Re: Coping with braces pain?

[Guest guest]

I really feel for you. After I had my braces put on it felt painful

and uncomfortable for the first 4 days. I did two things to help

relieve the pain: open and close my mouth repeatedly and I brushed

my teeth, or at least ran the toothbrush over my gums and teeth. It

was almost like a " mini-massage " for my mouth. After the 4 days

though I didn't have too much pain.

Hope that helps...

>

> I'm on Day 7 of braces and I'm feeling overwhelmed by pain and

> discomfort. I'm clenching a lot -- I've always been prone to

clenching

> but it seems a million times worse now. My back teeth no longer

touch

> and I have " bumpers " on my molars to keep me from biting my

brackets

> off in the front. Anyway, now I'm clenching all day long and

> especially when I sleep. I called my ortho today and asked if there

> was anything I could wear that would ease the clenching, and they

said

> no, that I should just try to relax. Well, I have been trying to,

but

> I have a hard enough time relaxing when I'm awake let alone when

I'm

> asleep.

>

> I keep imagining some kind of foam cushion to put between my

molars,

> like those foamy floating keychains -- you know what I mean? But I

> don't know where to get those. Does anyone have any ideas?

>

> My whole jaw aches and I am starting to worry about how much

ibuprofen

> and aleve I'm taking. I got some ativan but can only take that at

> night. I am really busy with school and work and feel like I'm

just

> about to lose it.

>

> Any advice would be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

I really feel for you. After I had my braces put on it felt painful

and uncomfortable for the first 4 days. I did two things to help

relieve the pain: open and close my mouth repeatedly and I brushed

my teeth, or at least ran the toothbrush over my gums and teeth. It

was almost like a " mini-massage " for my mouth. After the 4 days

though I didn't have too much pain.

Hope that helps...

>

> I'm on Day 7 of braces and I'm feeling overwhelmed by pain and

> discomfort. I'm clenching a lot -- I've always been prone to

clenching

> but it seems a million times worse now. My back teeth no longer

touch

> and I have " bumpers " on my molars to keep me from biting my

brackets

> off in the front. Anyway, now I'm clenching all day long and

> especially when I sleep. I called my ortho today and asked if there

> was anything I could wear that would ease the clenching, and they

said

> no, that I should just try to relax. Well, I have been trying to,

but

> I have a hard enough time relaxing when I'm awake let alone when

I'm

> asleep.

>

> I keep imagining some kind of foam cushion to put between my

molars,

> like those foamy floating keychains -- you know what I mean? But I

> don't know where to get those. Does anyone have any ideas?

>

> My whole jaw aches and I am starting to worry about how much

ibuprofen

> and aleve I'm taking. I got some ativan but can only take that at

> night. I am really busy with school and work and feel like I'm

just

> about to lose it.

>

> Any advice would be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

My braces hurt bad for the first couple weeks, and again after the

first few adjustments, and again post-op. Some things I did:

Ibuprofen: I know it's bad to take it too much too often, but it's

the best thing for bedtime.

Ambesol: Not meant for this kind of pain, but it did help releive at

least some of the pain during the day when I was avoiding the constant

use of ibuprofen.

Heat: I used coffee (bad for tooth staining), tea (also bad for

staining) and broth when my teeth were sore. It really helped a lot

to sip a hot drink all day.

Herbal muscle relaxers: I recently discovered this, ****I do not

recommend starting any herbal treatment without first talking to your

doctor. This stuff has the potential react in bad ways..**** That

said, there are several herbal relaxers that may help with the

clenching at night.

Several people say you shouldn't baby the sore teeth, but I found that

avoiding chewing for those weeks that it hurt the worst helped as well.

Hope this helps!

