What to do if your braces have broken

What to do if your braces have broken

01st June 2019

Braces are a great way to improve your smile. If you have crooked or wonky teeth, then there’s really no better solution than braces.

However, did you know that braces can sometimes break? It can happen for a number of reasons. Eating hard foods, getting hit in the mouth while playing contact sports, and even brushing your teeth too hard are all reasons why patients experience broken braces.

So, if your brace has broken, what do you do? Don’t worry because, in this blog post, we’ll tell you exactly what to do to get your braces repaired.

Step 1 – Inspect the damage

The first thing to do is to inspect the damage to your braces. First, check for any pieces that may have fallen off. The most common part of a brace that falls off is the brackets, which are the small blocks of metal or ceramic that are glued to your teeth. If a bracket has fallen off, then make sure to bring it with you to your next orthodontist appointment. Chances are your orthodontist will be able to reattach it.

Next, check the wire to see if it’s still attached to the brackets. If the wire is still attached, then leave it in place. However, if it’s hanging out loose, then try pushing it back in gently. If you can’t push it back in, then you need to take precautions to prevent the broken wire from cutting the inside of your mouth. To do this, first, take a pair of nail clippers and cut the protruding wire very carefully so that it’s no longer sticking out. Then, apply some dental wax to the broken wire to make sure that it won’t cut your mouth.

Step 2 – Make an emergency orthodontist appointment if necessary

The next thing is to decide whether to see an orthodontist or not. If the damage is serious, then you’ll need to make an appointment with your orthodontist right away to get the braces fixed. However, if the damage is only slight, then you may be able to wait until your next orthodontist appointment to get them fixed.

So, if your brace is seriously broken or if it’s hurting you, then make an emergency appointment with your orthodontist to get your braces repaired as soon as possible.

Step 3 – Take precautions until your next orthodontist appointment

There are a few things you can do while you wait for your next orthodontist appointment. These include:

• Rinse your mouth with salt water two or three times a day to heal any cuts to the inside of your mouth.
• Stick to soft foods, such as soup, mashed potato and yoghurts, to avoid doing more damage to your braces.
• If you’re experiencing mouth sores, then try applying a little bit of dental wax to the affected area. It should help to soothe your mouth.

Conclusion

Don’t worry – broken braces aren’t usually something to panic about. You can usually just wait to get them fixed at your next scheduled orthodontist appointment. However, if your broken brace is hurting you, then do see your orthodontist as soon as possible.