Jayang-dong Dental Clinic: My Lips Keep Getting Sores During Orthodontic Treatment—How Should I Manage Them?

Hello, I am Sim Seong-hwan from S Leader Dental Hospital, a Jayang-dong dental clinic celebrating its 22nd anniversary this year.

Many people experience discomfort because the inside of their lips or cheeks repeatedly becomes sore after starting orthodontic treatment. Before the appliances were attached, there were no particular problems, but after beginning orthodontic treatment, a specific area may continue to be rubbed, or stinging and burning sensations may repeatedly occur when eating.

In particular, people who have just started orthodontic treatment may worry, “Is this level of pain normal?”, “Will it get better with time?”, or “Can I leave the appliances in place even if the inside of my mouth is sore?”

To put it simply, small sores on the inside of the lips or cheeks during orthodontic treatment are relatively common. However, if repeated irritation is left untreated, the sores may become deeper and make eating and brushing difficult. Therefore, rather than simply enduring the discomfort, it is important to identify the cause and manage it appropriately.

Today, S Leader Dental Hospital, a Jayang-dong dental clinic, will take an in-depth look at why the lips and inside of the mouth can become sore during orthodontic treatment, how to use orthodontic wax, helpful foods and lifestyle habits, and when to visit the dentist.

Why do the lips and inside of the cheeks become sore so easily during orthodontic treatment?

The mucous membranes inside the mouth are made of tissue that is thinner and softer than skin. Normally, they come into contact with the smooth surfaces of the teeth and are not subject to much irritation. However, once brackets and wires are attached, raised structures that were not previously present in the mouth are created.

The inside of the lips and cheeks moves constantly when speaking or laughing, chewing food, and swallowing saliva. During this process, repeated friction against the brackets or wires can cause the surface of the mucous membrane to peel or develop small sores.

At first, the area may feel slightly stinging or rough, but if the same spot continues to be rubbed, it may turn white or develop a round, ulcer-like sore. This is what we commonly describe as having a sore in the mouth.

Especially immediately after orthodontic appliances are first attached, discomfort may feel more significant because the mucous membranes have not yet adapted to the appliances. In most cases, the mucous membranes gradually adapt over time and the symptoms decrease, but a specific area may become irritated again after the wire is replaced or the orthodontic force is adjusted.

In these cases, sores may develop more easily inside the mouth.

Even when people wear the same orthodontic appliances, they do not all experience the same degree of discomfort.

If your mouth is relatively small or the space between your lips and the inside of your cheeks is narrow, the mucous membranes may come into contact with the appliances more often. People with thin lips or sensitive mucous membranes may also be more vulnerable to repeated friction.

If your job requires you to speak a lot, or if you have a habit of biting your lips or the inside of your cheeks, the irritation may become more severe. Clenching your teeth while sleeping or habitually rolling your lips inward can also cause sores to recur.

Dry mouth can also have an effect. Saliva helps keep the mucous membranes inside the mouth moist and reduces friction between the appliances and the mucous membranes. However, if you do not drink enough water or have a habit of breathing through your mouth, the mucous membranes can become dry more easily, making them more likely to develop sores even from minor irritation.

In addition, if your immune function is weakened by lack of sleep, overwork, stress, or an unbalanced diet, sores may heal more slowly and may be more likely to develop into mouth ulcers.

How are simple sores different from mouth ulcers?

Many people assume that every sore that develops inside the mouth during orthodontic treatment is a mouth ulcer.

If sores repeatedly develop in a specific area touched by a bracket or wire, they are more likely to be mucosal injuries caused by mechanical friction. Covering the irritating part of the appliance with wax or having it adjusted at the dental clinic may lead to relatively rapid improvement.

On the other hand, if multiple sores develop even in areas that do not directly touch the appliances, or if they recur whenever you are tired, it is necessary to also consider mouth ulcers or other systemic factors.

However, even if a sore initially resulted from simple friction, inflammation may worsen if the same area continues to be irritated and oral hygiene deteriorates. It is therefore best to manage it at an early stage.

What problems can occur if a sore inside the mouth is left untreated?