~Jen

>

> I'm on Day 7 of braces and I'm feeling overwhelmed by pain and

> discomfort. I'm clenching a lot -- I've always been prone to clenching

> but it seems a million times worse now. My back teeth no longer touch

> and I have " bumpers " on my molars to keep me from biting my brackets

> off in the front. Anyway, now I'm clenching all day long and

> especially when I sleep. I called my ortho today and asked if there

> was anything I could wear that would ease the clenching, and they said

> no, that I should just try to relax. Well, I have been trying to, but

> I have a hard enough time relaxing when I'm awake let alone when I'm

> asleep.

>

> I keep imagining some kind of foam cushion to put between my molars,

> like those foamy floating keychains -- you know what I mean? But I

> don't know where to get those. Does anyone have any ideas?

>

> My whole jaw aches and I am starting to worry about how much ibuprofen

> and aleve I'm taking. I got some ativan but can only take that at

> night. I am really busy with school and work and feel like I'm just

> about to lose it.

>

> Any advice would be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

My braces hurt bad for the first couple weeks, and again after the

first few adjustments, and again post-op. Some things I did:

Ibuprofen: I know it's bad to take it too much too often, but it's

the best thing for bedtime.

Ambesol: Not meant for this kind of pain, but it did help releive at

least some of the pain during the day when I was avoiding the constant

use of ibuprofen.

Heat: I used coffee (bad for tooth staining), tea (also bad for

staining) and broth when my teeth were sore. It really helped a lot

to sip a hot drink all day.

Herbal muscle relaxers: I recently discovered this, ****I do not

recommend starting any herbal treatment without first talking to your

doctor. This stuff has the potential react in bad ways..**** That

said, there are several herbal relaxers that may help with the

clenching at night.

Several people say you shouldn't baby the sore teeth, but I found that

avoiding chewing for those weeks that it hurt the worst helped as well.

Hope this helps!

~Jen

>

> I'm on Day 7 of braces and I'm feeling overwhelmed by pain and

> discomfort. I'm clenching a lot -- I've always been prone to clenching

> but it seems a million times worse now. My back teeth no longer touch

> and I have " bumpers " on my molars to keep me from biting my brackets

> off in the front. Anyway, now I'm clenching all day long and

> especially when I sleep. I called my ortho today and asked if there

> was anything I could wear that would ease the clenching, and they said

> no, that I should just try to relax. Well, I have been trying to, but

> I have a hard enough time relaxing when I'm awake let alone when I'm

> asleep.

>

> I keep imagining some kind of foam cushion to put between my molars,

> like those foamy floating keychains -- you know what I mean? But I

> don't know where to get those. Does anyone have any ideas?

>

> My whole jaw aches and I am starting to worry about how much ibuprofen

> and aleve I'm taking. I got some ativan but can only take that at

> night. I am really busy with school and work and feel like I'm just

> about to lose it.

>

> Any advice would be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

Some folks have tried the mouthguards you can get and mold to fit,

available at drugstores. But if bumpers are what I think they are,

that might be impossible.

There may be a muscle relaxant you can take, although I think most of

them are apt to make you a bit loopy.

I think I'd try to talk with my ortho again, maybe call and ask for a

special call-back just on this subject, and tell him that you've been

trying the " positive thinking " approach, and it's not working, and

that you're actually having pain from the clenching.

Good wishes to you.

Cammie

>

> I'm on Day 7 of braces and I'm feeling overwhelmed by pain and

> discomfort. I'm clenching a lot -- I've always been prone to

clenching

> but it seems a million times worse now. My back teeth no longer

touch

> and I have " bumpers " on my molars to keep me from biting my brackets

> off in the front. Anyway, now I'm clenching all day long and

> especially when I sleep. I called my ortho today and asked if there

> was anything I could wear that would ease the clenching, and they

said

> no, that I should just try to relax. Well, I have been trying to,

but

> I have a hard enough time relaxing when I'm awake let alone when I'm

> asleep.

>

> I keep imagining some kind of foam cushion to put between my molars,

> like those foamy floating keychains -- you know what I mean? But I

> don't know where to get those. Does anyone have any ideas?

