Most kids and adults who receive treatment with braces have no problems with the process. However, occasionally, accidents may require you to do some at-home care or schedule an emergency procedure with your orthodontist in Melbourne. How do you take care of a problem with your braces at home? What qualifies as a real orthodontic emergency? Keep reading to learn more.

Genuine Orthodontic Emergencies with Braces

Braces are a highly safe form of orthodontic treatment that can straighten teeth, correct bite issues, and guide the development of a child’s jaw and facial features. An estimated four million Americans are undergoing treatment with braces at any given time. Most patients will never experience any significant problems with their braces because the medical technology of these appliances is so advanced. On rare occasions, something can go wrong.

Here are some things that qualify as genuine emergencies and which will require orthodontic care as soon as possible:

• Pain or discomfort that cannot be relieved with standard OTC medications
• A blow to the face that impacts the braces and causes trauma to tissues or teeth
• A broken appliance that causes severe pain and risks injuring the tongue, cheeks, or gums

Some less severe issues don’t require emergency treatment, and you can often deal with them at home. These include:

• Bracket comes loose, but does not cause discomfort
• Mild soreness after having braces adjusted
• Wire poking the inside of the cheeks or gums

The less severe issues can be taken care of temporarily at home.

How to Deal with Loose or Broken Brackets

The brackets are the little metal squares attached to each tooth. These can occasionally come loose or break if the patient bites down on something hard. Examine the bracket to see if it is still attached to the wire. If it is, leave it until you can make it to your Melbourne orthodontist’s office. A warm salt water mouth rinse can help to soothe any discomfort. If a bracket comes loose but is still on the wire, you can grab it with sterile tweezers. Move it back to the center of the tooth and fix it in place with some dental wax. Then, call Dr. Reddick’s office.

Temporary Fixes for Protruding Brackets or Wires

Dental wax should be your go-to remedy for most minor problems with brackets or wires. If you have a bracket or wire poking inside the cheek and causing discomfort, the wax can cover it until your orthodontist can adjust. To use dental wax:

1. Wash your hands with soap and water first and dry them.
2. Roll a small piece of wax around in your fingers until it softens.
3. Smoosh it over the wire or bracket to cover up the irritating spot.

Tip: If you don’t have any dental wax handy, a small piece of sugar-free gum can be used in a pinch.

If a wire is protruding or poking the inside of the cheeks, you can use a pencil eraser to push it flat against the tooth gently. Sometimes, a wire can shift while remaining attached to the brackets, which pokes the inside of the mouth on one side. You can grab the wire with sterile tweezers and gently slide it back into place. The key to any of these at-home remedies is to approach it gently. Don’t try to force anything, or you could end up doing more damage to the wire or brackets.

Preventive Measures

Most kids receiving treatment with braces will still want to play their favorite sports, and they might have PE classes. Our office can provide you with a custom sports mouthguard for your child to wear, which provides added protection. Be sure to follow your Melbourne orthodontist’s dietary guidelines to protect your braces from damage as well.

You should contact us if you are experiencing a genuine emergency with braces or even just a minor problem. Our office can provide the following steps to take or schedule an emergency appointment to deal with the issue.