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What if braces didn’t have to hurt so much?
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Imagine you’re about to get braces, but you could somehow skip all the aching teeth and mouth sores. Like, what hacks would you try - or wish you’d known? I always wondered if wax and ice packs are really enough, or if there’s some magic trick I missed. Would you just eat soup for a month or try numbing gels? Curious if anyone’s got some secret weapon for dodging the worst of it.
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I’ve always been curious why there isn’t some kind of high-tech numbing mouthguard or something - seems like we have tech for everything else. When I got braces, wax helped with the brackets, but the general ache was stubborn. Ibuprofen worked a bit, but honestly, eating cold stuff like yogurt was my go-to. I tried numbing gel once, but it tasted weird and didn’t last long. Anyone else feel like the “just eat soup” advice is overhyped? I needed some actual texture after a day or two.
My kid just started braces last month and I totally get what you mean about the “just eat soup” thing. After two days, she was begging for something to chew. We tried the wax, but it only helped with pokey wires, not the deep ache. Has anyone’s ortho ever suggested anything besides painkillers or ice cream? I’m surprised there isn’t a better option by now.
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