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The Best Pain Reliever for Shifting Teeth

Home » Blog » The Best Pain Reliever for Shifting Teeth

  • Laster Orthodontics
  • September 4, 2020

With braces, you can bring your teeth into proper alignment and get the smile you’ve always wanted. But, to achieve that goal, you’ll have to put up with a little bit of discomfort and soreness along the way. While braces are not outright painful, you will likely still benefit from a mild pain reliever in the days after getting braces put on. The help with pain relief will also come in handy after adjustments that temporarily ramp up the pressure on your teeth. Not all pain relievers are made equal, however, so use this guide to find the very best one for you.

Inflammation is the Bad Guy

The brackets attach to your tooth enamel and the wires never even touch your gums, so why do braces make your mouth feel so sore after their initial install and adjustments? The answer is inflammation.

As the wire tightens, it puts pressure on the teeth, convincing them to slowly move into their proper positions. Inflammation spreads through the gums and the muscles in your jaw, causing soreness and discomfort soon after.

Your discomfort could continue for the better part of a week, depending on the level of adjustment. As the inflammation slowly goes down during that time, your discomfort will steadily decrease as well.

Taking Anti-Inflammatories Makes Sense, Right?

If you want to skip to the end of the discomfort, it might seem like it just makes sense to take anti-inflammatories. Unfortunately, that move could actually backfire. In exchange for fewer days of discomfort, taking anti-inflammatories could extend the time you need to stay in braces —and not just by a little bit.

The Problem with Anti-Inflammatory Medication

Anti-inflammatory medications, like ibuprofen, have recently landed on the list of substances that impact the movement of teeth. That is terrible news for those in braces since it can translate to more time waiting for your teeth to arrive in their ideal position. It turns out that the inflammation is actually beneficial in helping the teeth get moving. By halting inflammation altogether, you slow the movement, making your adjustments much less effective.

That’s not where the problems end, either. Anti-inflammatories stop the chemical reaction needed to restore the structure that helps keep your teeth in place once they are shifted around. Worse yet, they decrease the amount of procollagen in your tissues, which serve as a strengthening building block during bone remodeling. As those effects occur, your teeth might be quicker to shift back into their original positions once the braces are removed, especially if you don’t wear your retainer as instructed.

Acetaminophen for the Win

While it is important that you skip the anti-inflammatories, there is an over the counter medication you can take: acetaminophen. This pain reliever can decrease soreness while leaving the inflammation to do the heavy lifting.

By not touching the inflammation, it will not slow down tooth movement, helping keep your progress right on track. This medication also does not have an effect on the creation of procollagen nor the chemical reaction needed to restore your tooth structure.

For those reasons, acetaminophen is well regarded as the best pain reliever to use after getting braces and having adjustments done. You can discuss dosage amounts and timing with your dentist to find out just how to properly take this medication.

Tips for Reducing Discomfort from Braces without Medication

If you only feel mild discomfort, you can skip the pain relievers altogether and find relief in other ways. A warm saltwater rinse, for example, can feel quite soothing and can be done as many times as you wish throughout the day.

To make your rinse solution, just mix a ¼ teaspoon of table salt in a glass of warm water. Remake the solution each time you need a rinse to ensure it is fresh and just the right temperature.

A gum massage can provide immense relief from soreness as well, especially around the jawbone. Just use your pointer and middle finger to rub around your gums using a circular motion. Repeat as needed to keep discomfort at bay.

Fix Shifting Teeth Without Braces

You do have options, of course, if you want to skip traditional braces in favor of cutting-edge technology. Laster Perfect Smile is a high-tech in-house aligner system, manufactured in Raleigh, North Carolina that will perfect your smile in no time flat and without breaking the bank.

The clear aligners gradually move your teeth into their ideal positions without brackets, wires, and all the fuss. They are also virtually invisible while you wear them, allowing you to smile with confidence through your treatment period and beyond.

The custom fitted system speeds up the tooth straightening process as well, which reduces the time it takes to create your perfect smile. That means less discomfort overall, helping you stay focused on your daily activities without disruption. You really cannot lose when using this system, so reach out to your dentist today to learn how to get started.

At Laster Orthodontics, we help families develop healthy, life-changing smiles using customized treatments, cutting-edge technologies, and caring relationships. Our individualized treatment plans help our patients achieve their perfect smile in the quickest, most painless way possible by utilizing a wide range of options from traditional braces to propel accelerated treatment to Dr. Laster’s in-house aligner program, Laster Perfect Smile. With three locations throughout the Triangle Area, we create life-changing smiles every day.

