Reduce Pain with Braces?

If you are having pain in the gums while wearing braces it generally indicates that you have unhealthy gums. Obviously, your teeth are much more difficult to brush and floss adequately with braces on. You must be dedicated to spending the extra time required. An electronic tooth brush and water pik are nice adjuncts to your oral hygiene. You should also consider seeing your hygienist more often. I always recommend that my orthodontic patients see their hygienist every 3-4 months.

If your sensitivity is coming from the teeth, especially after having your braces "tightened" you can rinse your mouth with ice water.

Good luck!

Anbesol is a topical anesthetic that on works only on the surface, like what your dentist puts on your gums before giving an injection. I think the most reliable thing for orthodontic pain would be whatever over the counter pain medication you like to use, such as Advil or Tylenol.

While over-the-counter pain killers like Advil and Tylenol do help reduce your discomfort, there is a very simple way to reduce the amount of time you are sore after an adjustment. Because the pain associated with braces is caused by the same thing that causes cramps in your muscles (lactic acid), "massaging the teeth" can increase the circulation in the area and reduce the time you ache. The simplest way to perform such a tooth massage is simply by chewing sugarless gum following your adjustments!