Listen to Your Dentist When They Recommend Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Most people experience mild pain or discomfort at the beginning of their orthodontic treatment. However, this doesn't mean that you have to resign yourself to pain and expect it to dissipate on its own.  You can take over-the-counter pain medication, or you can try pain relief methods that don't involve the use of conventional drugs. Here are three methods that belong to the latter category:

Use Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy is the use of cold to alleviate pain; it works best on pain induced by inflammation. Inflamed body tissues generate pain by pressing on other tissues. Applying cold to the affected tissues reduces inflammation and the pain associated with it; it also numbs the tissues and reduces fluid buildup within the tissues.

Pain therapy for orthodontic pain can take several forms. For example, you can place an ice pack on the outside cheek of the affected gums or teeth. Eating cold treats, such as ice-cream, drinking cold water or sucking on ice cubes (don't chew on them as that may damage your braces) can also have the same effect.

Modify Your Eating Habits

The food you eat may also have a bearing on your orthodontic pain. Here are some of the diet modifications that may ease your discomfort.

• Avoid hard foods. The strain of eating such meals may shift your braces and increase your discomfort when the braces bruise your gums. Soft foods, such as pudding, are best since they are gentle on the gums.
• Avoid acidic foods since they may irritate any mouth sores you may have.
• Avoid sticky foods; they may not be hard, but they may also interfere with the fit of your braces by sticking on them.

Massage the Affected Area

Massaging the affected check may also alleviate the pain. No, you don't have to schedule a session with a professional masseuse to enjoy the benefits. Just use your fingers to rub (gently) on the regions around your gums. The massage therapy works by different means, such as:

• Relaxing your muscle to reduce painful spasms and contractions.
• Improving blood and lymph circulation thereby delivering oxygen and nutrients to the affected tissues while carting away the wastes.

If at-home treatments fail to work, then your orthodontic discomfort may have a deep problem that needs to be addressed. Therefore, consult your dentist to diagnose the issue and have it fix. For example, it may be that your braces don't fit properly and need to be adjusted.