Dental braces are strong and durable, but they are certainly not invincible. Rarely, circumstances can arise that damage them. For example, you might accidentally bite down on something too hard or have an accident while playing sports. What steps should you take if you ever break your braces? This blog post shares some practical steps you can take to manage the situation.
Call Your Care Provider
The dentist or orthodontist who is providing your care wants your treatment experience to be as comfortable as possible, so do not hesitate to call them if you have concerns or questions about your braces. For example, if you have a broken bracket, a loose wire, or other forms of damage to your braces, tell your care team what happened. They will provide personalized guidance to help you determine your next steps.
Depending on the details of the situation, they might recommend that you visit them for an emergency orthodontic appointment. When you go to visit them, they will complete any necessary repairs to get your braces back in working order.
Tend to Your Mouth
You should not try to repair your braces on your own — you might accidentally worsen the damage or harm your oral tissues. Instead, try to make yourself comfortable until you can receive professional care.
Here are a few tips that may be useful:
- Use a cotton swab or pencil erase to bend any protruding wires so they are flat against your teeth.
- If your brackets or wires are irritating your soft oral tissues, use orthodontic wax to cover the troublesome parts of your braces.
- Swish with warm saltwater to alleviate the pain of any sores that have developed due to irritation by your braces. An antiseptic mouthwash may also be helpful.
- Avoid eating hard, crunchy, and chewy foods. Instead, eat soft items, such as yogurt, eggs, and non-crusty breads.
- Take painkillers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, to reduce discomfort.
- Be gentle during your oral hygiene routine so you do not worsen the damage to your braces.
Avoid Future Incidents
When you visit your dentist or orthodontist, they may give you some friendly pointers on how to avoid future orthodontic emergencies. For example, they might recommend that you start wearing a custom mouthguard when you play sports or give you tips on how to choose foods that pose minimal risk to braces.
Broken braces are a bummer! Take prompt action to get your treatment back on track.
Meet the Practice
The team of specialists and general dentists at Family Dental Practice of Newington is proud to offer traditional braces, clear aligners, and a range of other treatments. If you ever have questions or concerns about your orthodontic gear or anything else that relates to your oral health, our office would be pleased to help you out. Contact our office at 860-856-6201.