How to Deal With Discomfort When Wearing a Retainer
When you're done with braces or Invisalign in Knoxville, Myers Orthodontics recommends wearing a retainer to keep your teeth from shifting back to their original position. Your options include removable clear and Hawley retainers and semi-permanent fixed retainers. We make the process as comfortable as possible, but if you experience pain, a few quick solutions will help you adjust.
Take Pain Medication
Over-the-counter pain medication may ease discomfort while your teeth adjust to the retainers. However, you shouldn't need this for longer than a week. Check the label to make sure that you're taking the recommended dosage. If the pain is too severe, immediately schedule an appointment with your Bearden orthodontist.
Avoid Hard Foods
If your teeth feel sore when you remove your retainers before eating, stick to soft, cold foods such as yogurt, smoothies, and applesauce. Hot, spicy, and crunchy foods like chips, curries, nuts, hard candies, and pizza could increase the discomfort. Over time, you'll start reintroducing regular food to your diet.
Don't Skip Days
You might feel tempted to skip a few days when you've just started wearing retainers. However, this makes the pain worse. Your teeth start shifting immediately, and when you put on the retainers, they'll have trouble fitting in your mouth.
Wearing your retainers consistently gives your teeth time to adjust. If you've already skipped days, wear them again as soon as possible. Waiting too long results in a mouth full of crooked teeth. You might even have to undergo braces or Invisalign in Knoxville again.
Apply Dental Wax
Dental wax is a type of wax that comes in small sections or strips. Your Bearden orthodontist usually recommends dental wax for braces, but it can also protect your mouth from a retainer's sharp edges.
Break off a piece of wax and roll it between your fingers until it's soft and malleable. Then, press the wax against the sharp area. The wax covers the edge to prevent irritation to your mouth's tissues.
Dental wax is harmless if accidentally swallowed so you can eat and drink it as usual. However, if food particles get stuck inside, replace the wax. This could accelerate tooth decay.
Utilize Home Treatments
Try applying a cold compress to the painful area. Ice numbs the area and reduces inflammation, relieving the discomfort. Always place the ice in a bag or towel instead of applying it directly to the tissue.
Similarly, try rinsing out your mouth with saltwater. The salt kills bacteria, which could heal irritation and scratches inside your mouth.
If your retainer discomfort worsens or doesn't improve, schedule an appointment with Myers Orthodontics as soon as possible. We also build retainers for patients who have recently lost their braces.