put for me either. The wax might be messier, but at least it actually sticks where you need it. Did you ever try the flavored wax? I found the mint one made the whole braces thing a tiny bit less miserable.
Have you noticed if your kid’s mouth gets sore more at certain times, like after adjustments? I used to swear by cold stuff—ice water, frozen grapes, even just holding an ice pack to my cheek. It sounds silly, but sometimes chewing on a clean washcloth helped distract from the pain. Braces are such a trial-and-error thing... what works one week doesn’t always work the next.
Do you find your kid gets used to the pain over time, or is it always a struggle? For me, the first few weeks were rough, but then it kind of faded into the background.
Yeah, the mint wax was a total game-changer for me—at least it made my mouth feel a little fresher when everything else felt gross. My kid definitely has the most trouble right after adjustments too. We go through so much applesauce and yogurt those days, it’s kind of ridiculous. The pain does seem to get better after a few months, but there are still random days where it flares up. Honestly, I think finding those weird little tricks (like the cold washcloth thing) is half the battle.
I totally get what you mean about the applesauce and yogurt—those were basically my diet for the first week after every adjustment. One thing that weirdly helped me was sucking on ice chips. Not chewing, just letting them melt on sore spots. I know cold stuff isn’t everyone’s thing, but it took the edge off for me. Also, I found that using a super soft baby toothbrush made brushing way less miserable when my mouth was tender. The pain definitely comes and goes in waves... Some days are just random.
Funny thing, I actually found that warm salt water rinses did way more for me than ice ever did. Cold stuff just made my teeth ache more, honestly. Maybe it’s an age thing? The baby toothbrush tip is gold though—total game changer for sensitive gums.
Warm salt water is my go-to too. Ice just made my whole mouth throb, like biting into a popsicle with a cavity—no thanks. I started using the baby toothbrush after my last adjustment and wow, way less gum carnage. Never thought I’d be shopping the toddler aisle for myself, but here we are…