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Is there a process to slowly toughening up the inside of your mouth after getting your braces on?
Maybe like cutting back the amount of time you have wax on your brackets by an hour every day so that your cheeks are exposed to the brackets just a little longer each day?
I'm thinking along the lines of breaking in new contact lenses when you've never worn them before - leave them in for 4 hours today, 6 hours tomorrow, 8 hours the next day, etc. until your eyes adjust to having them in all the time.
Of course, you can't wear your braces for only a few hours every day, so you'd have to cover them with wax instead of taking them out.
LOL. I've never been able to get used to contacts. Hate em. I'll have to try it your way and see if I can't get used to them as I'm getting used to the braces.
I don't have a system really. I just found I didn't need the wax today like I did yesterday, and the day before. I'm still a bit uncomfortable in there, but it doesn't feel as raw...but like you I worried wearing wax too much might not help me get used to them. Sounds like you got a good process.
I was a demon with the wax for the first couple of weeks until someone on the board recommended that the wax NOT be used overnight to give the mouth a chance to 'get used' to the braces....that was an excellent suggestion and certainly worked for me.
Also, the first couple of weeks my mouth went superduper dry but that seems to have stopped now...and of course when your mouth is dry the brackets are more noticeable...in anycase, the dry mouth issue sorted itself as well after a little while.
Thanks for the comments everybody! I'm definitely planning the salt water rinses. And I'm already a heavy drinker of water, so I'm set in that department.
I'm getting a palate expander "installed" next week. I've heard that makes some people over-salivate, so that should hopefully help with the dry mouth thing. [insert drooling smiley here]
Just wear the wax during the day, not at night. Your mouth will toughen up by not having it on during the night. This is what I was told to do, did it, and it worked. Within a few days, I was just wearing the wax on the really troublesome spots during the day... but it did take a good week for things to calm down enough to be mostly without some wax at some point during the day.
You can also help your mouth during the day by staying hydrated. Push the water, not the soda or sports drinks or coffee --- WATER! Your mouth needs extra water right now and it will really help your lips learn how to move over the brackets.
I followed my best friend advice not to use the wax at all, and to just "rough it" so after 2 or 3 days of HORRIBLE rubbing and sore mouth the pain went away and never been bothered since ...i can do everything with em that i was able to do without em.. ( but this was just me.. )
I'll have to try it your way and see if I can't get used to them as I'm getting used to the braces.
