Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Children's health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

DD just had fixed brace fitted yesterday and is in agony

51 replies

hanette · 01/12/2013 16:26

Have given her paracetamol and ibuprofen but she's still in a lot of pain. Any advice? She's in tears. She's 12 next month. Thanks in advance

OP posts:
TwoThreeFourSix · 01/12/2013 16:29

No advice but I remember the pain from (counts fingers) 19 years ago!

It does get better honestly but hurts every time they get tightened. I used to cry every evening afterwards (i was stubborn and tried to clean my teeth!)

If its still hurt tomorrow, maybe ring the orthodotist?

smorticus · 01/12/2013 16:30

This probably won't help much but the first few days are always the worse. I can remember from years ago. Just keep her dosed up with painkillers and if you have a heat pad holding that over her jaw might help (always did for me) Thanks

Eastwickwitch · 01/12/2013 16:31

DS was exactly the same. It lasted 48 hours. Painkillers and very soft food. Please reassure her that it will soon feel much better. Poor girl.

Sparklingbrook · 01/12/2013 16:32

Hi hanette. DS1 has had a brace for 18 months now.

He was in tears when it was first fitted, he couldn't eat, or speak properly. He wanted me to take him back to the Orthodontist to have it removed. Sad

He took painkillers, and each day it got a little better day by day. I really felt for him-it was horrible.

Original poster
hanette · 01/12/2013 16:37

Thanks everyone for lovely words and kind advice. I will go and get a hot water bottle and she can use as a heat pad. Hopefully it should only be tomorrow before it eases off

I showed her the virtual flowers and she lived them!

OP posts:
Original poster
hanette · 01/12/2013 16:38

Ps sparkling that's exactly the same, she's begging me to take her back and taken off. I explained it would make the pain go away anyway and that it'll go in a day or two whether they were on or off....

OP posts:
KatyMac · 01/12/2013 16:38

My DD was the same - it does get better.....but she might not believe you

ThistledownAndCobweb · 01/12/2013 16:40

The first 48 hours was agonising for me, and then it was the same everytime the wire was changed

I found lots of warm drinks and a heat pad to press on my face helped.

Poor DD, tell her to think of the lovely straight teeth she'll have at the end

QueenElizabethTheZygon · 01/12/2013 16:41

It's normal and unfortunetly will persist throughout, especially when they are tightened too. I hated having braces.

EustaciaVye · 01/12/2013 16:41

I used to get mine tightened on a Saturday once a month. It used to hurt so much I couldn't eat Sunday lunch Sad but it was worth it and I am Sooooo glad I had braces now.

Original poster
hanette · 01/12/2013 16:43

Yeah at least it'll be worth it. Blimey ruined Sunday lunches each month for over a year poor you. I do remember mine hurting but think I've blanked it out

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 01/12/2013 16:45

It's so hard hanette. He sobbed when he found out he had to have braces, found the impressions being done really awful, then once the braces were on he was in tears again.

Since those initial few days he has been ok. He is very used to the 6 weekly tightening adjustment. We had a hiccup about a month ago when they introduced teeny rubber bands that hook on. He couldn't get the hang of it-tears again and demands for the braces off. Sad

But with 6 months to go you can see how lovely his teeth are going to be.

bishboschone · 01/12/2013 16:45

It does hurt :-(... I still remember it now 20 years later . The teeth are being moved in her head so it's going to. As said up thread it will bloody hurt the day after tightening . I'm not sure how my wimpy dd will cope I she needs one !

bishboschone · 01/12/2013 16:46

I have to say I'm nearly 40 and am still complemented on my teeth so it is worth it. I see so many adults my age with terrible teeth so I thank my mum for making me have it .. Also I guess it's 30 years ago not 20 !

Sparklingbrook · 01/12/2013 16:48

Do you have to wear a retainer bishbo? They have said DS1 will need to wear one every night for the rest of his life when the braces come off.

lljkk · 01/12/2013 16:48

Just hang in there, pain killers to the max.

yourcruisedirector · 01/12/2013 16:50

Poor thing. I had my first brace fitted in July (I'm nearly 30), and the first 12 hours was ok but the next couple of days were agony. It gradually eases and the weird sensation fades, you get neater at eating, and the bad pain is only really the first time. Each new adjustment/wire is uncomfortable but nothing like the first one.

Was she given wax? Make sure she uses it on any painful spots in her gums. I have had horrible ulcers and wounds and now have heavy scarring near my back teeth from the wire and hooks. And she has to be so dedicated with her cleaning regime. SIL has perfectly straight teeth but they're pitted and damaged because she didn't keep up with cleaning.

It really will be better in a couple of days - until then, soft food and painkillers Smile

Original poster
hanette · 01/12/2013 16:50

Your brave son sparkling! Rubber bands - I remember them! They kept flicking off all the time

I will show her some of these so she can see it'll be worth it in the long run

OP posts:
Original poster
hanette · 01/12/2013 16:52

Your cruise yep she has the wax - I think for now it is more the teeth moving but I will keep it by the bed tonight so it's handy

Did you find Bongela helped with the ulcers?

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 01/12/2013 16:53

They are everywhere hanette, in his bed, all over the bathroom, in the car. He can put them in without even thinking about it now. First day he was at the mirror for ages trying to master it.

Hello hanette's DD. Stick with it and you will have film star teeth. [tchsmile] x

Takingbackmonday · 01/12/2013 16:57

Poor DD, I had them 13 years ago and they hurt so badly.

Make sure she doesnt bite down on her own teeth or - shudder - a fork by mistake. Sheer agony.

It will all be worth it in the end when she has beautiful straight teeth for a perfect smile; just remind her of that in between doses of painkillers.

EustaciaVye · 01/12/2013 16:58

Nearly 2 years overall for me hanette Sad. 18mths fixed then 6 mths plate.

ThistledownAndCobweb · 01/12/2013 17:00

I found Corsdyl toothpaste and mouthwash the best thing for ulcers.

I have to wear a retainer but not every night. The orthodontist said every three to four nights was fine. I usually go for every other night so I don't get out if the habit.

bishboschone · 01/12/2013 17:02

I had a retainer for a year .. No I don't wear one now . I suspect my teeth have moved back a bit but they are still very straight .

EeyoreIsh · 01/12/2013 17:03

I'm 33 and got a fixed brace last summer. My teeth are now lovely and straight, it is worth it!

The first few days are awful, and it'll be the same after most tightenings I'm afraid.

As others have said, keep the painkillers topped up. I take mine an hour before the appointment and take them for the first few days. After a week she won't notice it.

She'll need to eat seriously soft food. Really soft! I had mine tightened on Friday and couldn't eat peas, lettuce, tomatoes etc without pain that evening. Mash and mince, cake, soup etc are all good.

I find that sensitive teeth make it worse. Invest in a soft toothbrush and some sensodyne toothpaste for the week of the appointments. Avoid food and drink that's too hot or cold.

It's so worth persevering with. I hope your dd feels less pain soon.

Swipe left for the next trending thread