Braces are orthodontic appliances consisting of metal brackets and wires designed to apply continuous, light pressure to the teeth. These components are fixed to the front surface of the teeth, placing the hardware in immediate and direct contact with the soft tissues of the lips, cheeks, and tongue. Because the lips must constantly drape and move over the new appliances, a variety of temporary physical and functional changes occur as the mouth adapts to the presence of the treatment hardware.
Temporary Changes to Lip Profile
The most immediate change is a temporary alteration in the appearance and feeling of the lip profile. The hardware increases the overall volume on the front surface of the teeth. This added thickness causes the lips to be held slightly further forward than their natural resting position, creating a temporary feeling of fullness or protrusion.
This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as a “lip bumper” effect. While this initial protrusion can be noticeable, the lips are highly adaptive and stretch to accommodate the new appliance quickly.
The appearance of this temporary fullness diminishes as the lips adjust and the teeth begin to shift into their corrected positions. As the teeth move backward, the soft tissues of the lips follow. This realignment can lead to a more relaxed final lip position, often resulting in a better lip seal.
Addressing Friction and Sores
The constant contact between the rigid metal components and the delicate inner lining of the lips causes friction and irritation. This rubbing leads to the formation of small, painful mucosal abrasions, commonly known as canker sores or ulcers. These lesions form where the soft tissue encounters sharp edges or rough areas on the brackets or wires, especially during the first few weeks or following an adjustment.
Orthodontic wax is an effective solution used to manage this friction. By pressing a small piece of wax directly over the irritating hardware, a smooth, protective barrier is created between the metal and the inner lip. This barrier prevents further rubbing, allowing the irritated tissue to begin the healing process.
For existing sores, rinsing the mouth with a warm saltwater solution helps promote faster healing. The saline environment soothes the inflamed tissue and acts as a gentle antiseptic. Sores typically heal within one to two weeks as the mouth tissues develop a tougher, more resilient layer against the constant friction.
Maintaining proper hydration is also important for lip comfort. A dry mouth exacerbates irritation, making soft tissues more susceptible to developing sores. Drinking sufficient water keeps the mouth moist and supports the production of saliva.
Managing Lip Function and Movement
The presence of the braces hardware physically restricts the normal range of motion for the lips and tongue, requiring functional adjustment. Speech is often temporarily affected because the tongue must navigate around the brackets to form certain sounds. This may result in a temporary lisp or difficulty articulating specific sounds, such as “s” or “sh,” which rely on precise tongue-to-tooth contact.
This change requires muscle memory retraining, where the muscles of the lips, tongue, and cheeks learn new patterns of movement. The temporary changes in speech usually resolve within a few weeks as the muscles adapt to the reduced space. Practicing reading aloud can accelerate this adaptation.
Eating also requires an adjustment in lip and jaw movement, particularly when biting into food. The hardware makes it difficult to cleanly shear food, and the lips must be positioned carefully to avoid catching on the brackets. Sensitivity after adjustments can limit the force exerted during chewing.
Patients quickly learn to cut food into smaller, bite-sized pieces and to chew slowly using the back teeth. Over time, the muscles learn to position the lips and cheeks away from the metal, allowing for more normalized functional movements during eating and speaking.