Ds is going in for braces today. I've never had them so what should I expect for pain management? Tia

By My2girlygirls on Friday, January 5, 2007 - 06:36 am:

Tylenol or Motrin should do fine. My DD had braces and she wasn't really that uncomfortable. But you may head off any pain by giving some meds before you go for the appt.

By Karen~admin on Friday, January 5, 2007 - 07:40 am:

Ditto that. And possibly plan on letting him have soft foods for a day or two after each adjustment. Is he getting the actual wires, etc. today? 3 of my 4 kids had braces, and they did have some pain on the day of, and for a day or so after each adjustment, so they ate soup, pudding, mashed potatoes, etc. Anything soft, that they didn't have to chew. Good luck!

By Kaye on Friday, January 5, 2007 - 08:32 am:

Give advil before the appointment.

Soft foods, my dd's only hurt for the day (she is a ramen noodle lover), so it wasn't too bad. She does have several days they hurt her randomly. We just gave her a small bottle of advil and told her she could have one whenever she needed it, but then she needed to tell me that she took one. That seems to do it for her.

By Pamt on Friday, January 5, 2007 - 08:33 am:

Add pasta to the soft foods list. And make sure you ask for wax (to cover the ends of wires that might be sticking out---ouch!) before you leave the office.

By Mommyof5 on Friday, January 5, 2007 - 11:41 am:

With my dd she had a lot of cheek irritation from where the brackets would rub her cheeks. She had to use the wax a lot at first but really hasn't used it much at all past the first week. Those first 3 - 4 days were BAD she begged us to take her back and have them removed. Once we got past the getting used to them phase she hasn't had much pain or problems at all. As the other suggested Tylenol before the appointments is a good idea. My dd gets hers off on January 15th and gets to have a break for a year or two before we do round two on both the top and bottom.

By Colette on Friday, January 5, 2007 - 05:30 pm:

is it better to have warm or cool foods? He is in agony!

By Kaye on Friday, January 5, 2007 - 05:55 pm:

Anything he doesn't have to bite. Really my daughter lived on ramen noodles for about 2 days. Also give pain meds liberally and often! Don't wait till he is in pain, just give them on schedule for a couple of days!

By Amyl on Friday, January 5, 2007 - 06:37 pm:

one thing that my DD had to have at first, I think just until she got used to the braces was having a straw to drink from. So I just bought a bunch of them, they really made it easier on her. hope this helps, I also did the tylenol thing right before they put them on.

By Imamommyx4 on Friday, January 5, 2007 - 10:00 pm:

Tylenol or Motrin before every adjustment, too.

By Reds9298 on Friday, January 5, 2007 - 10:11 pm:

Ditto the meds before adjustments. Mine hurt SOOOOOO bad when they were tightened. I remembering crying the night of adjustments it was so bad. I used the wax that Pam suggested also and it really helped with mouth irritation. Good luck!!