I got mine exactly two weeks ago...this was my first time to change them myself....so I'm really new at this. Ok, first...forget the wax...it's only prolonging your suffering. I toughed it out with tylenol and my mouth healed in about 5 days...it seems long, but once those callouses are formed, you should be pretty good...tough it out...My tongue was almost bleeding. Secondly, Malt-o-meal is your friend. So is easy mac. Drinking milk and soda helped me, I really don't know why...I also used reach restoring mouthwash...that kind of numbed my tongue for a bit...and orajel is always useful....see if your orthodontist will give you the strong stuff...i hope this helps...btw, I am a self-proclaimed wimp, so that should give you insight in my pain tollerance.