Braces do an exceptional job of straightening teeth but can come with challenges. Sometimes, the challenges can prevent patients from completing their orthodontic journey to a beautiful smile. Fortunately, you can manage the most common obstacles to straightening your teeth.

Traditional braces use brackets and wires to straighten teeth. Your orthodontist in Melbourne cement metal or ceramic brackets onto the surface of your teeth. Special cables, known as archwires or ligature wires, gradually pull your teeth in the desired direction.

Most Common Challenges of Braces

Soft tissue injuries

Brackets and wires can damage delicate tissue inside your mouth, such as your cheeks or lips. This damage can make it painful to eat, talk, or smile. Soft tissue injuries can result from trauma to your mouth, broken wires or brackets, or even friction from the braces themselves.

First, a dab of dental wax is applied to the surface, causing injury, such as the jagged edge of a broken wire. Next, rinse your mouth with warm saltwater, which acts as a natural disinfectant to reduce your risk of infection and can help the wound heal faster. Use a cold compress on your mouth or cheek over the affected area to reduce swelling, and take over-the-counter pain relievers as needed. Eat soft food.

Broken brackets

While brackets are sturdy and firmly attached to the surface of teeth, they can break when you eat especially hard or crunchy food, causing trauma to your mouth or even overly aggressive brushing.

The first step is to inspect the damage. While you might be tempted to correct the problem, call your orthodontist before touching the broken bracket. Follow all directions, which may or may not involve removing the bracket.

Bring the bracket to your orthodontist’s office if the bracket has come off. If it is still attached to the wire, apply dental wax to hold it in place.

Food stuck

Food can get stuck beneath the brackets and wires of braces. Once there, the stuck food can push against your teeth or gums or pull against the brackets – this can be painful! Stuck food can also cause bad breath, detract from the clean appearance of your smile, and even lead to cavities.

Avoid sticky foods like gum, toffee, or caramel to reduce the risk of food getting stuck in your braces. Once the food is stuck, you may be able to remove it using a floss threader or interproximal brush. You can remove stubborn food particles by putting a small knot in the floss.

Protruding wires

Wires can break and poke your cheek or lip.

Use a clean pencil eraser to remove the broken wire from soft tissue until you no longer feel it. Rub some orthodontic wax on the sharp edge if that doesn’t work. If that doesn’t work, contact your orthodontist.

Discomfort, especially while eating or biting

Most people experience discomfort or pain after getting braces for the first time. This discomfort can last for a few days or up to a week. Patients also report discomfort after visiting the orthodontist for adjustments, but it usually lasts only a day or two after the appointment.

Non-prescription pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can ease discomfort. Eat soft foods during the first few days.

Contact your orthodontist if pain or discomfort lasts for more than 2 weeks.

Gum disease and cavities

More than 700 species of bacteria live in the human mouth. These bacteria feed on the sugars in the foods you eat. Food and bacteria can become trapped in your braces. Your braces can trap food and bacteria against the surface of your teeth and gums, which increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Poor oral hygiene can contribute to gum disease and cavities.

Of course, prevention is always the best medicine, so be sure to brush and floss properly to remove food and bacteria from the surface of your teeth and gums.

Consult with Your Orthodontist in Melbourne

To learn more about braces in Melbourne and how to overcome the most common challenges they can present, consult with Reddick Orthodontics. Our teeth-straightening professionals can suggest ways to keep your braces comfortable and practical. We offer traditional braces, Invisalign, clear ceramic braces, surgical orthodontics, early treatment, adult orthodontics, appliances, retainers, and night guards. Contact Reddick Orthodontics today!