Braces Emergencies

If your braces bracket is still attached to the wire, you can leave it there. Slide it back to its correct position and cover it with a piece of orthodontic relief wax. If a bracket in the back of your mouth breaks and your wire comes out completely, carefully wrap the bracket in a tissue and remove it from your mouth. You can gently push the wire out of the way with a clean cotton swab or the eraser end of a new pencil and cover it in wax if it’s poking you. Call our office and we’ll get you in for a repair appointment.

When you first get braces on and after appointments, there might be some general tenderness of your teeth and mouth. You can make a saltwater rinse by dissolving one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of warm water. Swish the mixture around your mouth and then spit it out, repeating as often as needed. Or, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever (what you would normally take for a headache). Tenderness usually subsides within a few days and things will be back on track.

It’s common for the brackets and wires to irritate your lips and cheeks at the start of your treatment. Your mouth will acclimate and toughen up. In the meantime, you can use a saltwater rinse as often as needed. You can also place orthodontic relief wax over the parts of your braces that are bothering you. Break off a small piece of wax, warm it up between your fingers and place it on your braces.

If a piece of your braces wire is poking you in the cheek and it’s causing you discomfort, carefully move it against the nearest tooth and out of the way using a clean cotton swab or the eraser end of a new pencil. Then, use a piece of gauze or a tissue to dry it off before covering it with orthodontic relief wax. Call us and, if necessary, we’ll schedule you for an appointment.

Don’t panic if your teeth feel slightly loose during braces treatment. This is totally normal. After all, they’re on the move! Once your teeth are in their ideal positions and we remove your braces, your teeth will lock in place.