Orthodontic Emergencies

Oh this is irritating when it happens!

Try tying a small knot in the middle of the floss to help remove the food or use an interproximal brush or toothpick to dislodge food caught between your teeth and your braces.  A WaterPik works amazingly well here too!

It’s normal for you to have discomfort for a day or two after braces or retainers are adjusted, but it can make eating uncomfortable.

This discomfort is very normal and only for a short time.

Try eating soft foods and rinse the mouth with warm saltwater.  Anti-inflammatory medications taken in the recommended dosage can work well also.

Tiny rubber bands or small, fine wires, known as ligatures, hold the wire to the bracket. If a rubber ligature comes off, you may be able to put it back in place using sterile tweezers. If a wire ligature comes loose, remove it with sterile tweezers or sterile nail clipper.

If your wire ligature is sticking out into the lip but is not loose,  you can bend it back down with a Q-tip or a pencil eraser so it doesn’t irritate your lip. Of course, when one ligature pops off or breaks, others may follow.

Be careful to be certain no pieces of wire are swallowed.

You may be susceptible to mouth sores. While your braces don’t cause them, they may be made worse by irritation from braces.

One or several patches of sores may appear on the cheeks, lips or tongue. This is not an emergency, but it may be very uncomfortable for you.  Unfortunately, they can take 2 weeks to resolve as well.

Get quick relief by applying a small amount of topical anesthetic (such as Orabase or Ora-Gel) directly to the area with sores using a cotton swab.

You can reapply as needed.  Warm salt water rinses (1 t. of salt mixed with 1 c. of warm water) several times a day can be very soothing as well.

Occasionally, the end of a wire will work itself out of place and irritate your mouth. Use a Q-tip or pencil eraser to push the wire so that it’s flat against the tooth.

If the wire cannot be moved into a comfortable position, cover it with relief wax.  Be certain to dry the area prior to placing the wax or it won't stick!

In a situation where the wire is extremely bothersome, you may clip the wire with a sterile nail clipper or wire cutter as close to the brackets as possible.  You can even attempt to then remove the entire wire all together.

Reduce the possibility of swallowing the snipped piece of wire by using folded tissue or gauze around the area.

Relief wax may still be necessary to provide comfort to the irritated area.  If you ever need to do this, just let the office know you did so we can determine the appropriate time for your next visit.

Brackets are the parts of braces attached to teeth with a special adhesive. They’re generally positioned in the center of each tooth. The bracket can be knocked off if you've eaten hard or crunchy foods you’re supposed to avoid or if your mouth has been struck by a person or object or even an opposing tooth.  It typically doesn't happen WHILE you are eating something hard or sticky, it happens much later due to repeated weakening of the glue.

We encourage all patients, especially those with braces, to wear a protective mouthguard while playing sports.

Suppose the loose bracket has rotated on the wire and is sticking out, and you can't come to our office immediately. In that case, you can do a temporary fix to alleviate discomfort and prevent further damage, but take care to prevent swallowing or another injury.

To put the bracket back in place, use sterile tweezers to slide the bracket along the wire until it is between two teeth.

If you have a loose appliance part, please let the office know so they can guide you as to when the best time is for your next visit.

This is rare (in fact we have never had it happen), but if it does happen, it could be alarming. It’s important to stay calm.

If you're coughing excessively or having difficulty breathing, you may have inhaled the piece into your airways or lungs.  If this is the case, please go to the emergency room or urgent care, where they will likely take an x-ray.

If you can see the piece of appliance, you may carefully attempt to remove it.

DO NOT try to remove it if you could cause harm.

If this does happen, please inform our team!