>

> My whole jaw aches and I am starting to worry about how much

ibuprofen

> and aleve I'm taking. I got some ativan but can only take that at

> night. I am really busy with school and work and feel like I'm just

> about to lose it.

>

> Any advice would be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

Some folks have tried the mouthguards you can get and mold to fit,

available at drugstores. But if bumpers are what I think they are,

that might be impossible.

There may be a muscle relaxant you can take, although I think most of

them are apt to make you a bit loopy.

I think I'd try to talk with my ortho again, maybe call and ask for a

special call-back just on this subject, and tell him that you've been

trying the " positive thinking " approach, and it's not working, and

that you're actually having pain from the clenching.

Good wishes to you.

Cammie

>

> I'm on Day 7 of braces and I'm feeling overwhelmed by pain and

> discomfort. I'm clenching a lot -- I've always been prone to

clenching

> but it seems a million times worse now. My back teeth no longer

touch

> and I have " bumpers " on my molars to keep me from biting my brackets

> off in the front. Anyway, now I'm clenching all day long and

> especially when I sleep. I called my ortho today and asked if there

> was anything I could wear that would ease the clenching, and they

said

> no, that I should just try to relax. Well, I have been trying to,

but

> I have a hard enough time relaxing when I'm awake let alone when I'm

> asleep.

>

> I keep imagining some kind of foam cushion to put between my molars,

> like those foamy floating keychains -- you know what I mean? But I

> don't know where to get those. Does anyone have any ideas?

>

> My whole jaw aches and I am starting to worry about how much

ibuprofen

> and aleve I'm taking. I got some ativan but can only take that at

> night. I am really busy with school and work and feel like I'm just

> about to lose it.

>

> Any advice would be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

I remember when I had my braces put on, lots if IBP and wax, lots of

wax. I also had tyenol 2/codeine for the night for a few days. Get

a water pic type system, that helps massage the gums. Drink cold

liquids they help more than hot and I hope you can relax.

Hang in there...Carole Anne

> >

> > I'm on Day 7 of braces and I'm feeling overwhelmed by pain and

> > discomfort. I'm clenching a lot -- I've always been prone to

> clenching

> > but it seems a million times worse now. My back teeth no longer

> touch

> > and I have " bumpers " on my molars to keep me from biting my

> brackets

> > off in the front. Anyway, now I'm clenching all day long and

> > especially when I sleep. I called my ortho today and asked if

there

> > was anything I could wear that would ease the clenching, and

they

> said

> > no, that I should just try to relax. Well, I have been trying

to,

> but

> > I have a hard enough time relaxing when I'm awake let alone when

> I'm

> > asleep.

> >

> > I keep imagining some kind of foam cushion to put between my

> molars,

> > like those foamy floating keychains -- you know what I mean? But

I

> > don't know where to get those. Does anyone have any ideas?

> >

> > My whole jaw aches and I am starting to worry about how much

> ibuprofen

> > and aleve I'm taking. I got some ativan but can only take that at

> > night. I am really busy with school and work and feel like I'm

> just

> > about to lose it.

> >

> > Any advice would be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

I remember when I had my braces put on, lots if IBP and wax, lots of

wax. I also had tyenol 2/codeine for the night for a few days. Get

a water pic type system, that helps massage the gums. Drink cold

liquids they help more than hot and I hope you can relax.

Hang in there...Carole Anne

> >

> > I'm on Day 7 of braces and I'm feeling overwhelmed by pain and

> > discomfort. I'm clenching a lot -- I've always been prone to

> clenching

> > but it seems a million times worse now. My back teeth no longer

> touch

> > and I have " bumpers " on my molars to keep me from biting my

> brackets

> > off in the front. Anyway, now I'm clenching all day long and

> > especially when I sleep. I called my ortho today and asked if

there

> > was anything I could wear that would ease the clenching, and

they

> said

> > no, that I should just try to relax. Well, I have been trying

to,

> but

> > I have a hard enough time relaxing when I'm awake let alone when

> I'm

> > asleep.

