When you have braces, it is not uncommon to break the wire or bracket. You don’t need to panic as the damage is mostly reversible, but you should still take action to repair your broken braces.
If your braces are damaged, it may cause injuries like cuts and abrasions and discomfort to your mouth. And going long-term with broken braces will reduce the effectiveness of your treatment. Before you can get to the Orthodontist for a full repair, you may need to do a minor repair yourself.
How to Temporarily Fix Broken Braces
The wires and brackets of braces are pretty sharp, so you will need to do something about them before seeing your orthodontist. You can use tweezers or nail clippers to cut the broken wire and adjust the bracket. You will need some wax to cover up the sharp edges. This will protect your mouth from more cuts.
What to Do If Your Wires Break
The wires that hold the arch of your braces are pretty sharp and can pierce your cheek and gum. This may cause bleeding or further oral infections. You will need to keep the broken wire out of the way until you see an orthodontist. You will need a sharp clipping object to cut off the ends. Care should be taken for children as they may accidentally swallow the clipped part of the wire
What to Do If Your Brackets Get Unattached
If your bracket (that is, the parts attached to the teeth) comes off but is still on the wire, you can move it and immediately schedule an appointment with your orthodontist to reattach them. These cause fewer injuries to the mouth, but they can still be uncomfortable. You can cover it up with a dental wax so it stays in place, and in the meantime, use sterilized tweezers to move the bracket along the wire into place or rotate it in the right direction. This should hold until your orthodontist can schedule an appointment to fix it.
What to Do If Your Wires are Protruding
Braces are designed to move your teeth, but this movement may sometimes cause the wires to come out of the last bracket. The protruding wires may pierce your tongue, gum, or insides of your cheek and cause discomfort or bleeding. You will need to cut off the end of the cables and use dental wax to cover the ends, pending your next orthodontic appointment.
What to Do If Your Wires Bend
Bent wires are caused mainly by chewing food that is too hard. The wires of your braces are designed to pull your teeth into the desired positioning, but if they are bent, you will not meet your desired results. The bands without the wires are loose and will do nothing for you.
If you have a bent wire, make an orthodontic appointment as soon as possible. This is important, so you do not fall into a situation where it comes in the way of your treatment timelines and goals.
For more information on orthodontic treatment and guidelines, explore Beauty Smile Ortho.