When things go wrong in life, it’s always best to have someone on your side to help you out. This is one of the roles our team at Wiesemann Orthodontics plays for our patients when their braces are damaged. We’re going to let you know precisely what to do when braces break.
Describing Damage
“Damage” is quite an umbrella statement when it comes to your braces. Incidents can vary from being relatively minor to requiring urgent attention. Common culprits are chewing through hard or sticky foods, or more acute incidents like a ball striking your mouth during a basketball game.
Here are a few scenarios we see fairly often:
- Bracket Blues: When a bracket is fully detached from a tooth, it may slide along the wire or create discomfort. We’ll reattach it during your scheduled repair visit.
- Woeful Wires: Wires can accidentally break, leaving you with sharp ends that prod or impale the cheek or gums. Applying orthodontic wax over the sharp edge can provide relief until the wire is adjusted professionally.
- Damaged Molar Band: Bands are placed around the back molars, and can loosen or detach completely, usually due to biting down on things. This component being damaged can compromise the stability of the rest of your braces.
Step by Step
The question is, what should you do next if your braces break? We’re going to break it down into a few simple steps for you in case you experience damage:
- Inspect the Scene: Take a closer look at what’s been broken—you can use a mirror, your phone’s camera, or the help of another set of eyes.
- Call Wiesemann Orthodontics: Call us as soon as you can. Explain the nature of the damage so we can provide you with tailored advice and determine whether an immediate visit to your nearest office is necessary.
- Apply Temporary Fixes: We’ll give you instructions on what you can do in the meantime. Keep any detached components, like brackets or bands, in a safe place.
Your Travel Toolkit
We always recommend that our patients carry around an orthodontic kit when they’re on the go. This can provide you with tools to help out if some of these aforementioned short-term solutions are needed:
- Orthodontic Wax: For many situations involving broken brackets or poking wires, orthodontic wax is our go-to solution at Wiesemann Orthodontics until you can attend an appointment. It works as an adhesive to hold loose brackets in place and can cover irritating edges on stray wires.
- Travel Toothbrush and Floss: Proper cleaning is a huge part of having braces—but these supplies are also useful for carefully cleaning around damaged areas, helping you better identify the source of the problem without causing more issues.
- Dental Mirror: Carrying your own dental mirror is incredibly handy for examining any areas of damage closely, especially if they’re located in hidden spots that are hard to see. This helps you build an accurate picture of what’s happened.
- Small Storage Container: If a piece of your braces, such as a bracket or band, comes off completely, keep it in a small container or ziplock bag. Bringing these components to your repair appointment helps Dr. Wiesemann.
Prevention and Protection
When it’s possible, we want our patients at Wiesemann Orthodontics to opt for preventative measures to avoid damage from happening. These behaviors can reduce the risk of damage:
- Stick to Braces-Friendly Foods: What you choose to eat plays a major role in keeping your braces healthy. Choose soft, braces-friendly options like yogurt, pasta, or smoothies to protect your appliances and keep your treatment plan on course.
- Wear a Mouthguard: If you play sports—recreationally, for a professional team, or every now and then in your backyard—a mouthguard is never optional with braces! Contact sports can pose one of the most direct risks of damage to your appliance, so please take this measure seriously.
- Break Bad Habits: Idle habits like gnawing on pens, fingernails, or ice may seem innocent—but they can pose a problem when you get braces. You should also correct any bad habits related to your oral hygiene. Brush and floss diligently to avoid further damage to your braces related to plaque buildup and decay.
Taking Care of Business
Remember that everyone who has braces is at risk of damaging them—and that it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Immediately touching base with our team is the best tool you have so that we can create a plan for what to do next. We have four convenient locations in Bowling Green, Russellville, Portland, South Warren, or White House at your service.