General Soreness After Braces or Adjustment

Soreness and tenderness when biting is a completely normal side effect in the first 3–5 days after getting braces or following an adjustment appointment. Your teeth are responding to new pressure — this is expected and temporary.

What to do:

• Stick to a soft food diet (soup, yogurt, pasta, mashed potatoes) until chewing feels comfortable again
• For pain relief, take Acetaminophen (Tylenol) as directed on the packaging
• Avoid Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Advil), and Naproxen Sodium — these can slow tooth movement and interfere with treatment
• For lip, cheek, or tongue irritation from new brackets, place orthodontic wax directly over the irritating bracket or wire
• Rinse with a warm salt-water solution to reduce inflammation and soothe soft tissue irritation

Cheek and tongue irritation from braces typically resolves within 1–2 weeks as your mouth adjusts. If soreness is severe or does not improve, contact our office.

Headgear Discomfort

Headgear is rarely prescribed in modern orthodontics, but if it is part of your treatment, some initial discomfort is normal. Discomfort most often occurs when the appliance is not being worn correctly or consistently.

What to do:

• Ensure the headgear is fitted and positioned correctly according to Dr. Hessamfar’s instructions
• General discomfort typically decreases as wear time increases and your mouth adjusts
• If the facebow (metal bar) is bent or damaged, do not attempt to bend it back yourself — contact our office immediately for a replacement or adjustment

A damaged facebow must be professionally repaired before use — wearing bent headgear can cause injury.

Loose or Broken Appliance

If a fixed orthodontic appliance (such as an expander, retainer, or bonded wire) feels loose, is moving, or has partially detached, it needs prompt attention to prevent further damage and avoid treatment delays.

What to do:

• Place orthodontic wax over any sharp or poking parts of the loose appliance to protect your cheeks and tongue
• Do not try to force the appliance back into place yourself
• Contact our office as soon as possible — a loose appliance cannot do its job and may actively interfere with your treatment if left unaddressed

Loose or Broken Bracket

Brackets can come loose after contact with hard, sticky, or crunchy foods, or after a knock to the mouth. A loose bracket does not always cause pain, but it does need to be repaired — a bracket that is no longer bonded to the tooth cannot move it effectively.

What to do:

• If the bracket or band can be removed easily, place it in a small zip-lock bag or envelope and bring it to your next appointment
• If the bracket or band is still attached to the wire, leave it in place — do not pull it off
• Apply orthodontic wax over the loose bracket to prevent it from irritating your cheek or gum
• Call our office to schedule a repair appointment as soon as possible

Loose or Poking Wire

A wire that has slipped out of position or is poking the back of your cheek is one of the most common orthodontic issues — and it is one that is often manageable at home until you can come in.

What to do:

• Using clean tweezers or long-nosed pliers, gently try to slide the wire back into the tube on the back bracket
• If your colored tie (o-ring) is missing from a bracket, tie a small piece of floss around the bracket in its place to hold the wire
• If the wire cannot be repositioned and is causing pain, use a clean nail clipper or small wire cutter to carefully clip the wire behind the last tooth — this is a last resort
• Place orthodontic wax over the end of any wire that is still poking
• Call our office to have the wire properly repositioned or replaced at your earliest convenience

Never leave a poking wire untreated overnight — wax is a reliable temporary fix until your appointment.