Seriously, is it normal to feel like your whole mouth is throbbing after an adjustment? I keep hearing “it gets better” but I’m living on soup and ice packs right now. Ibuprofen helps a little, but not much. I tried wax for the pokey wires but the ache is just… everywhere. Anyone else just get super cranky from this? Wondering if there’s anything I’m missing or if this is just how it goes.
I’m living on soup and ice packs right now. Ibuprofen helps a little, but not much.
I totally get this. After my first adjustment, I legit thought something was wrong because my whole jaw felt like it was pulsing. Did you notice if it gets worse at night? Mine always does, and then I can’t sleep and just get grumpy. I’m curious if anyone’s found something besides painkillers and wax that actually helps. Does chewing gum (the sugar-free kind) make it worse? I’m scared to try anything new but the ache is driving me nuts.
Does chewing gum (the sugar-free kind) make it worse? I’m scared to try anything new but the ache is driving me nuts.
I totally relate to the nighttime thing—it’s like the pressure just ramps up when you’re trying to sleep. For me, gum actually made it worse, even the sugar-free stuff. My ortho said all that extra chewing can aggravate sore teeth and gums. I found that warm salt water rinses helped a bit, more than I expected. Sometimes just holding a warm washcloth on my jaw was better than ice, honestly. The pain does settle down after a couple days, but those first nights are rough.
I actually had the opposite experience with gum, weirdly enough. Chewing (just for a minute or two) sometimes distracted me from the ache, but I get how it could make things worse for some people. Maybe it depends on how sensitive your teeth are that day? I’m always super paranoid about anything making the pain last longer, though, so I usually just stick to soft foods and hope for the best. Warm salt water helps a bit, but nothing really takes the edge off for me.
We’re right there with you—my kiddo turns into a total grump for a couple days after every adjustment. It’s tough watching them wince with every bite, and honestly, nothing seems to totally get rid of the ache. We do stick with soft foods and ice cream (maybe too much), and warm salt water rinses at bedtime seem to take the edge off a little. I’ve noticed it eases up after about three days, but that first night is rough. Does anyone else’s pain flare up more at night? That’s when we see the most complaints.
