Kids with Braces: 6 Tips to Soothe a Sore Mouth

By Pamela and Brenda Waterman January 30, 2013

If your child wears braces, she might occasionally have a sore mouth and be unable to eat some of the foods she loves. Here, the authors of The Braces Cookbook offer 6 tips for soothing a sore mouth and suggestions on what foods to eat for pain-free meals.

girl wearing braces Does your child wear braces? Those metal brackets on your tweens’ teeth are doing an important job, but sometimes they can make for a cranky kid. Most days all goes well, but sometimes—especially when those wires get tightened—you just want to help her feel better and try to make mealtime more pleasant.

Keep the smiles coming with these six simple tips from the authors of The Braces Cookbook:

1. Drink or eat something very cold, such as a fruit smoothie or frozen yogurt—this delays the movement of today’s heat-responsive metal arch wires, especially right after an adjustment.

2. Lie down with cold washcloths resting on your cheeks.

3. Rinse your mouth with salt water several times a day to soothe sore cheeks. (Be sure to swish then spit it out.)

4. Try microwaving a frozen item instead of popping it in the toaster or oven. Think frozen waffles—this way they come out tender instead of crunchy.

5. Seal freshly baked items in tightly lidded containers. Add a slice of fresh bread to a sealed container of cookies or other baked goods—the moisture will transfer to the cookies, etc., and soften them up.

6. Eat leftovers! Many crispy items soften up overnight, especially in the refrigerator.

These tips were excerpted with permission from The Braces Cookbook: Recipes You (and Your Orthodontist) Will Love (Metal Mouth Media; $14.95), by Pamela and Brenda Waterman.

Also see: Two Great Recipes for Kids with Braces