Painful retainer..any home remedies?!


Question:

Painful retainer..any home remedies?

My bottom retainer was cutting into my gum on the right side of my mouth, so I went to my orthodontist to fix it, and when I was there it seemed fine but after I got home and had to take it out to eat it really hurt..the next day I had to go out of state so could not schedule another visit. I won't be back for another month and there the retainer already has made a red impression on the right side of my gum that I'm afraid may turn into a cold/canker sore..I am required to wear it for 24/7 though..is there anything that I can do to help this? Maybe place a piece of cotton under it? I want to do that but afraid that it'll create more infection.

Additional Details

2 months ago
It almost doesn't hurt at all when I'm wearing the retainer, but when I take it out, tears sometimes come in my eyes..I feel less of the hole and inflammation, I couldn't find peroxide but I think the oral antiseptic and lemon has helped and my gums are getting a little used to it. I had no idea they make retainers in the military..I will need to make another impression as well as soon as I get back. Now I must find some Crisco... Thanks all for the insightful answers.


Answers:

Your retainer is ill fitting but can more than likely be adjusted to be OK. Your dentist will just need to remove some of the plastic that is digging in to the gum. Since you will not be returning for a month you have a couple of choices other than not wearing it as often. One is to go to a dentist where you are and have him adjust it but that's going to cost you some $$. The other is to put the retainer in, take a marker of some sort and mark the spot that is irritating your gum. Then put some Crisco and a little flour mixture under the retainer in this spot, put it back in your mouth, remove it and where the pressure is there will be pink showing thru the mixture. Then take some sandpaper or a dremmel and remove some of the plastic in this area. Be sure that you are removing the part that touches the gum and not the part that is out towards the air. Remove a little plastic at a time and repeat the procedure until no more pink shows though. I don't recommend this unless you are really hurting. You are going to develop quite a sore if you continue to wear it like it is tho. Good luck.




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