It is normal to get cuts from braces, although, hopefully, most patients will avoid the occurrence during their treatment. Many people complete their treatment without getting cuts in the mouth from braces. Sometimes, the tongue might feel sore or receive minor scratches by the wire (especially with lingual braces.

Despite this, the brackets can still rasp against the inside of your lips and cheeks and leave sores on these soft tissues. Not only does this irritation cause discomfort, but these open cuts can potentially become infected and cause serious problems if left untreated.

Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice. Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum. Hard foods — nuts, hard candies. Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots.

• Use Orthodontic Wax on Your Braces Wire
• Rinse with a Salt Water Mixture
• Drink Cold Water & Apply Oral Anesthetic Gel
• Avoid Irritating Foods & Drinks

Your new braces may rub on the soft tissue inside your mouth during this period. This friction can cause minor areas of irritation to appear. To ease the discomfort, apply dental wax to the bracket or brackets causing the irritation.

Most patients experience some discomfort the first 4 days to a week after their braces, expanders, and/or wires are placed and after a wire adjustment and/or an activation appointment. Your lips and cheeks may need one to two weeks to get used to the braces on your teeth.

Certain foods can damage braces components like the rubber bands, wires, or even the bracket itself. Generally, avoid all foods that are sticky, hard, or chewy. Soft foods are most recommended for those who wear braces because they are gentler on braces hardware.

Should you remove braces yourself? Braces should only be removed by a qualified orthodontist. They have the proper tools to safely remove the brackets and wires from your teeth. You may injure yourself if you try to remove your braces at home, as many of the pieces are quite sharp.

• Collect your materials: You will need a pair of small pliers, which you should sterilize in boiling water
• Use the pliers: Use the pliers to grab on the bracket, then gently twist it to pop them off
• Brush your teeth: Next, you should gently brush your teeth

Braces can be removed early if a patient absolutely insists, but there are many downsides to this decision. For starters, incomplete treatment may leave your overall dental health and tooth alignment worse than it was before you started.

In most cases, the removal process takes around an hour. You may feel some pressure on your teeth as your orthodontist is working, but you should not expect to experience any pain or extreme discomfort.

Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice. Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum. Hard foods — nuts, hard candies. Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots.