Aspirin and wax. The braces will cut up her gums. It's not fun but definitely worth the agony. Maybe you can show her some before and after pics. I've recently looked at some pics of me in elementary school and wow, my teeth were really bad. I am so glad I got braces. I was a rabbit!

My kids never had the problem with cutting their cheeks from the braces, thank goodness. But do have some soft foods to eat that first week or so that she has her braces and every time that they are tightened.

My DD teethed late, and so the orthodontist put on her braces in middle school. They were removed when she started high school, as I recall. I was helping at school one day and came upon her 6th grade picture pre braces, and I could not believe the difference in the bones of her lower face. I had not noticed that her chin receded, but now that the procedure was nearly over, I was shocked at the huge difference in her appearance even when she was not smiling.

When she was all done and the braces were off, we were given before and after photos from the xray lab. Huge, huge difference. I remember thinking of that on her wedding day as I watched our beautiful daughter, a beautiful bride, enjoy herself so much that day. Strange what goes through a mother's mind some times.

My dd was in appliances/braces/headgear from the age of 7 to about 12. She had a lot of work done. The best advice is that you don't want to treat your neice like an invalid. She's not sick--there's no need for a get-well card. You don't want her feeling sorry for herself, so don't treat her as if this is a big deal. Where I live, about 80 percent of all children have some work done on their teeth (some is purely cosmetic, some--like my dd--is necessary for health)--but it's a common thing.

The children who seem to have the easiest time, are those whose families don't baby them, who let them learn to be strong and handle life's little bumps with grace.

Just keep her food limitations in mind when she's visiting, and don't make life harder for her by putting out a lot of treats she cannot eat.

My daughter had no trouble at all with her braces. They did have to pull 4 of her teeth before the braces went on. That was the reason she needed braces-her mouth was to small for her teeth. She only had to wear them for 1 1/2 years and then the retainer for a year. Everything went so well because when they removed the four teeth the rest just fell into place and with the help of braces they were all straight in no time. She loves her teeth and so do I. She has a beautiful smile. She didn't have any cut gums on cheeks, as a matter of fact if she eve had any pain at all she never mentioned it. She is a little trooper. 18 years old, weighs 85 pounds and is 4'11" tall. tiny girl with big guts LOL

You will all think I'm nuts when I tell you what I did.

I wore braces as an adult. I happened to work with a guy who used to tease me about everything. He was fun to work with because we used to banter and have fun at work.

The next day after I would have them tightened, I would go to work and whine to my co-workers about how my teeth hurt. This particular guy said he had some advice for me. He told me that after I get them tightened to go home and slice up a really crisp, juicy apple and then eat the pieces. I told him no way, I wasn't going to do that because it will hurt. He swore to me that it will keep my teeth from hurting the next day. We went back and forth with me saying no way and him saying "trust me." Trust him? No way, with all of the teasing he had given me over the years. He eventually told me that he did it when he wore braces and now his son does it.

So, after my next appointment, I did as he suggested. Went home and sliced up a crisp Fuji apple and ate it. While I was eating it, it didn't hurt. Lo and behold, the next day I had no dental pain! My teeth didn't hurt at all!

I don't know what eating the apple does - maybe stimulate the blood flow? Or get the muscles in the mouth working again?

I have no idea other than it worked.

In my area I'm seeing fewer extractions before braces and more use of devices that expand the roof of the mouth to accomodate the existing teeth.

Four of my teeth were pulled before braces. Now I am over 65 and my teeth are not stable. Extractions and braces at pre-teen ages were common when I was a kid. I don't think that was the best plan.

My daughter had really "mangled" teeth prior to braces, had 4 removed and very rarely complained. And believe me, she could be a hypochondriac at times LOL!
I don't know who portrayed that getting braces was "a long painful process", I suspect someone needing a little attention? Because I have to agree with the others here in that focusing on the negative isn't going to help your niece in the long run...save those get well cards for a time when she would truly be ill.
My daughter lived on mac-n-cheese and spaghettio's a couple of days after her braces were tightened.
And I wonder if Sephia's suggestion of chewing an apple might have helped to loosen the braces up just enough to eased the ache?

My DD and all 3 of her kids have had braces and when they smile, it looks like an ad for tooth paste....It was well worth all the money spent.....
One little funny....When my DD had her's, she was a young teen and had a lot of gum bands attached to her braces...Well, sitting in church one Sunday, she opened her mouth and out flew a band and landed in the hair of a lady 2 rows in front of us....Trying to keep her and her 4 brothers quiet and to keep from laughing myself, was not an easy task....The brothers still talk about it....

I think for most kids braces are not a long, painful process. It hurts some when they get the braces on, and when they get them tightened in subsequent visits.

But I think for some kids it is much more painful than others. It's not the size of the kid, I think it has more to do with the dental work being done.

My daughter's orthodontist told us her dental work would be painful and the pain would get worse, not better, as things went along. He is aligning her teeth to where he wants them to be after she has jaw surgery, so she is constantly getting her teeth further misaligned with her current facial/mouth structure. It is physically difficult and painful for her to eat because her jaw and teeth are misaligned, and it also interferes with her sleeping. The whole thing causes headaches. It's not just painful when the braces get tightened, there's pain involved other times, too.

My daughter is tough as nails, is rarely sick and rarely complains. She does have to take prescription muscle relaxers for the pain sometimes. When she says it hurts, I know it really does hurt.

So, Teresava, if the orthodontist has told your niece that the procedure will be long and painful, believe it. Both my kids had braces, and in my experience orthodontists tend to tell the kids "it's not that bad" rather than "it's long and painful". When the orthodontist says it's long and painful, that probably means it's going to be long and painful.

However, I've had 2 kids with braces, and know umpteen kids with braces, and for most kids it truly is no big deal. Kids get their braces on and swim, wrestle, run cross country meets, go to camp, etc. the same day the braces go on.

You are a sweetheart for thinking about your niece. She is blessed to have an aunt who thinks about her and encourages her! I think you should send her a funny get well card or a printout of a funny picture or joke you find on the internet. The parents don't need to spoil her rotten, but a little pampering from aunt and grandma doesn't hurt.

Both of my girls had braces & they were very brave & it was well worth it.

I agree that having wax on hand is a good thing & we used anbesol (spelling??) - the stuff we used for teething babies, remember? I also remember (it was about 10 years ago) making soft foods for them - rice & bread pudding for breakfast was a "special" treat for them & I was very glad to do it.