Braces 911
What to do if a bracket pops off
When you’re in braces, your brackets are affixed to your teeth with a special type of orthodontic glue. There are cases from time to time when a bracket detaches from a tooth. The glue bond can weaken or fail from a fall when playing sports, from an impact to the face, or from eating food that’s too hard and crunchy. In some cases, the bond fails because the glue just didn’t hold well.
If a bracket comes off your tooth, here’s what to do:
- For a bracket that has totally popped off from the tooth and the wire, be careful not to swallow it. Immediately take it out of your mouth and put it aside.
- The bracket will most likely remain attached to the archwire in which case it’s called a “floating bracket.” A floating bracket isn’t an urgent crisis, but it can irritate the inside of your mouth or gums. Wrap the bracket with some orthodontic wax so you won’t be uncomfortable.
- Give us a call when you can and tell us what happened. In most cases, we’ll set up an appointment for you to visit our office in the next day or two, and we’ll reattach the bracket.
What to do if a wire breaks
If some sort of fall or accident causes an archwire to break, you can use orthodontic wax to protect your mouth from any poking.
If you need to cut the wire, use a nail clipper. Be sure to clean it with soap and water first and then sterilize it with rubbing alcohol before putting it in your mouth.
Give us a call when you can, and we’ll set up an appointment to attach a new archwire to your brackets.
What to do if you’re feeling soreness
When you first get your braces on or after an appointment in which we tighten them, you may experience some soreness for a few days. Take over-the-counter pain medication like Advil, Tylenol, or aspirin for some relief. Cold foods like ice cream or popsicles can provide temporary numbness. When eating, choose softer foods, cut portions into smaller bites, and favor your molars when chewing.
Give us a call if the soreness lasts for more than a few days.
