OT: DD just had braces put on this morning and is in terrible pain

[Fantasmic23]

DD (11) just had braces put on this morning. The orthodontist sent us home with soft wax (which she has applied) and suggested Children's Tylenol (which she has taken twice - once this morning and again about a half hour ago).

As far as eating goes, she has had things today like yogurt, applesauce, soup and a milk shake.

She is in tears and even though it's been awhile (1983), I kind of remember the pain she is going through.

I've tried eveything I can think of to help her to relax and take her mind off the pain: A hot bath, a massage, reading a book, watching a favorite movie, etc. I've also reiterated to her what the orthodontist told me: She basically has a foreign object in her mouth and it's going to take a few days for her mouth to adjust.

Does anyone have any advice/suggestions? Things that worked for your kids to relieve the pain? Thanks so much.

 

[mommy2princesses0309]

orajel? popsicles or something cold to numb the pain? I don't remember what we did for dsd since it's been about 10 years since she got her braces but i'm so sorry your dd is in pain

 

[jaleaton]

As a word of advice, tell her to take Tylenol BEFORE any future orthodontist appointment. I remember the pain that would follow each and every single appointment, and pre-medicating did seem to help.

 

[lsusoftball37]

sorry to hear that. I wish i had a tip to help you. but my daughter didn't have any discomfort. her dentist use small braces.

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Try ibuprofin, it can be alternated with the tylenol. Make sure you give enough pain meds, try to base it on weight rather than age. Try this link for proper dosage http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T088900.asp#T088901

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Oh gosh. I remember that pain all too well. It's no joke. I think the absolute worst was this thing they called the "power chain" and it pulled my 4 gapped front teeth together overnight. Getting braces on hurt more than getting my tonsils out!

Alternate Advil/Motrin and Tylenol. I recall it being every 4 hours, but just don't give the same medicine back to back. Advil/Motrin lasts 8 hours, and Tylenol lasts 4-6, so she'll be covered by something at all times. One thing they told me with my c-sections is to stay on top of the pain because it's harder to get the same level of pain relief back once the pain has come back and the meds have worn off. It worked! So maybe if you can even give it 15+ mins earlier, do it.

Oh, and definitely give her some pain medication *before* her appointments.

I hope she feels better soon.

 

[Fantasmic23]

Thanks so much for all of the suggestions, everyone! I searched Google for "Relief with braces pain" and tons of videos from YouTube popped up. One video suggested Ambesol, Jr.

Ugh ... I can tell it's going to be a night of little sleep!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

DS12 just had his 2nd round of braces installed last month and he was in pain for well over a week. I gave him Motrin every 4-6 hours and we would try to time it so he would get a dose right before bedtime. I did end up giving him a dose once at 2:00 a.m. but mostly he was able to sleep through the night. He ate mostly yogurt, pudding and ice cream for a few days. He was able to eat a very soft grilled cheese sandwich by tearing off small pieces and smashing them against the roof of his mouth with his tongue. He said it still hurt to eat it but he was starving and needed solid food!

Popsicles and frozen fudge bars helped since they numb the pain a little (at least while you're eating them). The orthodontist's assistant said you can try using an ice pack on the cheeks if it's really hurting but we never got to that point. Be sure to use Chapstick or Blistex for dry or irritated lips.

It's so hard to see them in such pain, but time is really the only thing that will make it feel a lot better. My son was fine in about a week and a half. Now it's over a month later and he's not having any problems eating or complaining of any pain at all (expect when he took a football to the cheek last week!). Hope your DD feels better soon!

 

[shinysparklybubbles]

Poor girl, braces are awful. I hope she gets some relief soon.

 

[grandall]

I remember being in excrutiating pain eating a tuna fish sandwich on white bread, not toasted and no crust.

 

[SLK1]

Tylenol is NOT going to cut it. Try giving her Motrin - it's MUCH better for pain. And, someone said to take it before her appointments - that is so true and very helpful.