It may seem like a minor sore, but if the pain worsens, it can affect eating and brushing.

If the sore is irritated every time you chew, you may eat less and seek out only soft foods. If you cannot properly brush around the appliances because brushing hurts, food particles and plaque may accumulate, increasing the risk of bad breath, cavities, and gum inflammation.

In addition, repeatedly touching or picking at the sore with your tongue or fingers can delay healing. If a recurring sore does not heal for a long time, it is necessary to check whether there is a problem with the position of the appliance or the condition of the wire.

How should orthodontic wax be used?

Orthodontic wax is an aid that gently covers areas that irritate the mucous membranes, such as brackets or the ends of wires, thereby reducing direct friction.

Before using it, wash your hands thoroughly and identify the part of the appliance causing the pain. Then tear off a small amount of wax, roll it into a ball with your fingers, and press it onto the bracket or wire after lightly wiping away moisture and saliva.

If the surface of the appliance is wet, the wax may come off easily. It is therefore best to lightly dry the area with a tissue or clean gauze before applying it. Cover an area slightly wider than the appliance so that the mucous membrane does not come directly into contact with sharp edges.

It is best to remove the wax before eating, and replacing it with fresh wax after brushing is more hygienic. Using wax that has become contaminated or changed shape for a long time is not recommended.

If the wax continues to fall off even after repeated application, or if the end of the wire is protruding significantly, do not try to resolve the problem with wax alone. Have the appliance adjusted at the dental clinic.

What foods are good to eat when the inside of the mouth is sore?

While you have a sore, it is best to avoid foods that are spicy, salty, or strongly sour. Hot broth, spicy foods, carbonated drinks, foods containing a lot of vinegar, and citrus fruits can irritate the sore and worsen the pain.

You should also be careful with foods that break into sharp pieces, such as hard crackers or nuts, because they can scratch the mucous membranes inside the mouth again.

Instead, choosing soft, mild foods such as porridge, steamed eggs, tofu, bananas, and yogurt can help reduce discomfort while eating. It is also important to consume food at a lukewarm temperature rather than eating it too hot.

Please also manage your lifestyle habits for faster recovery

When the inside of your mouth is sore, it is important to reduce irritation while keeping your mouth clean.

Use a soft toothbrush to carefully clean around the appliances and teeth, but be careful not to rub the sore forcefully. Drink water frequently to prevent your mouth from drying out, and make sure to get enough sleep and eat a balanced diet to provide the nutrients needed for recovery.

If you have a habit of biting your lips or the inside of your cheeks, consciously try to reduce it. It is also best to avoid repeatedly touching the appliances with your tongue.

Consistently following the oral care instructions provided by your dentist along with using orthodontic wax can help reduce pain and prevent sores from recurring.

In these cases, you should be sure to visit the dentist.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, it is best to contact your dentist rather than dismissing them as part of the normal adjustment process.

• The end of the wire is protruding significantly and repeatedly poking the mucous membrane

• A bracket has come off or is loose

• A sore in the same area has not healed for more than two weeks

• Repeated bleeding or pus

• Facial swelling or fever

• Difficulty eating or brushing because of pain

• Recurrent sores in multiple areas inside the mouth

At the dental clinic, the wire end can be trimmed or the position of the appliance adjusted. The dentist can also provide guidance on the necessary care depending on the condition of the sore.

Continue your orthodontic treatment comfortably with S Leader Dental Hospital

Although sores on the lips or inside of the cheeks during orthodontic treatment are relatively common, you do not have to simply endure the discomfort.

By accurately identifying the cause, using orthodontic wax correctly, and adjusting irritating foods and lifestyle habits, most symptoms can be managed much more comfortably.

At S Leader Dental Hospital, a Jayang-dong dental clinic, we carefully examine the condition of orthodontic appliances and the extent of damage to the mucous membranes inside the mouth, and provide care instructions suited to each patient’s oral condition.

If a specific area repeatedly becomes sore during orthodontic treatment, or if discomfort caused by the wires and brackets continues, contact your dentist to have the condition of the appliances checked rather than enduring it alone.

Jayang-dong Dental Clinic :: S Leader Dental Hospital