Caring for your Braces

You may discover that you have loose or broken braces. This is usually caused by playing with your braces or eating hard or sticky foods. Cover with wax if needed for comfort and avoid connecting elastics to loose appliances. In some cases, broken braces require an extra appointment. Please contact us to ask what the next step will be. Be careful not to break too many brackets as this can really hold up finishing your treatment!

Sometimes as your teeth shift, the ends of the wires will start poking out the back of the molar tubes and can irritate the cheeks. You can try to push the wire away from the irritated area by using a cotton swab or pencil eraser. If the wire does not move, cover it with a small pea-sized amount of wax. Call the office for an extra appointment or advice if you cannot resolve the problem.

Teeth may become sore or achy following an orthodontic activation appointment. Usually the teeth are most sore during the first 24 – 72 hours. After 72 hours, the teeth usually start feeling better. Eat soft food if necessary and take the pain relief you would use for a headache.

During the first week of treatment, you may notice sores or ulcerations inside your mouth. This can happen because your lips and cheeks are not yet used to rubbing against your braces. With time, your skin on the inside of your mouth will get tougher and you will not get sores anymore. To provide some relief in the early weeks, dry the bracket causing the problem with a tissue and then place a small, pea-sized amount of wax over the brace. The sore should improve within a couple of days and completely heal within a week. Call us for an appointment if it does not improve.

During treatment, flexible wires may slip out of the bracket slots of the back teeth. This may be avoided by not eating anything hard or chewy. If the wire comes out of the tube, try placing it back in using tweezers. If necessary, cover the loose wire with wax and contact the practice for advice.

If an elastic tie (o-ring) falls off, contact our office to get advice on what to do. Sometimes you can wait until your next appointment to have it replaced. Other times we will want to see you for a quick visit to put it back on.

Contact the office as soon as possible to have the appliance adjusted.

If an accident occurs during treatment involving the teeth, call your dentist immediately.