If you or your child recently received metal braces, you’ll need to get used to wearing the metal hardware. While it is rare, an orthodontic emergency can occur. If you’re eating certain foods that you should be avoiding, or you experience facial trauma, parts of your hardware can move around, causing irritation and discomfort to your gums and cheeks.
That’s why your orthodontist in Canfield is offering solutions to emergencies commonly associated with braces. Some of these can be dealt with at home, however, others may require you to get to your orthodontist.
Irritation of the Lips and Cheek
Irritation is common when braces are first applied, but it shouldn’t occur for too long afterwards. To provide relief, your dentist will provide you with ReliefWax, a safe, edible rod of wax that can be molded to fit directly on your tooth.
To use the wax, simply pinch off a small amount, roll it into a ball, and squeeze it into a small disc. This will make it easy to push directly onto the bracket. Don’t worry if you swallow it while eating as the wax contains zero medication.
Ligatures Coming Off While Eating Sticky Foods
During your orthodontist visit, you’ll doctor will use ligatures that wrap around each of your individual braces. These are designed to keep the wire and brace together. Sometimes these rubber bands can come partially off the brace, usually from eating sticky foods.
For solving orthodontic emergencies like this, make sure you have a set of dental tweezers available. This will help you place the ligature back on the brace without too much trouble.
Knocked Brace
If you play sports or eat hard foods, your brace can be knocked out of place. This causes the attachment to fail and needs to be addressed promptly to avoid any delays in your treatment. If you notice a brace off center while brushing, schedule an appointment with your orthodontist.
Once you get to your orthodontist in Canfield, they’ll correct the problem using dental tweezers. First, they’ll slide the brace to the center of the tooth, then rotate the brace back against the tooth.
Protruding Wire
If a small amount of wire from your braces is sticking out, it can easily irritate your lips and cheek. In this instance, you can actually fix the problem using nail clippers. Simply clip the excess wire until it no longer rubs against your mouth tissue. You may want to use a tissue in tandem to catch the excess wire. If you don’t have nail clippers, use more of the relief wax and cover the excess wire until you get to your orthodontist.
Don’t let an orthodontic emergency get in the way of your weekend. If you’re experiencing an emergency and are too afraid to address it yourself, don’t hesitate to contact your orthodontists in Canfield today!
About the Author
Dr. Marissa Mikolich earned her undergraduate degree from Villanova University followed by her dental degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. She then earned her Master of Science degree in oral biology so she could provide advanced orthodontic care. To learn more about treating emergencies and her practice, contact her at (330) 967-4110 or visit her website.