Orthodontic Emergencies

This isn’t an emergency, but it can be uncomfortable or embarrassing. It’s easily fixed with a piece of dental floss.

Try tying a small knot in the middle of the floss to help remove the food or use an interproximal brush or toothpick to dislodge food caught between your teeth and braces.

It’s normal for you to have discomfort for a day or two after braces or retainers are adjusted, but it can make eating uncomfortable.

This discomfort is very normal and only for a short time.

Try eating soft foods and rinse the mouth with warm saltwater. If the pain is persistent, over-the-counter pain medication can help.

You may be susceptible to mouth sores. While your braces don’t cause them, they may be made worse by irritation from braces.

One or several patches of sores may appear on the cheeks, lips or tongue. This is not an emergency, but it may be very uncomfortable for you.

Get quick relief by applying a small amount of topical anesthetic (such as Orabase or Ora-Gel) directly to the area with sores using a cotton swab.

You can reapply as needed.

Sometimes new braces can irritate your mouth, especially when you're eating. A small amount of non-medicinal relief wax makes an excellent buffer between the metal and your mouth.

Simply pinch off a small piece and roll it into a ball the size of a small pea. Flatten the ball and place it completely over the irritating area of your braces.

Then, you can eat more comfortably. If you accidentally swallow the wax, it’s not a problem. The wax is harmless.

As your teeth start to move, the archwire that connects them may also move and start to poke out near the back of your mouth and cause irritation.

You can often move this wire into a better position using the eraser end of the pencil or a cotton swab. You can manipulate any misplaced wires or ties back into place by gently using a pair of clean tweezers.

If some of the wires or brackets have shifted, and it’s irritating your mouth, you can use orthodontic wax to cover the parts poking out.

In a situation where the wire is extremely bothersome, and you can't see Dr. Dietrich anytime soon, you may, as a last resort, clip the wire.

Reduce the possibility of swallowing the snipped piece of wire by placing folded tissue or gauze around the area.

Use a pair of sharp clippers and snip off the protruding wire. Relief wax may still be necessary to provide comfort to the irritated area.

If your braces come loose in any way, call Dr. Dietrich to determine the next steps.

This problem is often caused by eating hard or sticky foods or playing with your braces. If the band or bracket is still attached to the wire, leave it alone and don’t connect any elastics to it.

You can cover it with orthodontic wax if it’s irritating the inside of your mouth. If any part of your braces has come off, save the piece and bring it to your next appointment. Please let us know when anything is wrong with your appliance.

We encourage all patients, especially those with braces, to wear a protective mouthguard while playing sports.

If the bracket is off-center, the adhesive may have failed. In this instance, it’s best to notify Dr. Dietrich immediately, who will determine the course of action.

If the loose bracket has rotated on the wire and is sticking out and you can't come to our office immediately, you can do a temporary fix to alleviate discomfort and prevent further damage, but take care to prevent swallowing or another injury.

To put the bracket back in place, use sterile tweezers to slide the bracket along the wire until it is between two teeth.

This is rare, but when it does happen, it can be alarming. It’s important to stay calm.

If you're coughing excessively or having difficulty breathing, you may have inhaled the piece into your airways or lungs.

If you can see the piece, you may carefully attempt to remove it.

DO NOT try if you could cause harm.

If appropriate under the circumstances, examine your braces for problems that may result from the missing piece, such as looseness or irritation, and treat as specified above.

If you can’t see the piece and believe you may have inhaled it, call Dr. Dietrich immediately.