Medications

For tooth pain from newly installed or adjusted braces for malocclusion, take regular doses of nonprescription pain medicine, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, for 3 to 5 days. One study shows that 400 mg of ibuprofen taken 1 hour before braces are adjusted and 6 hours later helps relieve pain.¹Do not give aspirin to anyone younger than 20 without a prescription because of the risk of Reye syndrome, a serious illness that can cause severe liver and brain damage.