> >

> > I keep imagining some kind of foam cushion to put between my

> molars,

> > like those foamy floating keychains -- you know what I mean? But

I

> > don't know where to get those. Does anyone have any ideas?

> >

> > My whole jaw aches and I am starting to worry about how much

> ibuprofen

> > and aleve I'm taking. I got some ativan but can only take that at

> > night. I am really busy with school and work and feel like I'm

> just

> > about to lose it.

> >

> > Any advice would be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

Thanks, . I think you're right about the opening and closing. I

ended up doing a search yesterday and came across a device called a

" bite wafer. " Rather than order one and wait a week, I went home and

cut my own out of a plastic lid. It gave me something to chew on with

a little padding. It really helped.

I also learned that braces tend to be more painful for adults because

they're not still growing like teenagers. That made me feel like a

little less of a crybaby whiner! :-#

Luna

> >

> > I'm on Day 7 of braces and I'm feeling overwhelmed by pain and

> > discomfort. I'm clenching a lot -- I've always been prone to

> clenching

> > but it seems a million times worse now. My back teeth no longer

> touch

> > and I have " bumpers " on my molars to keep me from biting my

> brackets

> > off in the front. Anyway, now I'm clenching all day long and

> > especially when I sleep. I called my ortho today and asked if there

> > was anything I could wear that would ease the clenching, and they

> said

> > no, that I should just try to relax. Well, I have been trying to,

> but

> > I have a hard enough time relaxing when I'm awake let alone when

> I'm

> > asleep.

> >

> > I keep imagining some kind of foam cushion to put between my

> molars,

> > like those foamy floating keychains -- you know what I mean? But I

> > don't know where to get those. Does anyone have any ideas?

> >

> > My whole jaw aches and I am starting to worry about how much

> ibuprofen

> > and aleve I'm taking. I got some ativan but can only take that at

> > night. I am really busy with school and work and feel like I'm

> just

> > about to lose it.

> >

> > Any advice would be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

Thanks, . I think you're right about the opening and closing. I

ended up doing a search yesterday and came across a device called a

" bite wafer. " Rather than order one and wait a week, I went home and

cut my own out of a plastic lid. It gave me something to chew on with

a little padding. It really helped.

I also learned that braces tend to be more painful for adults because

they're not still growing like teenagers. That made me feel like a

little less of a crybaby whiner! :-#

Luna

> >

> > I'm on Day 7 of braces and I'm feeling overwhelmed by pain and

> > discomfort. I'm clenching a lot -- I've always been prone to

> clenching

> > but it seems a million times worse now. My back teeth no longer

> touch

> > and I have " bumpers " on my molars to keep me from biting my

> brackets

> > off in the front. Anyway, now I'm clenching all day long and

> > especially when I sleep. I called my ortho today and asked if there

> > was anything I could wear that would ease the clenching, and they

> said

> > no, that I should just try to relax. Well, I have been trying to,

> but

> > I have a hard enough time relaxing when I'm awake let alone when

> I'm

> > asleep.

> >

> > I keep imagining some kind of foam cushion to put between my

> molars,

> > like those foamy floating keychains -- you know what I mean? But I

> > don't know where to get those. Does anyone have any ideas?

> >

> > My whole jaw aches and I am starting to worry about how much

> ibuprofen

> > and aleve I'm taking. I got some ativan but can only take that at

> > night. I am really busy with school and work and feel like I'm

> just

> > about to lose it.

> >

> > Any advice would be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

Carole Anne,

Thanks! What's IBP? Oh -- ibuprofen?

I called my doc today and asked for pain meds but they wouldn't give

me any. (Note that I have never asked for pain meds from them before.)

Said I shouldn't be in pain any more and should call my ortho. Wah.