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The Laster Orthodontics team is full of happy, warm, genuine people who love life, and our patients. We are always 100% committed to patient care.

Amy S.
Coming back today to add something to my review: Carina, the Practice Manager, is so incredibly patient and kind. Thank you for your help today, Carina! I appreciate you!

Today my son and I visited the Rolesville location of Laster Orthodontics. We were immediately greeted by a friendly team member. We only waited 5 minutes to be taken back for my son’s consultation. We met with Maria and she was fabulous!!! Very thorough, relatable and relaxed, yet professional. She explained every aspect of the treatment my son will receive, along with pricing information, payment plan options, etc. She was funny, too. Maria was great vibes all around. Dr. Laster popped in the room to introduce himself. He was cheerful and didn’t seem rushed or bothered by having to chat with us. My son and I can’t wait for our next visit! Thanks everyone, especially Maria! 😊
Shay C.
I normally don’t leave reviews, but I have to write this one. My daughter accidentally got her appointment date wrong and even took a day off work for her braces. By the time we realized it, it was too late to adjust her work schedule back. I called the office to see if there were any cancellations, and Shatyonia told me there had been a couple earlier, but they filled up quickly. I asked if she could call me back if anything else opened up that day, and she kindly agreed.

Sure enough, around 12 she called me back and asked if we could come in by 1 o’clock. Of course, I said yes! I am so thankful to her because she truly didn’t have to go out of her way for me and my daughter. Thanks to her, my daughter didn’t waste a day off work.

Also, I want to recognize Cynthia, who had excellent customer service when I came in looking for Shatyonia. These are two wonderful ladies running the front desk, and they really made our experience so much better.
Scuba
I wish we could give Laster Orthodontics higher than a 5-star review, because they are simply amazing! From the first contact I made with them by text, to the friendly staff at the front desk that greeted us when we walked in, to the amazing Treatment Coordinator that helped us, Maria Lopez, to the orthodontist himself: every individual was friendly, helpful and professional in every instance. THANK YOU Laster Orthodontics for an incredibly great experience! 🩷🙏
MJ E.
My experience with laster orthodontics was a great experience when I was getting my procedure done and the staff were very helpful in helping me with my success!!
ashley C.
Today went nice and smooth I called in the morning to get a bracket fixed and I got in and out only waited for 10mims and got done in 10mims . I love getting my teeth fixed @ Laster Orthodontics
Lisa R.
I love Laster Orthodontics! All of the staff is very nice and attentive. I’m always greeted with a smile.
Brittany W.
I’ve had such a great experience at Laster Orthodontics in Raleigh! From the moment I walked in, the staff was friendly, welcoming, and professional. Dr. Laster and his team made me feel comfortable throughout the entire process and were always patient with my questions. The office is super clean, modern, and efficient — they truly care about their patients and it shows. I’m so happy with my results and would recommend them to anyone looking to improve their smile. Thank you for making my journey such a smooth and positive one!
Maureen
My dentist recommended Laster Orthodontics and I am glad he did. The office staff are knowledgable and friendly. Dr. Laster and his team answered questions and gave options. And I appreciated the payment plan.
Amanda P.
Laster Orthodontics is hands down the BEST!!!! They have the nicest staff and they are so sweet to their patients and their patients parents. They gave my daughter a beautiful smile and we are forever grateful!!!!!
Logan F.
Dr. Laster and his team are so caring and understanding. Their care is top notch and they truly appreciate and care for their patients.
Shawna W.
LOVE LOVE LOVE Laster ortho! Dr laster is so nice. The staff are all amazing and are more like family! Love coming to my ortho appointments!!
Gwendolyn R.
My experience with Laster orthodontist was amazing. I wore liners for one year and Every visit was the same. The Entire staff are professional and very welcoming.
Janelle H.
Very welcoming, warm and friendly people. Engaging with your care and supportive staff! I enjoy my visit every time I go!
Brad L.
I had a fantastic experience with Dr. Laster! They were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, making every visit comfortable and stress-free. Thanks to their expertise, my smile was corrected ahead of my wedding day, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. Highly recommend!
Wavy R.
10/10 💪🏽🥂 Anybody wanting to get their teeth fixed i would definitely recommend coming to Laster Orthodontics. Great environment and amazing quality work.

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