DD's in agony at night with braces - any advice please?

[releasethehounds]

DD1 (12) had her braces fitted (top and bottom plus an elastic band each side) last Saturday and I expected some pain/discomfort. Although the pain is quite bad during the day, it seems to become unbearable at night and DD and I have been awake most of the last 2 nights because she has found it so bad. Obviously I'm giving her Calpol and Nurofen and bonjela but I don't think there's anything else I can do. It's really upsetting to see her in such pain and I would like to be able to reassure her that it will only be this bad for a very short time, but to be honest, I don't really know.

Has anyone experienced this with their DCs? If so, I'd be grateful for any tips you can give me and also any indication of when the pain will start to ease up. Thankfully she hasn't had any problems yet with mouth ulcers, but the pain seems to be from the braces themselves and particularly the 2 elastic bands.

Thanks in advance from a desperate mum!

Thanks Maryz - how creative you are, getting your DCs to take tablets like that. DD1 might think she's too old for gummy bears, but she's going to try it anyway!

poor DDs. I had braces a few years ago as an adult and found them absolutely agonising for several days after each tightening. Did get better further along in the treatment (i think the biggest movements happen earlier in the treatment.) Braces off now, finally, and am very happy with my straight teeth! Hope your DDs make it through.

I had them as a child and it did really hurt after they were tightened - it's the only pain I've had that I can really distinctly remember. But I am now grateful that it was done as my teeth were nearly horizontal beforehand, despite begging my mum to get rid of them every time! Keep her topped up with painkillers by the clock, they're more effective that way. It is worth it but it is very hard to see them in pain!

How's she doing?

Hi again everyone. DD seemed a little better after school today and I managed to get hold of some iglu for her to use. The only problem is convincing her to swallow the tablets (paracetamol and iboprufen) that I also bought her today. After discussion with the chemist, it was decided that, with the age and size she is, Calpol etc just isn't strong enough for her anymore. The chemist didn't have any soluble painkillers.

She's sitting looking at them atm saying she doesn't want to take them, but I certainly don't want another night like the previous two!

Thanks for asking after her.

Oh they do really, really hurt at first :( Mine gave me black eyes. The ones that stretch the jaws are most painful which is what it sounds like she's got and what I had. Just to warn you that every time they get tightened it hurts again although you do get used to it. Horrible things but my jaws are the same size now thankfully :o

Try Maryz gummi bear trick maybe?

I feel for you, and her, it's not pleasant

Yes I shall convince DD to have a go at swallowing some raisins (at least we have those in).

Anyway, the good news is DD slept right through last night and seems a little brighter this morning, so hopefully she's over the worst. I'll keep you all posted.

Thanks again everyone.

Releasethehounds - result!

(until the next appointment grrr)

if she suffers badly after every treatment they can tighten them at a smaller rate, which will slow treatment down but not be as painful, my nephew said the first 6 months of tightenings were the worst as thats when his teeth moved the most but after that was bearable, but he has just had them removed and he now has the most beautiful smile, even as a 15 yo he sees the dramatic difference and says its worth it!! I hope it gets easier for your dd

Release, one more golden tip. I had a brace as an adult and got horrible ulcers that I struggled with for ages.
I then got dental wax and it changed that aspect of the pain. As said before you will go through the pain all over again everytime they are tightened but it should only last a day. I don't think I ate a slice of pizza or crusty bread in less than 20 mins for about two years!!

I wonder if it is more painful than normal as your dd has both a new brace and elastic bands. My ds had a brace last year and the pain was quite bad for several days and he really struggled to eat anything. It eased off and the pain when he periodically went to have them tightened wasn't as bad. But he had to have the elastic bands towards the end of his treatment and they were quite painful initially so it sounds like your dd might have a double whammy.

Several bits of his brace also pinged off - mostly in the first few weeks of the treatment. We were at the dentist's a lot !

I have to say though, horrible as it is to see your child in pain, it was all worth it and he is delighted with the results. He smiles so much more and his teeth look amazing. It is a lifetime investment really.

I have no advice with the braces, but ibuprofen (and calpol, fwiw) do melting tablets that melt in the mouth, which DD1 has as she can't swallow tablets either :)
nurofen meltlets I think they're called

DD is still ok and has just gone to bed - hasn't even asked for painkillers! I know she's struggling to eat her lunch in the given time at school so has asked me to pack her a small lunch for now (unheard of - DD has an amazing appetite). Re: painkillers - I think the melting tablets are only upto age 12, but I could be wrong. DD is 12 and very tall for her age, so that's why I've been trying adult tablets for her. I spoke to her tonight about trying to swallow raisins with water to practise for taking tablets and she's "thinking about it" What's there to think about?

Anyway, so far so good - fingers crossed for the rest of this week.

Interestingly, on a positive note, I really think her classmates at school have helped her this week. She was dreading going to school in case she had any unwanted comments but all she had was compliments on how the braces really suit her. Many mentioned that they too would soon be having braces, so she doesn't feel like the only one in her year. It's lifted her a bit as she did feel very self-conscious.

Hi just thought id let you knowNeurofen melts are for adults - i take them as im not very good at swallowing tablets here www.boots.com/en/Nurofen-Meltlets-Lemon-12-Tablets_2187/?CAWELAID=334479009&cm_mmc=Shopping%20Engines--Google%20Base----_-Nurofen%20Meltlets%20Lemon%20%2012%20Tablets
I also find that paracetemol tablets can be crushed and mixed into a soft drink - usually a think one like milkshake or smoothie or even flavoured milk. Ibrupofen do crush but not as well and taste pretty bad but not awful.

With fixed (train track) braces, they are not so much "tightened", the wire is changed to apply different forces to the teeth. It starts with narrow round wires and changes to big fat rectangular ones. There is a general progression and no real "in betweeners" so (although I'm only a general dentist) no real way to slow things down. The wire is either changed or not IYSWIM.

Glad it's all settling though.

Hi again, thanks for the new messages. DD seems fine with her braces now and is taking it all in her stride, though I appreciate it's going to be painful again after each visit.

Pixie -thanks for the advice re: tablets - I'll certainly look into that. Grumpy - from what you say, DD will be getting thicker wires as her treatment progresses. Not sure she'll be very happy with that as it may look like she has a lot more metal in her mouth. Regardless, she'll have to have it if that's what she needs.

For now I'm just happy she's ok.

I realise this is a zombie thread, but I just want to say my DS got braces 2 days ago and is in absolute agony. So sore he threw up his dinner, which he found difficult to eat.
But there is a lot of good advice on this thread, I'm going to try get iglu gel and strong neurofen.
OP, I'm assuming your dd has her braces out and looks stunning now!