What to Do If Your Braces Break

If your braces break unexpectedly, it’s important to not panic. This happens sometimes, and the solutions are simple and routine. Here are some steps for you or your child to take if you find yourself in this situation.

Call Our Office

If you experience a break or tear in any part of your braces, give us a call right away. Although this is not typically a dental emergency, we’ll get you scheduled to make a repair as soon as possible. We’ll also walk you through what you can do to manage problems from the damage until we can see you.

Care for Your Mouth

If your broken braces have caused a wire to become loose and scrape against mouth tissue, causing irritation or sores, rinse out gently with warm salt water to keep the area clean and reduce pain. Then, apply a small amount or orthodontic wax to any loose wire that may be sticking out. This will serve as a barrier to protect gums and cheeks until we can see you and fix the braces.

Eat Soft Foods

Stick with soft foods, such as yogurt, purees, stews, rice, soups, and other foods until we can repair your braces.

Don’t Try to Repair It Yourself

If you experience a loose bracket, spacer, or band, it may be tempting to touch the area excessively to solve the problem. We advise against this; it’s best to let us fix them to avoid further damage. If any part of your braces comes off completely, bring it in when you come to your appointment so we can replace it.

Keep the Area Clean

Be sure to keep up with your oral hygiene as directed and as usual. Brush, rinse, and floss as you would, taking care not to overly aggravate the area affected. We will get you seen ASAP, but continue to take care of your teeth in the meantime.

Call Us at 720-330-2712!

Hopefully, we won’t need to see you for problems related to broken braces, but if it happens, we are here and ready to help. Call us with any questions you may have about caring for your braces.

Categorised in: Braces