Ask the Dentist: How do I deal with mouth ulcers while wearing braces?

While orthodontic treatment can improve your smile aesthetics and oral function, oral ulcers can occasionally occur during treatment. This is due to repeated rubbing of the wires and braces (brackets) against your soft tissues, such as the gums, lips, tongue, and inner surfaces of the cheeks.

Oral ulcers typically appear as oval or round lesions with a white or yellowish centre and red border. They can cause discomfort on touch, during eating, speaking and your daily oral routine. They often heal spontaneously within 7-14 days after the cause is addressed.

How to prevent oral ulcers from braces?

• Before leaving the orthodontist’s clinic, always check for any “poky” wires.

• Minimise the intake of hard and sticky foods that can cause breakage of your braces and/or shifting of wires.

• If you are more prone to getting ulcers, you may opt for clear aligners instead of conventional braces, as the former has less risk of abrasions from wires and broken brackets. Discuss with your orthodontist if you’re a suitable candidate for clear aligners.

• Keep hydrated, as a dry mouth increases your risk of developing oral ulcers.

How to manage oral ulcers from braces?

• Apply soft dental wax over any long wire ends or brackets that cause you discomfort. Doing so will prevent further abrasion of your soft tissues. You can request for wax from your orthodontist. 

• Contact your orthodontist to have the source of the trauma removed e.g. a loose bracket, an extended wire, etc.

• Your dentist may prescribe topical medication to reduce the inflammation and pain from the ulcer.

• Minimise the intake of hot or acidic foods and drinks that can further irritate the ulcers.

• Avoid hard or coarse foods that can traumatise the ulcers.

• You may also try home remedies such as gargling with warm salt water.

There may be other causes of ulcers too. Consult your dental specialist if the ulcers persist or worsens.

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Dr Soh Shean Han is an Orthodontist with Specialist Dental Group®. She received her specialty training in Orthodontics from University of Washington-Health Sciences School of Dentistry, USA. She is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer with National University of Singapore and a Visiting Associate Consultant at National University Centre for Oral Health, Singapore. Dr Soh has a special interest in orthodontics and dental public health.

www.specialistdentalgroup.com | (65) 6733 7883