Can you eat with Orthodontic Wax?

Orthodontic therapy is used to resolve problems such as diastema, dental crowding, open or deep bite.

In children or adults, the use of dental braces is essential to solve many problems and bring improvements both from an aesthetic and health point of view.

In all these cases, the patient is advised to use a dental appliance that can best solve the particular problem that the patient presents.

First of all, together with your dentist, you verify which appliance is the most suitable for the discomfort presented by the patient. The dentist could in fact recommend a mobile appliance, a fixed one or a type of appliance with extra oral traction.

Whatever type of appliance is chosen, the patient's task is to take the utmost care of their oral hygiene, follow the doctor's advice and take some small precautions regarding nutrition. Especially when wearing a fixed appliance, which is the most difficult to manage, it is advisable to limit the use of hard or chewy foods, to clean it carefully using a special orthodontic toothbrush and the use of "orthodontic wax" is strongly recommended (not to be confused with DIY filling paste ) useful for helping the patient to obtain a feeling of relief especially in the early stages of orthodontic therapy.

In fact, the initial phases are the most critical. During the first few days, the device can cause more discomfort and the patient must have time to get used to the presence of the orthodontic device. In fact, in the early stages, the patient may experience discomfort related to the presence of the "brackets" or metal stars, which can cause mouth ulcers, pain, irritation and lesions even to the lips or tongue.

The product recommended by most dentists is a transparent protective wax that is useful for preventing injuries and irritation, but which also helps relieve discomfort and pain.

The instructions for use state that this wax, purchased in convenient bars from which it can be separated into squares, should be applied with the fingers on the protruding metal part, applying pressure to make it adhere perfectly and, consequently, this will create a protective barrier to protect the mucous membranes of the mouth from rubbing with the metal wires.

One advantage of using wax is that by preventing cuts, you do not cause the development of bacterial infections and inflammation.

Another advantage is that it is tasteless and transparent, it does not cause discomfort and is not noticeable.

It is not recommended to use it for long periods.

As is well known, the prescription of a dental appliance means that it is used for a period ranging from five months to two years, for this reason the mouth must have the opportunity to get used to the appliance and the wax has the sole purpose of preventing discomfort and pain in the early periods of therapy or when needed. It is advisable to buy a block of orthodontic wax, tear off a small square and apply it when you have discomfort, mouth ulcers or cuts.

CAN YOU EAT WITH ORTHODONTIC WAX?

Usually, dentists advise not to eat with orthodontic wax applied, not because it is forbidden to eat with it or it is harmful to the body, but because small pieces of food could remain attached and would affect the correct oral hygiene of the subject, or the wax itself could detach from the metal plate and be swallowed. In any case, the answer to our question is yes: with orthodontic wax it is possible to eat while paying due attention.

CURIOSITIES ABOUT ORTHODONTIC WAX

Wearing orthodontic braces may initially cause some discomfort related to certain dietary restrictions.

Many foods are literally forbidden during the early stages of orthodontic treatment such as gummy candies, chews, dried fruit or hard bread, because they could get caught in the metal tiles and would be difficult to remove, but above all, they could cause severe pain.

When you are in the early stages of therapy, it is recommended to use orthodontic wax to protect your mouth from the metal protrusions of the braces.

This wax should be changed regularly every day, to prevent bacteria from accumulating on it. Orthodontic wax does not alter the taste of food and is not harmful to the body, obviously, you need to follow some precautions, pay attention that the foods chosen for meals are not too hard or sticky and always have excellent oral hygiene.

During meals, therefore, the wax can be safely left on metal plates or mouth ulcers, but care must be taken that no pieces of food remain attached to it.

For this reason, it is recommended to change the wax after each meal if eating without protection is too painful. If you were to use a normal toothbrush, this could cause the wax to come off, causing pain, which is why it is strongly recommended to use an orthodontic toothbrush . In any case, wax is considered an excellent system against the discomfort of dental braces and doing without it is almost impossible.

WHAT IF ORTHODONTIC WAX IS SWALLOWED?

Don't panic. If wax is accidentally ingested, it's not a problem. Wax is harmless because it is made of non-toxic ingredients, otherwise it would not be possible to apply it to the most delicate parts of our body.

It is a perfect ally for those who wear orthodontic braces and consequently swallowing it does not cause any problems. In addition, the wax, once applied to the metal plate, hardens creating a protective patina.

If you eat something crunchy or bite into a food incorrectly or with too large a bite, the wax could come off, be mistaken for food, chewed and swallowed. If this were to happen there would be nothing to worry about.