Luna

> > >

> > > I'm on Day 7 of braces and I'm feeling overwhelmed by pain and

> > > discomfort. I'm clenching a lot -- I've always been prone to

> > clenching

> > > but it seems a million times worse now. My back teeth no longer

> > touch

> > > and I have " bumpers " on my molars to keep me from biting my

> > brackets

> > > off in the front. Anyway, now I'm clenching all day long and

> > > especially when I sleep. I called my ortho today and asked if

> there

> > > was anything I could wear that would ease the clenching, and

> they

> > said

> > > no, that I should just try to relax. Well, I have been trying

> to,

> > but

> > > I have a hard enough time relaxing when I'm awake let alone when

> > I'm

> > > asleep.

> > >

> > > I keep imagining some kind of foam cushion to put between my

> > molars,

> > > like those foamy floating keychains -- you know what I mean? But

> I

> > > don't know where to get those. Does anyone have any ideas?

> > >

> > > My whole jaw aches and I am starting to worry about how much

> > ibuprofen

> > > and aleve I'm taking. I got some ativan but can only take that at

> > > night. I am really busy with school and work and feel like I'm

> > just

> > > about to lose it.

> > >

> > > Any advice would be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

Carole Anne,

Thanks! What's IBP? Oh -- ibuprofen?

I called my doc today and asked for pain meds but they wouldn't give

me any. (Note that I have never asked for pain meds from them before.)

Said I shouldn't be in pain any more and should call my ortho. Wah.

Luna

> > >

> > > I'm on Day 7 of braces and I'm feeling overwhelmed by pain and

> > > discomfort. I'm clenching a lot -- I've always been prone to

> > clenching

> > > but it seems a million times worse now. My back teeth no longer

> > touch

> > > and I have " bumpers " on my molars to keep me from biting my

> > brackets

> > > off in the front. Anyway, now I'm clenching all day long and

> > > especially when I sleep. I called my ortho today and asked if

> there

> > > was anything I could wear that would ease the clenching, and

> they

> > said

> > > no, that I should just try to relax. Well, I have been trying

> to,

> > but

> > > I have a hard enough time relaxing when I'm awake let alone when

> > I'm

> > > asleep.

> > >

> > > I keep imagining some kind of foam cushion to put between my

> > molars,

> > > like those foamy floating keychains -- you know what I mean? But

> I

> > > don't know where to get those. Does anyone have any ideas?

> > >

> > > My whole jaw aches and I am starting to worry about how much

> > ibuprofen

> > > and aleve I'm taking. I got some ativan but can only take that at

> > > night. I am really busy with school and work and feel like I'm

> > just

> > > about to lose it.

> > >

> > > Any advice would be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

Jen,

Thanks for the ideas. You made me think of chai tea and I'm going to

go get some tonight. I'll bet the heat and clove might feel good.

I will do some research into herbal muscle relaxers. I am actually

clenching less today, thank goodness. Still achy, though.

Luna

> >

> > I'm on Day 7 of braces and I'm feeling overwhelmed by pain and

> > discomfort. I'm clenching a lot -- I've always been prone to clenching

> > but it seems a million times worse now. My back teeth no longer touch

> > and I have " bumpers " on my molars to keep me from biting my brackets

> > off in the front. Anyway, now I'm clenching all day long and

> > especially when I sleep. I called my ortho today and asked if there

> > was anything I could wear that would ease the clenching, and they said

> > no, that I should just try to relax. Well, I have been trying to, but

> > I have a hard enough time relaxing when I'm awake let alone when I'm

> > asleep.

> >

> > I keep imagining some kind of foam cushion to put between my molars,

> > like those foamy floating keychains -- you know what I mean? But I

> > don't know where to get those. Does anyone have any ideas?

> >

> > My whole jaw aches and I am starting to worry about how much ibuprofen

> > and aleve I'm taking. I got some ativan but can only take that at

> > night. I am really busy with school and work and feel like I'm just

> > about to lose it.

> >

> > Any advice would be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

Jen,

Thanks for the ideas. You made me think of chai tea and I'm going to

go get some tonight. I'll bet the heat and clove might feel good.

