The cotton trick... yeah, that's a tough one. I've had people come in with cotton stuck everywhere.
Yeah, tried that once and ended up picking bits of cotton out of my braces for days. I get super anxious about anything getting stuck, so that was a no-go for me. I did find that salt water rinses helped a bit with the raw spots, but honestly, the first two weeks were just miserable. Wax would fall off as soon as I ate anything warm. Eventually my cheeks got used to it, but I was convinced they never would.
I totally relate to the salt water rinse thing—my mouth was basically a saltwater aquarium those first couple weeks. I remember thinking the wax was going to be my savior, but yeah, one bowl of soup and it was gone. I even tried those silicone covers for braces, but they never really stuck for me.
The only thing that helped a bit (besides just waiting it out) was sticking to cold foods for a while. Popsicles and yogurt felt soothing, plus they didn’t melt the wax off immediately. Not sure if anyone else had luck with those little silicone strips? I always wondered if I was just using them wrong or if they’re just not that effective.
Did you notice your cheeks toughening up after a certain point, or was it more gradual? For me, it seemed like one day I woke up and realized I wasn’t constantly biting the inside of my mouth anymore... but maybe that’s just selective memory.
I always wondered if I was just using them wrong or if they’re just not that effective.
Yeah, I totally get what you mean about the wax just vanishing after hot food. I tried those silicone strips too and honestly, they didn't do much for me either—never stayed in place. My cheeks definitely toughened up, but it was gradual. One day I just realized I wasn't wincing every time I talked or ate. Cold stuff helped a lot, though. Eating ice cream almost became a coping mechanism.
My cheeks definitely toughened up, but it was gradual.
Yeah, same here. At first it felt like my mouth was never going to get used to all that metal, but eventually the inside of my cheeks just adapted. I still remember sneaking ice cubes at work just for a little relief. Wax was hit or miss—sometimes it helped, sometimes it just disappeared after a few bites of pizza. Hang in there, it really does get easier over time.
Honestly, I think my cheeks were ready to file for divorce from the rest of my mouth during that first month. Those brackets felt like tiny cheese graters every time I tried to eat or even just talk. The wax was supposed to be this magical fix, but half the time it would vanish into thin air (or, let’s be real, into my lunch) before I even made it through a sandwich.
What actually helped me was rinsing with warm salt water. It’s not fancy or expensive, but it did seem to speed up the healing when things got really raw. Also, weird as it sounds, I started using one of those cheap travel toothbrushes to gently “massage” my cheeks after brushing. Not sure if it actually toughened them up or just distracted me from the pain, but hey, it kept my mind off the cost of all those orthodontist visits.
I did try cutting tiny strips of orthodontic wax and layering them on the worst offenders, but they’d usually last about as long as my willpower to avoid tortilla chips (so... not long). Ice cubes were a lifesaver, but I only had so many excuses to hang out by the breakroom freezer before my coworkers started asking questions.
It does get better, but I swear my grocery budget took a hit from all the pudding and mashed potatoes I lived on at first. If you’re on a tight budget, honestly, salt water and patience were the cheapest “weird tricks” that got me through. And, okay, maybe cursing the universe a little bit.