Temporary Solutions For Your Orthodontic Emergencies

With the holiday season fast approaching, many orthodontists have plans to be out of the office. In a perfect world, your braces will behave while they're away, but in reality that might not always be the case. In fact, Murphy's Law suggests the discomfort of a poking wire, or loose bracket is a sure thing while your ortho is out of town! So what do you do in such a situation? Harner Orthodontics is here to provide you with temporary solutions for your orthodontic emergencies!

Loose Or Broken Brackets

It's not uncommon for brackets to break or become loose when you're eating hard or sticky foods. This typically can wait a few days to be seen by your orthodontist, so don't worry too much! If it's causing discomfort, however, break off a piece of wax and mold it over the uncomfortable area to offer your cheek relief.

Poking Wires

During eating, wires can bend and pop out of their band, break and start poking your cheek, or shift and begin poking the back of your mouth. This is extremely uncomfortable for patients and can easily ruin a long weekend if not handled properly. Luckily, we have some temporary bandaids to help you! If your wire has popped out of the band, try carefully re-inserting it into the tube with tweezers if possible. When not possible, or when wire is poking from above mentioned situations, use a piece of wax to hold wire in place until you can visit your orthodontist. As a last resort, you can cut the poking wire next to the closest bracking with a pair of nail clippers or a small wire cutter (be sure to consult your orthodontist before attempting this).

A Misdirected Metal Tie

Sometimes during eating or teeth brushing, the metal tie wire on your bracket may accidentally get redirected and cause irritation. To fix this, try pushing the wire back in place with the eraser end of a pencil. If you cannot shift the wire back in place, cover the area with wax to avoid further irritation until your orthodontist returns to the office.

Elastic Tie Falls Off

Although there isn't much you can do to solve this problem on your own at home, the good news is that this is typically not a big deal. Many orthodontists say this can even wait until your next appointment.

Mouth Sores

While your mouth is getting used to braces, it isn't abnormal for you to develop a mouth sore in an area where your bracket or wire is resting. In this situation, only time can fully heal the wound, but in the meantime, to make it more comfortable, put wax over the area that is causing discomfort. We also advise taking a pain reliever and eating soft foods until chewing is no longer bothersome.

Have a Question? Give Us a Call!

These tips can help you temporarily solve your orthodontic emergencies at home. At Harner Orthodontics, we believe comfort is important. If you have any questions about orthodontic care, or would like to schedule an appointment, please feel free to contact us at (714) 842-9933 and one of our helpful, friendly staff members will be happy to assist you. While we are located in Huntington Beach, we offer care to the surrounding areas including Seal Beach. We look forward to hearing from you soon!