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Port St Lucie

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Royal Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, West Boca Raton

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Margate, North Ft. Lauderdale, Downtown Ft Lauderdale, Plantation, Weston, Pembroke Pines

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Port St Lucie

Call / Text 772-272-1464
Call
Text

Royal Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, West Boca Raton

Call / Text 561-270-0209
Call
Text

Margate, North Ft. Lauderdale, Downtown Ft Lauderdale, Plantation, Weston, Pembroke Pines

Call / Text 954-358-4799
Call
Text

How Can I Make Wearing Braces More Comfortable?

Find Confidence in Your Smile

How-Can-I-Make-Wearing-Braces-More-Comfortable
  • Cooper Orthodontics
  • | February 17, 2021

Nowadays, braces are more comfortable than ever before! High-quality materials and advanced technologies have helped to make the treatment experience more effective, more efficient, and far more comfortable than ever before.

Braces are not painful, but they can cause some minor soreness sometimes. There are a number of precautions you can take to minimize this soreness, along with modern appliances that serve as mouth protectants (such as OrthoDots® clear and lip bumpers) that help to improve the treatment experience.

We’re here to help you make the most out of your treatment experience with 5 tips to make brace more comfortable:

1. Commit to Your Oral Hygiene

Practicing good oral hygiene is the first step to ensuring a smooth orthodontic treatment. Keeping your braces clean is crucial, because there are tons of space in your brackets and wires for food to become lodged. Food buildup leads to bacteria buildup, which can cause cavities or tooth decay—and these conditions definitely don’t feel good. They can certainly make braces less comfortable.

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing your teeth at least twice a day for 2 minutes each time. (To achieve better results, try using a fluoride toothpaste!)

Take your time while you’re brushing, and be sure to clean the front surfaces of your teeth, the back surfaces, and the chewing surfaces. Try to spend 10 seconds brushing each tooth.

Flossing is another essential component of your oral care. Use an interdental brush, Waterpik, or floss threader to finish off your oral hygiene routine. Healthy, clean teeth are happy teeth!

2. Use Orthodontic Wax for Braces

Orthodontic wax that can be placed over a bracket or stuck to the end of an archwire to protect your cheeks and tongue. Ortho wax is made of a soft material (paraffin, beeswax, or carnauba wax) that can be molded easily over brackets, wires, and on certain appliances.

OrthoDots® are similar to orthodontic wax—except they’re in ‘dot’ form. OrthoDots CLEAR are individual silicone dots, made of a non-toxic material. These dots can be used with any appliance and can be worn while you eat and drink.

3. Or, Try a Lip Protectant for Braces

The lip protector is another efficient way to protect your gums and cheeks. A lip protector is essentially a clear tube that shields your brackets and wires. It appears like one long ortho dot, spanning across all brackets and wires. A lip protector can be snapped securely into place, over your brackets, for a comfortable fit.

4. Gargle a Salt Water Rinse

Salt water is an excellent, natural treatment method that can alleviate soreness. If your mouth is sore, try out the following steps for relief.

  1. Mix 1 teaspoon of salt with a ½ cup of lukewarm water.
  2. Gargle this mix by swishing it around either side of your cheeks for about 30 seconds.
  3. Spit out the solution.
  4. Repeat this treatment as often as you need!

5. Eat a Braces-Friendly Diet

Following a braces-friendly diet can help to minimize discomfort and prevent damage to your brackets and wires.
It’s best to avoid foods that are especially sticky or chewy, because they can pull a bracket off or dislodge a wire. For foods that require you to bite into them, like apples or corn on the cob, try cutting them into smaller pieces.

Biting into hard, sticky or chewy foods can not only damage your braces, but cause tooth pain too. (And tooth pain is the last thing you want when you’re trying to make your braces more comfortable.)

(If you’d prefer an alternative to braces, we offer Invisalign® clear aligners too!) Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions, whether they’re about braces, Invisalign, or any other treatment! We’re here to help you make the best decisions for your smile.

If you haven’t begun your process yet and you’re ready to take the first step, we encourage you to request your complimentary consultation with us at any of our 8 locations!

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PATIENT REVIEWS

Our 5-Star Experience

Check out what our patients are saying about their 5-star experience with our amazing doctors and team!

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Zoe K.
I gave 5 stars because the experience was amazing! I got braces and the lady was gentle. She also did a good job on them.
Zoe K.
I gave 5 stars because the experience was amazing! I got braces and the lady was gentle. She also did a good job on them.
Niria P.
My husbad and I had a great experience in this office. Very friendly staff and knowledgeable doctors. Highly recommend.
Niria P.
My husbad and I had a great experience in this office. Very friendly staff and knowledgeable doctors. Highly recommend.
Black P.
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT MY SON IS IMPROVING AND LOVING HIS BRACES VERY CLEAN AND NICE STAFF
Black P.
ENJOY EVERY MOMENT MY SON IS IMPROVING AND LOVING HIS BRACES VERY CLEAN AND NICE STAFF
Tenaezha B.
The service my daughter received at each visit has nothing been less than phenomenal!! I highly recommend this location to any parent looking for orthodontic services.
Tenaezha B.
The service my daughter received at each visit has nothing been less than phenomenal!! I highly recommend this location to any parent looking for orthodontic services.
Yogesh R.
The whole experience was fantastic and you can clearly see the difference in my sons teeth.In the beginning it may hurt but it all paid off in the end.
Rachel’s W.
Yasmin was awesome today. She was very informative and made the process of reapplying my wires very comfortable
Dannia Q.
I had a great experience, I came here from a different orthodontics office and nothing compares with this staff and their work. Amazing people working here and explains the whole process. Definitely recommend.
Dannia Q.
I had a great experience, I came here from a different orthodontics office and nothing compares with this staff and their work. Amazing people working here and explains the whole process. Definitely recommend.
YVNGCHIEFA
Great staff in the office very professional they got my brother provided with braces and he is very happy with his service and with his new experience.
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We provide high-quality orthodontic care in 12 convenient locations. Our experienced family orthodontists create individualized treatment plans with Invisalign®, different types of braces and more for children, teens, and adults looking to achieve a beautiful, healthy smile. We can’t wait to meet you soon!

Locations
  • Port St. Lucie, FL
  • Royal Palm Beach, FL
  • Lake Worth, FL
  • Boynton Beach, FL
  • Delray Beach, FL
  • West Boca Raton, FL
  • Margate, FL
  • North Ft. Lauderdale, FL
  • Downtown Ft. Lauderdale, FL
  • Plantation, FL
  • Weston, FL
  • Pembroke Pines, FL
Call / Text

Port St Lucie

Call / Text 772-272-1464
Call
Text

Royal Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, West Boca Raton

Call / Text 561-270-0209
Call
Text

Margate, North Ft. Lauderdale, Downtown Ft Lauderdale, Plantation, Weston, Pembroke Pines

Call / Text 954-358-4799
Call
Text
  • Call Us
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