The following are some tips for ‘Braces First Aid’. When in doubt, please do not hesitate to call our office, we are always glad to help.
Discomfort during orthodontic treatment
During the first week after your braces are in place and routine adjustments are complete, you may feel some pain, soreness or discomfort. If your teeth become sore after a visit, we generally recommend that you take an analgesic such as acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin). This, of course, is the protocol only if there are no known allergies to these medications. Rinsing with cup of warm water and teaspoon of salt can also be soothing.
If a piece of a brace breaks or loose brackets or bands
While a broken bracket or loose bands is not necessarily an emergency, we would like you to call our office so we can schedule a longer appointment to repair.
If a brace comes loose from a tooth, it usually remains connected to the main wire and is not cause for an emergency visit. Tweezers can be used to reposition the brace if it flips around the wire and becomes a source of irritation. You may have a situation that requires cutting a wire or sliding a bracket off a wire at night or over the weekend. If you need to cut a wire in case of emergency, you may use a small wire cutter that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol.
Call our office at your earliest convenience. It may be necessary to schedule a separate visit to repair the loose brace(s), since repairs of this nature usually take additional time.
If a wire causes irritation
Sometimes discomfort caused by a wire on your braces can be resolved by moving the wire away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or eraser. If the wire will not move, try covering the end of it with a small piece of cotton or a small amount of wax. If the wire is painful, you can cut it with nail clippers or small wire cutters that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. If you cannot resolve the wire irritation, call our office for an appointment.
If food becomes stuck
If food becomes stuck between your teeth, use dental floss or a proxy brush to dislodge the food.
If the main wire has come out of the brace or tube
If the main wire has come out of the brace or tube on a back molar tooth, attempt to reinsert the wire with a pair of needle nosed pliers or tweezers. If the wire is not sticking you, place a piece of wax over the area. If the wire is sticking you and wax does not help, the wire can be cut with a small wire cutter or nail clipper close to the back of the last brace. This is a last resort if professional help is unavailable.
