How to Use Beeswax on Braces

One of the most difficult aspects of having braces, especially when they're new, is the painful irritation of the metal against the sensitive skin of the inner lips. The application of soft dental beeswax to the rough braces can provide comfort for the wearer during day-to-day wear, as well as make other activities possible, such as playing a musical instrument. Using beeswax on your braces can take a little care and practice to get just right.

Things You'll Need

• Dental braces beeswax (ask your orthodontist)
• A clean, dry washcloth

Instructions

1. Determine the best places to put wax on your braces. You probably won't need to cover every bracket, just the ones that have the most direct contact with your lips. This can be somewhat different from person to person depending on the shape of your teeth and mouth, but usually, the four incisors will be a good place to start. If applying wax to play a musical instrument, cover all the front top brackets between the incisors as well. You will probably not have much luck trying to cover wires, so just focus on the brackets.

2. Form a small piece of wax into a ball about the size of a lentil. While it may seem to make sense to use more wax for more comfort, using too much will cause other problems. You'll also have trouble keeping this much wax in place. This small amount will be enough to smooth the roughness out of the metal bracket.

3. Pull your lip away from the spot where you'll be applying the wax and pat the area dry with your washcloth. You don't need to dry your inner lip, just the tooth and bracket area. This will make it possible for the wax to stick.

4. Press the wax ball against the bracket until it flattens. Smooth out the edge of the wax as much as possible.

5. Repeat with all other brackets you wish to cover.

6. Discard your wax daily and use new pieces. Reusing the beeswax won't work very well, as it has been mixed with saliva and can't really be reshaped.

Tips & Warnings

• If beeswax doesn't produce a satisfactory result, try some (unused) silicone ear plug putty.