Home Remedies For Friction Wounds Under Braces

If you wear braces, you may develop friction sores on your gums under the wires. Braces rarely cause sores on those who have healthy gums; however, if you have severe gingivitis or inflamed gums, dental appliances may further irritate your gum tissue. 

While you should make an appointment with your orthodontic services professional if you develop gum problems, there are some things you can do at home to help keep you comfortable while waiting for your appointment. Here are some home remedies that will help relieve your discomfort and help promote healing from friction wounds related to your dental appliances:

Warm Saltwater 

If you develop a friction wound on your gum tissue as a result of your braces rubbing against your gums, rinsing your mouth with a mild saltwater solution may help ease your discomfort. In addition to its ability to soothe soft tissue, saltwater has potent anti-bacterial properties and may help reduce your risk for developing an infection.

When using a saltwater oral rinse, make sure you only swish it around your mouth and spit it out. Never swallow the saltwater because if ingested in high amounts, sodium can lead to digestive problems and, in certain individuals, high blood pressure and kidney problems.

Liquid Antacid

Another effective treatment for relieving symptoms of friction sores is dabbing a small amount of liquid antacid around the affected area of your gum. If your hardware is obstructing the wound, simply swish a small amount of the liquid antacid around your mouth and then spit it out.

The product will help relieve your discomfort and inflammation, and may also help promote healing. After spitting out the liquid antacid, do not rinse your mouth out with water right away because the product should remain on your gum tissue for at least a few minutes.

If your physician has told you to avoid products containing calcium, aluminum, or magnesium, limit your use of liquid antacids because they may interact with certain health conditions or the medications you currently take.

If you develop friction sores as a result of your braces, make an appointment with your orthodontist. While home remedies can temporarily help relieve your symptoms while you are waiting to see your dentist, they are no substitute for dental examinations and treatment.

The sooner your orthodontist treats your irritated gum tissue, the less likely you will be to experience complications such as infection and abnormal bleeding. In rare cases, the dentist may need to adjust a wire in order to better treat the soft tissue irritation; however, this will not affect your treatment progress in any way. 

Click here for more info about taking care of your mouth while wearing braces.