 

[stazmatic]

I just got mine off a few months ago. Had them as an adult for 8 months and it was the worst pain of my life. Nothing made it better. Sorry for her...

 

[I*heart*MickeyMouse]

Alternate Tylenol and Advil - every 3 hours give her a dose. My pedi recc's this when the kids have bad fevers. Also, ditto all pp's - give her a dose of the advil (not the tylenol, that doesn't cut it) before each Ortho appointment.

Braces are the worst... I had them for EIGHT years! But thankfully the first appointment is the worst and it's over for her!!

 

[*BTMRR*]

Oh, I am so sorry for your DD! I remember that excruciating pain so well. It's right up in your face so there is no way to ignore it, even for an instant! I had my braces at about her age and it was years before I felt like the results (which were great...my teeth really had been bad before braces) were worth all that pain.
I agree with everyone above--Motrin and Tylenol, alternating, around the clock if possible. And as the days go by reassure her that it's normal for the pain to continue for a while. It WILL get better but it takes a long time.

We just got the expected news that our child will need braces soon, so this has been on my mind. (Gentle) hugs to your DD.

 

[NotUrsula]

Call the orthodontist back and tell him that what he gave her isn't cutting it; get her something for the first few days that will actually KILL the pain. He should dose it based on her weight rather than her age. If she is that miserable, I'd ask for at least 3 days worth of Rx-strength meds, or even enough to last until Monday, just in case she's still in severe pain over the weekend.

She's not a redhead by any chance, is she? We tend to be a lot more sensitive to pain, especially in terms of dental work of any kind. I routinely need at least 6 shots to get a filling, and there is no way I can stand getting my teeth cleaned without taking 3 ibuprofen ahead of time.

 

[fauna74]

I had braces as a kid AND as an adult (wear your retainers, kids!).

As an adult, I couldn't BELIEVE how painful they were. I agree with pp, motrin works better. I also think calling the ortho for better pain relief is a good thing.

Personally, I drank a lot of margaritas, but I guess tequila isn't an appropriate form of pain relief for kids.

Also remind your DD that it is all worth it!

 

[Fantasmic23]

Call the orthodontist back and tell him that what he gave her isn't cutting it; get her something for the first few days that will actually KILL the pain. He should dose it based on her weight rather than her age. If she is that miserable, I'd ask for at least 3 days worth of Rx-strength meds, or even enough to last until Monday, just in case she's still in severe pain over the weekend.

She's not a redhead by any chance, is she? We tend to be a lot more sensitive to pain, especially in terms of dental work of any kind. I routinely need at least 6 shots to get a filling, and there is no way I can stand getting my teeth cleaned without taking 3 ibuprofen ahead of time.

No, she's not a redhead. The othodontist upped her dosage (based on her weight) and she's feeling a bit better today.

 

[Fantasmic23]

Thank you so much, everyone! All of your suggestions and advice have been so helpful. DD is feeling a bit better today! We've switched to Motrin.

Of course, DS was teasing her this morning, saying things like, "I've heard that people with braces can't go on many rides at WDW."

DD was up very early today so before school, I showed her the Marcia-gets-braces episode from "The Brady Bunch" on YouTube. She got a kick out of it, especially the "This spaghetti tastes like lead" part. We also found the scene from "Poltergeist 2" where Robbie's braces attack him. So, so cheesy. "See?" I told her. "Things could be worse!"

Thanks again!!

 

[blondietink]

I am a natural redhead and decline novicane even when I am having a filling done. So, the redhead/pain thing is not real in my case. Now when I had my wisdom teeth pulled as a teenager .... that pain was much worse than any pain I ever had from my braces. Back when I had my braces on many years ago, we had the "mouth of metal" kind of braces. Now those could really hurt, especially when they cranked them every visit. Couldn't eat for 2 days after every time. Anbesol was the only thing available other than aspirin, which you can't give to kids anymore. Good luck.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Tylenol is NOT going to cut it. Try giving her Motrin - it's MUCH better for pain. And, someone said to take it before her appointments - that is so true and very helpful.

this.