Frozen grapes, yes—I relied on those during my last adjustment. They’re a lifesaver, but I always worried about biting down too hard and cracking something (paranoia, maybe). Wax never did much for me either, just got messy. I remember trying cold applesauce out of desperation—felt silly, but it helped more than I expected. Crunchy stuff? I get the temptation, but I’d always chicken out at the last second...too anxious about popping a bracket.
Cold applesauce is genius—I never would've thought of that. I tried frozen blueberries once, but then spent half the time terrified I'd swallow one whole and end up on the news. Wax just made me feel like I was chewing on a candle... not my vibe. Crunchy food? Not even a chance. The fear of snapping a bracket is way too real for me.
Man, I get you on the wax—tried it once and just felt like I had a mouth full of birthday candle. Didn’t help much for me either. I’m all about the cold stuff though, especially right after an adjustment. I’ll literally just hold an ice pack to my cheek sometimes... feels weird but it helps with the throbbing. Crunchy food’s a total no-go for me too, I’ve lost two brackets to tortilla chips. Not worth it.
Ever tried those little silicone covers instead of wax? They’re less candle-y but still not perfect. Also, have you ever used numbing gel? Some people swear by it, but I always felt like it just made my tongue tingly and didn’t do much for the actual pain. Curious if that worked for you or anyone else.
Ever tried those little silicone covers instead of wax? They’re less candle-y but still not perfect. Also, have you ever used numbing gel? Some people swear by it, but I always felt like it just made my tongue tingly and didn’t do much for the actual pain.
I totally get what you mean about the wax—it’s like chewing on a scented candle that’s lost its scent. I tried the silicone covers after my ortho gave me a sample pack, and honestly, they were a bit of a game changer for me. They don’t stick quite as well as wax (especially if you’re eating or talking a lot), but at least they don’t have that weird taste. I still end up swallowing half of it by accident though... which is probably not great, but I’m still here.
Numbing gel was a weird one for me. I bought some Orajel thinking it would be magic, but all it really did was make my tongue and lips feel like they’d taken a nap. The pain in my gums didn’t really budge. It’s almost more distracting than helpful, so I kind of gave up on it after a couple tries.
The cold stuff is where it’s at for sure. I use those little gel packs you can freeze—sometimes I wrap them in a sock because the cold is just too much otherwise. Occasionally I’ll even eat a popsicle (slowly, because biting is a no-go), which helps numb everything for a bit and feels like a treat.
Crunchy food is basically my nemesis now. Lost a bracket to popcorn, of all things. I thought I could be careful, but nope... lesson learned. Now it’s all about soft foods and cutting everything into tiny pieces.
Weirdest thing that’s helped me: chewing on a clean, cold washcloth. Sounds strange, but when my teeth are super sore after an adjustment, it kind of massages my gums without being too harsh. Plus, it doesn’t taste like wax or plastic, so that’s a win.
Definitely still looking for other tricks though—this whole process is such an adventure (and not always in a fun way).
Weirdest thing that’s helped me: chewing on a clean, cold washcloth. Sounds strange, but when my teeth are super sore after an adjustment, it kind of massages my gums without being too harsh. Plus, it doesn’t taste like wax or plastic, so that’s a win.
That cold washcloth trick is actually genius. My kiddo tried it after a rough day with her new wires and it was surprisingly soothing for her—way better than the wax, which she just ends up picking at and then complaining about the “candle flavor.” We also learned the hard way about crunchy foods. She managed to snap a bracket on a tortilla chip… who knew those things could be so dangerous?
Numbing gel was a bust for us too. She said it felt like her mouth was asleep but the pain was still wide awake. Popsicles are a regular thing in our freezer now, partly for the pain and partly because it feels like a treat after appointments.
Honestly, the best thing has just been patience and distraction—movies, games, whatever keeps her mind off her mouth. Not a perfect solution, but it helps. This journey is definitely full of surprises, some weirder than others.