Braces piercing your mouth? Don’t worry, there is a solution!

This is the 5240th article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

I believe that everyone with braces will experience varying degrees of orthodontic pain and discomfort in the process of becoming more beautiful, especially those who wear steel braces.

Usually, teeth will feel sore within 2-3 days after wearing or adjusting braces. This is normal and the discomfort will subside within a few days. In addition, during the treatment process, there are often emergencies such as braces grinding the mouth and wire piercing the mouth, which bring many troubles to life and make parents and patients very worried and painful. Today, the editor will take you to talk in depth about why "braces pierce the mouth" and how to solve it cleverly?

1. The “truth” of piercing the mouth

The orthodontic appliance family is huge, and each member has its own characteristics. However, when you first come to the "small world" of the oral cavity, most of them have to go through a period of "running-in". In this process, restless brackets, archwires, ligature wires and unfamiliar braces will bring us unexpected "surprises".

Bracket grinding mouth

When you first put on braces, your mouth is like welcoming a group of strange visitors, and it takes some time to adapt. Especially those friends with more sensitive oral mucosa can keenly capture the "edges" of the bracket edges. In addition, the road to orthodontic correction is long, and bumps and bruises are inevitable during the process. If you are not careful, the originally firm brackets will quietly loosen. Once loose, they will "sway" on the teeth, and the raised edges will scratch the fragile oral mucosa like small hooks.

Mouth ligature

Small ligatures have many wonderful uses, and they are often seen in the process of fixing braces and orthodontic force application. However, the ends of the ligatures originally hidden under the brackets will run out after brushing teeth or eating, or even break, turning into "small hidden weapons" in the mouth, causing a stinging pain on the lips and tongue.

Bow wire mouth

During the orthodontic process, as the teeth move and the gaps close, the end of the archwire gradually becomes longer, and the exposed excess part is like a sharp needle, quietly lurking in the mouth. Every time you open your mouth to talk, laugh, or just swallow saliva, the delicate mucous membrane on the inside of your cheek will be mercilessly "attacked" by it.

In addition, during eating, unilateral chewing, or eating some hard or sticky foods may cause the archwire to shift unilaterally or deform. When chewing hard objects such as apples and ribs, on the one hand, the archwire itself may become crooked, change position or even break due to external forces. On the other hand, once the bracket falls off at this time, the archwire will fall out of the braces like a wild horse, and the mouth will feel pricked.

Invisible braces mouthpiece

Invisible braces are favored by many people for their beauty, comfort and removability. However, when we take them off violently, the edges of the braces will be deformed and twisted. The edges of the braces that originally fit the curvature of the teeth will be lifted up and become sharp corners. When they are worn again, they will immediately become a "weapon" that pierces the mouth, and a stinging feeling will follow.

2. What to do if you get a puncture in your mouth? Here are the “first aid” methods!

Orthodontic wax

When you get a mouth piercing, don't panic! Orthodontic wax can be called a "savior" and can solve most mouth piercing situations. Gently pinch off a small piece, place it in the palm of your hand and rub it repeatedly until it is as soft as mud, then press it accurately on the part of the mouth piercing with braces, and the sharp part will immediately become "soft". In normal times, you can also use chewing gum instead of emergency.

Adjusting the Slipped Archwire

If the mouth is pierced because the archwire has slipped out, orthodontic wax is useless. You can first use tweezers to try to put the wire back in place. If you really can't put the wire in a comfortable position, you can use clean nail clippers to cut off the excess part.

Adjust the sharp direction of the ligature

If the sharp end of the ligature comes out, you can try using a pencil eraser or cotton swab to push the sharp wire down or apply protective wax to the sharp end.

Orthodontic wax

Seeking help from an orthodontist

If the mouth piercing problem is as stubborn as a sticky candy, be sure to contact the doctor immediately to make an appointment for a follow-up visit. The doctor has professional knowledge and equipment to quickly and accurately locate the root cause of the problem, fundamentally eliminate the problem of mouth grinding, and escort your orthodontic journey.

3. How to prevent mouth piercing? Small habits have a big impact!

Pay attention to eating habits

During the orthodontic period, try to avoid eating hard or sticky foods and chewing on one side. These habits can cause the braces to shift or become damaged, increasing the possibility of mouth piercing.

The correct way to wear and remove braces

For those who wear invisible braces, they need to wear them in the correct order and do not pick the edges of the braces violently to avoid piercing the mouth due to the edges lifting. Of course, you can also use the braces removal tool to slowly remove the braces.

Regular follow-up visits and check-ups

Regular follow-up visits are an essential part of the orthodontic process. During the follow-up visit, you should report any oral discomfort, including a slight pricking sensation, to the doctor so that the doctor can detect and solve the problem in time, such as adjusting the position of the braces, replacing worn parts, etc.

Although there will be many twists and turns in the orthodontic process, as long as you understand the reasons, have coping strategies, and maintain a positive attitude, you will be able to cleverly resolve the problems and make the orthodontic journey smooth sailing~

Written by: Zhu Lisha, a physician in the Department of Orthodontics at the Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Tongji University, and a PhD in Orthodontics from Peking University.

Reviewer: Liao Chongshan, Department of Orthodontics, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Tongji University