I will do some research into herbal muscle relaxers. I am actually

clenching less today, thank goodness. Still achy, though.

Luna

> >

> > I'm on Day 7 of braces and I'm feeling overwhelmed by pain and

> > discomfort. I'm clenching a lot -- I've always been prone to clenching

> > but it seems a million times worse now. My back teeth no longer touch

> > and I have " bumpers " on my molars to keep me from biting my brackets

> > off in the front. Anyway, now I'm clenching all day long and

> > especially when I sleep. I called my ortho today and asked if there

> > was anything I could wear that would ease the clenching, and they said

> > no, that I should just try to relax. Well, I have been trying to, but

> > I have a hard enough time relaxing when I'm awake let alone when I'm

> > asleep.

> >

> > I keep imagining some kind of foam cushion to put between my molars,

> > like those foamy floating keychains -- you know what I mean? But I

> > don't know where to get those. Does anyone have any ideas?

> >

> > My whole jaw aches and I am starting to worry about how much ibuprofen

> > and aleve I'm taking. I got some ativan but can only take that at

> > night. I am really busy with school and work and feel like I'm just

> > about to lose it.

> >

> > Any advice would be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Cammie. I am feeling rather abandoned by both my doc and my

ortho right now. I think I am going to have to be more assertive tomorrow.

I saw those mouthguards at the store but I'm nervous about spending

that much on something that might not fit or work.

Also I am spending $1.50 a day just on wax -- geez, this could add up!

Luna

> >

> > I'm on Day 7 of braces and I'm feeling overwhelmed by pain and

> > discomfort. I'm clenching a lot -- I've always been prone to

> clenching

> > but it seems a million times worse now. My back teeth no longer

> touch

> > and I have " bumpers " on my molars to keep me from biting my brackets

> > off in the front. Anyway, now I'm clenching all day long and

> > especially when I sleep. I called my ortho today and asked if there

> > was anything I could wear that would ease the clenching, and they

> said

> > no, that I should just try to relax. Well, I have been trying to,

> but

> > I have a hard enough time relaxing when I'm awake let alone when I'm

> > asleep.

> >

> > I keep imagining some kind of foam cushion to put between my molars,

> > like those foamy floating keychains -- you know what I mean? But I

> > don't know where to get those. Does anyone have any ideas?

> >

> > My whole jaw aches and I am starting to worry about how much

> ibuprofen

> > and aleve I'm taking. I got some ativan but can only take that at

> > night. I am really busy with school and work and feel like I'm just

> > about to lose it.

> >

> > Any advice would be appreciated.

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Cammie. I am feeling rather abandoned by both my doc and my

ortho right now. I think I am going to have to be more assertive tomorrow.

I saw those mouthguards at the store but I'm nervous about spending

that much on something that might not fit or work.

Also I am spending $1.50 a day just on wax -- geez, this could add up!

Luna

> >

> > I'm on Day 7 of braces and I'm feeling overwhelmed by pain and

> > discomfort. I'm clenching a lot -- I've always been prone to

> clenching

> > but it seems a million times worse now. My back teeth no longer

> touch

> > and I have " bumpers " on my molars to keep me from biting my brackets

> > off in the front. Anyway, now I'm clenching all day long and

> > especially when I sleep. I called my ortho today and asked if there

> > was anything I could wear that would ease the clenching, and they

> said

> > no, that I should just try to relax. Well, I have been trying to,

> but

> > I have a hard enough time relaxing when I'm awake let alone when I'm

> > asleep.

> >

> > I keep imagining some kind of foam cushion to put between my molars,

> > like those foamy floating keychains -- you know what I mean? But I

> > don't know where to get those. Does anyone have any ideas?

> >

> > My whole jaw aches and I am starting to worry about how much

> ibuprofen

> > and aleve I'm taking. I got some ativan but can only take that at

> > night. I am really busy with school and work and feel like I'm just

> > about to lose it.

> >

> > Any advice would be appreciated.