Braces are designed to be durable. After all, they are meant to stay on your teeth for months at a time. However, they are not invulnerable to damage. An accident or mistake could easily lead to a broken bracket or wire. How can you deal with broken braces? This blog post provides some practical tips that will help you minimize the damage and get your treatment back on track as soon as possible.
Call Your Dentist or Orthodontist
Remember, your dentist wants your orthodontic treatment to be as smooth and stress-free as possible. You should not hesitate to get in touch with them as soon as you know that something is amiss with your braces. Describe the problem in as much detail as you can, and they will offer personalized advice.
Depending on the severity of the issue, they might schedule you for an emergency appointment within a day or two. During your appointment, they will examine both your braces and your teeth so they can provide any necessary repairs or treatment.
Care for Your Mouth
You should not try to repair your braces on your own. Without professional training, you will probably worsen the damage. You could even accidentally harm your teeth or other oral tissues. Instead, try to make yourself comfortable while you wait for your next orthodontic appointment. Here are some tips that might help:
- Bend protruding wires so they lie flat against your teeth. A cotton swab or pencil eraser can be used for this.
- Use orthodontic wax to create a barrier between your soft oral tissues and any portion of your braces that is bothering you. Simply roll the wax into a little ball before you press it gently against the offending bracket or wire.
- Swish with warm salt water. This can fight bacteria and soothe any sores that might have developed because of your broken braces.
- Eat soft foods, such as eggs, yogurt, and meatloaf. Eating harder foods might worsen the damage to your braces and cause oral discomfort.
- Take painkillers if necessary. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Tylenol) might reduce your discomfort.
- Be extra gentle when you are brushing and flossing your teeth.
Avoid Future Damage
When you visit your dentist or orthodontist, they may give you some tips to help you avoid having to deal with broken braces again in the future. For example, they might recommend that you purchase a custom mouthguard to protect your mouth during sports or give you tips on how to eat safely with braces. Hopefully, the remainder of your treatment will be without any more unfortunate incidents!
Meet the Practice
At Comprehensive Dental Associates of Central Connecticut, we are proud to be able to provide traditional braces and clear aligners. If you have questions about how to handle broken braces or any other issues related to your oral health, our team would be pleased to assist you. Contact us at 860-367-8326.