Braces First Aid

True orthodontic emergencies are rare, but when they occur, we are available for you. As a general rule, you should call the office when you experience severe pain or when you have a painful appliance problem that you cannot take care of yourself. When the office is closed, Dr. Valley and her assistants are on call and can be reached on their cell phone. If Dr. Valley is out of town, she has a local orthodontist who will be available to take care of your emergency needs.

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many problems yourself. If you are able to alleviate your discomfort on your own, it is very important that you still call our office to inform us of the problem and to schedule an appointment for us to assess the situation.

If you have a damaged appliance, but it is not causing you discomfort, we advise you still call our office to inform us of the situation, so that we may schedule a regular appointment with you to take care of your appliance. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions in your treatment plan.

The following solutions may help you relieve your discomfort:

If you have a poking wire...

Try using a pencil eraser to push the poking wire down away from your cheek or lip. You can also place a small ball of wax to temporarily cushion the area.

If a brace comes loose from a tooth...

It usually remains connected to the main wire and is not cause for an emergency visit. Tweezers can be used to reposition the brace if it flips around the wire and becomes a source of irritation. Call our office at your earliest convenience. It may be necessary to schedule a separate visit to repair the loose brace(s) since repairs of this nature usually take additional time.

If the main wire has come out of the brace or tube on a back molar tooth...

Attempt to reinsert the wire with a pair of needle nosed pliers or tweezers. If the wire is not sticking, place a piece of wax over the area. If the wire is sticking and wax does not help, the wire can be cut with a small wire cutter or nail clipper close to the back of the last brace. This is a last resort if professional help is unavailable.

If your teeth become sore after a visit...

We generally recommend that you take an analgesic such as acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin). This, of course, is the protocol only if there are no known allergies to these medications. Rinsing with Peroxyl or a cup of warm water and teaspoon of salt can also be soothing. Chewing sugarless gum for 10 to 15 minutes following an adjustment can often reduce the soreness that may develop.

If your lips, cheeks and tongue have become irritated...

This is normal for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can place a small ball of wax on the braces to smooth the area. If a small sore has developed on the inside of your cheek or lip, use Orabase or a similar non-prescription topical anesthetic that is available at your local drug store.

If a part of your braces or your retainer breaks...

Save the piece and call to set up a repair visit. If your appliance is not repairable, it may be necessary to fabricate a replacement.

If you notice some small spaces developing between your teeth while you have braces on...

Don't panic! This is usually normal and expected as teeth move into different positions, particularly in the early stages of treatment. They will be closed eventually.

If a rubber spacer falls out...

You can try to replace it your self by threading a couple pieces of floss through it and then pulling it under and up between the teeth. Then remove the floss. However, for most it is best to just call the office to schedule an appointment to have us replace it. It only takes us 5 minutes or less.

If you experience any bleeding when brushing or flossing...

That usually means there is a local area of irritation, possibly from retained plaque or food. Continue to keep the area clean by brushing, flossing and rinsing with Listerine.

If a particular area is painful or you notice a bump of any sort...

Please give our office a call so that we can help you solve this problem.If food becomes stuck between your teeth, use dental floss or a proxy brush to dislodge the food. Please be careful not to damage your braces or wire!