Got my braces tightened again yesterday and, man, I forgot how much it sucks. Usually, I just pop a couple ibuprofen and tough it out, but this time my sister gave me this numbing gel stuff she swears by. It's like a minty gel you rub on your gums and it kinda numbs everything up for a bit. Honestly, it felt weird at first—like my mouth was half asleep—but after a few minutes, the ache was way less noticeable. Still not perfect, but definitely better than just painkillers alone.
I'm curious if anyone else has tried something similar or maybe found something even better? I'm open to anything at this point because these monthly tightenings are seriously killing my vibe, lol.
I totally feel your pain. I went through braces last year, and those tightening appointments were a nightmare every single time. Ibuprofen was my usual go-to as well, but after a while, it barely made a dent.
The numbing gel sounds interesting though—I never tried that specifically, but my orthodontist recommended something similar called Orajel. It worked okay-ish for me... like you said, kinda weird at first and the numbness didn't last super long. Honestly, what helped me most was applying a warm compress to my jaw area after the appointments. It relaxed the muscles and eased that deep ache more effectively than anything else I tried.
Also, sticking to softer foods for a day or two afterward makes a huge difference. Smoothies, mashed potatoes, soups—boring I know—but giving your teeth a break from chewing hard stuff really helps reduce soreness faster.
Hope you find something that works better soon; braces are definitely no joke!
