Whether you just got your braces on or you have had them for several months, you know the next day your mouth feels a little sore. The good news is that means your teeth are moving. So what causes that dull achy feeling? The answer to that is this…your teeth are held in place by periodontal ligaments and when you go in for your appointment and an adjustment is made, it causes your teeth to move. This causes the periodontal ligaments to stretch which gives you that achy feeling for a few days. One thing you can do to help alleviate the discomfort is to chew a piece of sugarless gum. The chewing action helps to “work out” the periodontal ligaments so the achiness subsides faster. There also have been clinical studies that claim that chewing a piece of sugar free gum after you eat for 20 minutes can help prevent cavities by reducing acids in the mouth and making teeth more resistant to decay. So chew on, but remember not to swallow it. Rumor has it that gum can stay in your stomach for 7 years! -Erika