Whether it’s soreness in the gums or irritation of the cheeks due to a pokey wire, it is normal to feel some discomfort while in braces . Also don't stress if a bracket breaks off or a molar band comes loose – this sometimes happens.
Often times, you will be able to alleviate certain problems yourself until your next scheduled appointment. However, if you feel that there is an issue with your appliance that is out of the ordinary, do not hesitate to call our office.
Below are solutions to common problems that you may encounter:
General Soreness
From time to time, you may feel some soreness in your gums or irritation due to the braces. Rinsing your mouth with warm salt water or taking Tylenol will help ease the discomfort. This feeling will go away in a few days.
The inside of your lips and cheeks may become irritated for a while as they become accustomed to rubbing on the surface of your braces. If this happens, brace wax can be applied to the braces to alleviate the irritation.
The proper way to apply brace wax is to roll up a pea sized piece of wax, dry the irritated area, and then gently wrap the wax around the entire bracket. Don't worry if the wax falls off and is swallowed – the wax is safe and 100% non toxic.
Broken Bracket
Sometimes a bracket may break off or become loose. As long as the rest of your braces and archwire remain intact, your teeth will continue to move. Simply call our office to inform us of the situation and we will schedule more time during your next appointment for repairs.
Pokey Wire
Occasionally, you may feel the archwire protrude out towards the back, irritating your cheeks. If this occurs, cover it up with brace wax or try gently bending inwards the pokey end of the archwire with your finger. If possible you can cut the pokey end of the archwire with a clean nail clipper or wire cutter.
Lost Ligature Tie
A single lost ligature tie will not affect your treatment. If a ligature tie comes off and you still have it, try your best to place it back around the bracket. As long as the rest of your braces are still attached to the archwire, your teeth will continue to move.
Loose Molar Band
If your molar band becomes loose, try to push it back in place and do not chew on that particular side of your mouth. If your molar band totally comes off your tooth, hold on to it. In either case, call our office to inform us of the situation and we will schedule more time during your next appointment for repairs.
