True orthodontic emergencies are rare, but when they occur, we are available for you. As a general rule, you should call our office when you experience severe pain or have a painful appliance problem you can’t take care of yourself. We’ll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the issue.
You can resolve many problems yourself temporarily until you can get into our office. If there is a loose piece that can be removed, place it in a plastic bag or envelope and bring it to your next appointment.
If your braces are poking you, apply soft wax on the piece that’s sticking out. If the wire has slid to one side, you can pull it back to the other side with needle-nosed pliers and replace it in the tube on the back tooth.
Once you're comfortable, please call our office as soon as you can to schedule a time to address the issue. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period may disrupt your treatment plan.
General soreness
When you get your braces, you may feel general soreness in your mouth, and your teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. Stick to a soft diet until your teeth do not hurt when chewing.
Irritated gums and other sore spots can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with warm salt water. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in eight ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. Another option is to apply Orabase to the affected area. This may also relieve discomfort and is available in pharmacies.
If the tenderness is severe, take Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or your usual analgesic for headache or similar pain. Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), and Naproxen Sodium (Naprosyn, Anaprox) slow tooth movement; therefore, it is not advisable to use them frequently while wearing braces.
Your lips, cheeks, and tongue may become irritated for one to two weeks as they learn a new posture and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can apply wax to the braces to reduce irritation. We’ll show you how!
Loose appliance
If your appliance is poking you, place wax on the offending part.
Loose bracket
If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, leave it in place and apply wax if needed for comfort. If the bracket or band can be removed easily, place it in an envelope and save it to bring to your next appointment.
Loose wire
Using a pair of clean tweezers or needle-nosed pliers, try to put your wire back into place. It is okay to use a piece of floss to secure the wire in place: tie the floss around the bracket in place of the missing colored o-ring.
If you cannot position the wire comfortably and covering the end with wax doesn’t help, as a last resort, use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If the end of the wire remains sharp, apply wax to it.
Poking wire
Using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or place wax on it so it is no longer poking.