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Well I got my lower brackets on last week and everything went well and it didn't hurt. However, from yesterday this bottom wire is poking my gum leaving a little sore
I got mine on the NHS so maybe this is the type they do. I've attached some pics and you'll see the wire with the little red mark (bottom) and it's causing me trouble now I've saw other braces and never noticed this before.
I've had issues with my hooks at times. Eventually my mouth gets used to it. A couple times, I ended up having the hooks adjusted a bit. (Over time, I've had more added and I'm now up to 20).
There are rinses you can use to help with the sores. Also that is what wax is designed for. It helps with the rubbing. You can usually get some ortho wax from your dentist. If not, a drug store, grocery store, big box store or dentakit.com has them. My personal preference is the silicone wax. They all work though.
Braces as Phase II treatment for TMJD.
Lower mandibular repositioning splint 26 months.
Lower braces on 10.75 months into Phase II treatment.
Duration in braces: 2 years, 2 weeks, 5 days
Removal of Braces: September 18, 2013 TMJD treatment now complete!
Yep, as my teeth move it's almost always the hooks that dig in and bother me. Your lip will get used to it being there, it will just take a couple of days.
In the meantime if you can get wax to stick to it then like TMJill said that really helps, salt water rinses and some kind of bonjella or braces relief gel will help to numb it and feel better too.
My guess is because that tooth sits slightly more forward than the others that's why it's digging in. I have a molar on the side that does the same and 99% of the time if something is rubbing, it's that one. Hope it feels better soon!
For a while there, I actually had my lower canines undertied. They put my archwire under those brackets, behind the hooks. (To help erupt them.) The hooks were actually helping hold the archwire in place. This resulted in those hooks canting out. It resulted in constant irritation to my inner lip. With the wax and the stuff I put on my lips, eventually I got used to it a bit. My lip stayed roughed up for quite a while though. Good news was that my teeth moved well.
There is a concocation a local pharmacist recommended for the sores. It is made with OTC products, but is based on a prescription. It is equal parts of liquid benedryl (antihistamine which calms the irritation, I used the kids version) and liquid antacid (helps calm the acidic sores). If you have a lot of pain, you can also add something like liquid ambesol.
I also used salt water at times as well.
Braces as Phase II treatment for TMJD.
Lower mandibular repositioning splint 26 months.
Lower braces on 10.75 months into Phase II treatment.
Duration in braces: 2 years, 2 weeks, 5 days
Removal of Braces: September 18, 2013 TMJD treatment now complete!
Hi, wax is not a last resort. I used it liberally in the first few weeks as I got used to all the various pokey bits, and it helps ease the irritation. Just roll up a ball in your fingers and stick it in. I found it stuck more easily if dried the tooth off a bit (breath in over it) and stuck the ball of wax in from the point of the hook before smoothing the wax out with a licked finger. It stayed in all night, and often through the day (I was only eating really soft food at the time), only brushing would dislodge it once in place.
One word answer....wax! You shouldn't be afraid to use it. Even if you do use it, your lips will toughen up to the point where you don't need it anymore. Takes about 5 days to a week for me for this to happen.
Braces as Phase II treatment for TMJD.
Lower mandibular repositioning splint 26 months.
Lower braces on 10.75 months into Phase II treatment.
Duration in braces: 2 years, 2 weeks, 5 days
Removal of Braces: September 18, 2013 TMJD treatment now complete!
this forum has been a great support for me and I really appreciate all the kind help. 