Weird tricks for stopping braces from tearing up my cheeks?

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.

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.

This is painfully accurate. I swear I ate more wax than actual food that first month. My personal “hack” was to just accept that the inside of my mouth would look like it lost a fight with a cheese grater for a few weeks. Salt water rinses were my go-to too - cheap, easy, and didn’t taste as weird as some of those mouthwashes.

I did try the “layering wax” trick but ended up with a weird lumpy mess that made talking even harder. The only thing that really worked for me was time… and maybe switching to soft foods like scrambled eggs and overcooked pasta. If anyone ever invents braces-proof tortilla chips, I’ll be first in line.

Honestly, patience (and a little bit of swearing under your breath) seems to be the real secret weapon here.

Yeah, the wax situation is just… tragic. I tried putting it on right before eating but it still disappeared faster than my will to chew. Did anyone else try those silicone covers? I heard about them but never got around to ordering - wonder if they’re any better or just another lunch ingredient.

Wax is honestly useless if you’re eating - totally agree there. I did try those silicone covers (OrthoSil or whatever brand) and they actually stuck around a bit longer, but after a sandwich, it was just more stuff to pick out of my teeth. Slightly less messy than wax, though. If you bite down hard, they can come off too... so not a magic fix, but maybe worth a shot if you’re desperate.

I get the frustration with wax - eating with it is just a mess. I’ve tried the silicone covers too, and while they’re a bit sturdier, I still had issues with them popping off mid-meal. Have you noticed if certain foods make the covers come off more often? For me, anything chewy was basically game over.

Chewy foods are the absolute worst for keeping those covers in place - totally agree there. For me, even something as innocent as a sandwich could send the silicone flying if I wasn’t careful. I’ve noticed anything with a bit of “pull” (like pizza or bagels) just grabs onto the covers and yanks them right off. Crunchy stuff like chips or carrots doesn’t seem to mess with them as much, but then you risk poking your cheeks with the brackets anyway, so it’s kind of a lose-lose.

Have you tried chilling the silicone before putting it on? I heard from my ortho that it sometimes helps it stick better, though honestly, results were mixed for me. Also, a friend swears by dabbing the brackets dry with a tissue before applying wax or silicone, but let’s be real - who has time for that before every meal? Eating with braces is basically a full-time job...

Eating with braces is basically a full-time job...

Ain’t that the truth. I remember trying to eat a burrito once and ended up with half my wax stuck to the tortilla. Honestly, I’ve found that the “dab brackets dry” trick actually does help, but like you said, who has time for that every single meal? If I’m in a rush, I’ll just do a quick swipe with my shirt sleeve - probably not ortho-approved, but it works in a pinch.

One thing that worked better for me than chilling the silicone was rolling it into a little ball and then flattening it over the bracket, almost like Play-Doh. It seemed to grip better and didn’t pop off as easily when I bit into something chewy (though pizza is still the enemy). Also, switching to wax instead of silicone sometimes helped when I knew I’d be eating something tricky - it’s stickier, even if it doesn’t last quite as long.

At the end of the day, though, there’s just no winning with certain foods...I basically had to accept that some meals were going to be a mess.

That Play-Doh trick with the silicone is interesting - never thought of shaping it like that. I always found wax a bit too soft, especially if I drank anything warm. Actually, I started using a little interdental brush to clear out food before reapplying wax, which helped it stick better. Still, certain foods are just a lost cause...popcorn was my nemesis.

Still, certain foods are just a lost cause...popcorn was my nemesis.

Popcorn is brutal with braces - pretty much everyone struggles with it. Using an interdental brush before wax is a smart move; not enough people do that. I get what you mean about the wax melting off with hot drinks, too. Silicone’s a good alternative, especially for folks who have issues with wax sticking. Hang in there - most people find the cheek irritation gets better after a few weeks as your mouth toughens up.