When it comes to having braces, patients generally want to avoid them breaking. This can be inconvenient or uncomfortable, but the important thing is having a plan in place. Adult & Pediatric Orthodontics is here to tell you what to do when braces break.
Components of Braces
Knowing the main parts of braces can help you better understand exactly how damage can happen. Dr. Yu can always refresh this information if you or your child need it.
- Brackets are attached to the front surfaces of your teeth for the duration of traditional braces treatment.
- Wires connect the brackets together, and Dr. Yu manually adjusts them to initiate tooth movement according to her custom treatment plan.
- Additional components can be added, like rubber bands. These can be necessary for more targeted adjustments.
How Damage Can Happen
Damage to braces can result from fairly common culprits to unexpected accidents. Either way, our team wants you to recognize what damage looks like so that you can address it correctly.
- Damage from Food: Foods that are very solid, sticky, or crunchy can all break your braces. This is a common culprit for many patients. We always recommend avoiding these types of foods for this exact reason.
- Using Teeth as Tools: We’ve all been tempted to rip open a package with our teeth. But biting down on objects like pencils, ice cubes, or fingernails can all apply excess pressure to your braces and cause damage.
- Sports Injuries: These can occur when the mouth is impacted during contact sports. They are far more likely to happen when patients choose not to wear a mouthguard as prescribed.
- Poor Oral Hygiene: This one surprises people. Plaque buildup can actually weaken the adhesive holding brackets against the teeth, causing them to come loose.
- Improper Cleaning: It’s possible to use too much force when brushing and flossing around your braces. This could bend wires or dislodge brackets.
- Accidents or Falls: You can be doing everything right in your braces care routine, but accidents still happen when you least expect them. Acute trauma to the mouth in any situation can damage braces or teeth.
- Skipping Appointments: Delaying adjustments or repairs can make minor damage worse. Staying on track with your visits to Adult and Pediatric Orthodontics is imperative for successful treatment.
Taking Action
So if you encounter damage during your braces treatment, what should you do? Remember that if damage is severe (resulting in heavy bleeding, teeth coming loose, etc), you should always contact your nearest emergency department.
For other mild to moderate orthodontic damage, here are some actions you can take, as well as some temporary remedies we recommend:
- Stay Calm and Assess the Damage: Start by looking closely at your braces in a mirror and assess the following:
- Is a bracket loose or detached?
- Is a wire poking or bent?
- Is a band on a molar missing or loose?
- Contact Our Office: Once you’ve assessed the damage, do not delay in calling our office. You can give us a detailed description of what’s happening, and we can make an emergency repair appointment. We’ll also provide you with temporary steps to manage your damage until you can see us.
- Managing Poking Wires: If a wire has broken, you can use orthodontic wax to cover sharp edges and prevent discomfort or further injury to your cheeks or gums.
- Managing a Loose Bracket: If it’s still attached to the wire, you can use wax to secure it and avoid movement. If it’s fallen off completely, you should store it safely and bring it to your appointment.
- Managing Pain: Rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater can help soothe soreness, as well as taking over-the-counter pain medication.
- Prioritize Cleaning: In the meantime, you can carefully brush or floss around your broken component. If you feel this isn’t possible, let us know so we can provide you with further guidance.
- Avoid Further Damage: Above all else, be very careful. You want to avoid any problematic foods or physical activities until you see Dr. Yu. We also strongly discourage attempting to fix or adjust your braces yourself. This can be a slippery slope and lead to more problems.
Dealing with Damage
No one’s treatment experience with braces is absolutely perfect. Our team at Adult & Pediatric Orthodontics is fully prepared for accidents to happen, so don’t worry too much if your braces break—just be sure not to delay getting them fixed! You can visit us in Windham or Portland if you’re considering orthodontic treatment. We’ll see you soon!