I hear you on the saltwater rinse—my grandma swore by it too—but honestly, it never did much for me besides making my mouth taste weird. What really made a difference was using those little silicone wax bits on the brackets, especially when things felt extra raw after a tightening. Headaches, though... yeah, those linger. I’ve found that keeping hydrated and not skipping meals helps a bit, even if sleep is still hit or miss. The “new adventure” part made me laugh—never gets old, does it?
I’ve found that keeping hydrated and not skipping meals helps a bit, even if sleep is still hit or miss.
Totally agree about the saltwater—my mom always insisted, but it just made me crave chips for some weird reason. I’m with you on the wax, though. That stuff is a lifesaver when the brackets start digging in after a tightening. Headaches are rough, and I’ve noticed if I skip meals, it’s way worse. Curious—have you tried any of those cold compresses on your jaw after appointments? I swear by them for dulling the ache.
I’m with you on the wax, though. That stuff is a lifesaver when the brackets start digging in after a tightening.
Yeah, dental wax is non-negotiable for me after every adjustment. I keep a pack in my bag just in case—those sharp edges sneak up on you. I totally get what you mean about headaches getting worse if you skip meals. I used to think it was just the pressure from the braces, but honestly, not eating enough made everything feel ten times more intense.
About cold compresses—definitely. I actually use one of those gel packs you keep in the freezer and just hold it against my jaw for 10-15 minutes after appointments. Makes a big difference, especially when the ache is more of a dull throb than sharp pain. Have you ever tried alternating between warm and cold? Sometimes I do a warm washcloth first to relax everything, then switch to cold. Not sure if it helps more, but it feels good.
Funny about the saltwater rinse making you crave chips… I always ended up wanting pretzels for some reason. Maybe it’s just the association with salt? Braces are weird like that—mess with your mouth and your cravings at the same time.
I actually use one of those gel packs you keep in the freezer and just hold it against my jaw for 10-15 minutes after appointments. Makes a big difference, especially when the ache is more of a dull throb than sharp pain.
That’s basically my go-to protocol too. I swear by those reusable gel packs—they’re like the USB drives of pain relief: plug-and-play, always ready in the freezer. I’ve tried alternating heat and cold, but honestly, I’m not convinced the warm part does much for me. Maybe it’s just psychological? Cold seems to reduce inflammation way more efficiently, at least for me.
And yeah, skipping meals is a disaster with braces. Feels like your whole head is running on low battery—everything gets glitchy. I usually stick to smoothies or protein shakes right after an adjustment, since chewing anything solid feels like running a benchmark test on hardware that’s about to overheat.
The salt cravings are real. For me it’s popcorn, which is ironic because it’s basically banned until these brackets come off... Braces really do mess with your brain as much as your mouth sometimes.
I usually stick to smoothies or protein shakes right after an adjustment, since chewing anything solid feels like running a benchmark test on hardware that’s about to overheat.
That’s a perfect way to describe it—chewing after adjustments is just brutal sometimes. I’ve always wondered if the pain is more from the pressure or the inflammation itself. For me, cold packs help a bit, but sometimes I feel like the ache lingers no matter what. The popcorn craving is real, though... I miss crunchy snacks way more than I expected.
