Q. My 12 year old son has had braces about two months and he just got bands crisscrossed on the front top teeth to close a gap. The teeth have come together rather quickly but should they be closing on the pink piece of tissue that was between his teeth. It is very sore and puffy. And noticeable! His ortho told him to use baking soda and peroxide with a rubber tip to help push the tissue upwards out of the way. How can his teeth close with tissue in between? So far the pink flesh has not budged. Is this a normal process?