Loose Bracket
If a bracket or wire comes loose, or if you lose or break an aligner, let your orthodontist know right away. Broken braces cannot deliver the right forces to move your teeth, and that could prolong treatment. Aligners should be worn in a particular sequence. Your orthodontist is the best person to call for advice about next steps, and to advise whether a lost aligner will extend your treatment time.
Poking Wire
A poking wire is not always an urgent reason to make an appointment with your orthodontist. You can first try using orthodontic wax. Orthodontic wax is made from a hydrophobic (or water repellent) material, making it tricky to use in your mouth’s moist environment. As such, you need to properly prepare your mouth for the wax application.
First, identify which bracket is causing discomfort. Prepare a small piece of wax by warming or rubbing it between your fingers and moulding it into a small rectangular shape to cover the bracket.
Dry the bracket and surrounding area with paper towel or gauze as thoroughly as possible – if there is moisture the wax may not adhere to the bracket. Wrap the softened wax around the bracket and press into place.
Orthodontic wax acts as a barrier between your braces and your lips, cheek or tongue. It is an opaque substance that becomes soft and malleable, allowing it to be placed around the offending bracket to stop it from irritating your cheek.
https://orthodonticsaustralia.org.au/orthodontic-wax/
Wire Out of Back Brace
If a bracket or wire comes loose, or if you lose or break an aligner, let your orthodontist know right away. Broken braces cannot deliver the right forces to move your teeth, and that could prolong treatment. Aligners should be worn in a particular sequence. Your orthodontist is the best person to call for advice about next steps, and to advise whether a lost aligner will extend your treatment time.
Poking Elastic (Rubber Band) Hook- Some brackets have a small hook used to attach elastics/rubber bands during periods of orthodontic treatment. These hooks can at times becoming irritating to the sides of teeth and lips. If this happens, you can use a small amount of orthodontic wax to cover the hook, or you can use a pencil eraser to carefully push in the bracket towards your teeth and away from your cheek and lips.
Sore Teeth-When orthodontic appliances are installed or adjusted, you may experience some discomfort. This is temporary, and should diminish within 24-72 hours. In the meantime, follow these steps to help ease the discomfort:
- Rinse with warm water.
- Eat soft foods.
- Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) as directed on the bottle.
- If pain persists more than a few days, call our office.