How to Care for Your Braces While You are Home
Posted on 03/19/2020
Taking good care of your braces between appointments is an important part of keeping your orthodontic treatment on schedule. Good oral hygiene, braces-friendly food choices, and knowing how to handle minor discomfort can help protect your teeth, brackets, and wires.
Most orthodontic issues are not true emergencies, but you should contact Tollgate Orthodontics whenever you experience a broken appliance, loose bracket, poking wire, persistent discomfort, or anything else that concerns you. Our team can determine whether the problem requires an appointment or can be managed temporarily at home.
Here are some helpful tips for caring for your braces and addressing common orthodontic concerns.
Sore Teeth and General Discomfort
It is normal for your teeth and mouth to feel tender after braces are placed or following an adjustment. This discomfort usually improves within a few days.
You may find relief by:
- Eating soft foods until the tenderness subsides
- Rinsing your mouth with warm salt water
- Applying orthodontic wax to any bracket or wire that is rubbing against your cheek
- Using an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed by your physician, pharmacist, or orthodontist
- Applying a warm washcloth or heating pad to the outside of your jaw
To prepare a saltwater rinse, dissolve one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of warm water. Swish gently and spit it out. Do not swallow the mixture.
Contact Tollgate Orthodontics if your discomfort is severe, continues to worsen, or does not improve after several days.
Poking or Irritating Wire
A wire may occasionally shift and begin rubbing against your cheek, lips, or gums.
Wash your hands before touching your braces. Using a clean cotton swab or the eraser end of a pencil, gently try to move the wire away from the irritated area and closer to the tooth.
If the wire cannot be moved, place a small amount of orthodontic wax over the sharp end. Drying the area first can help the wax remain in place.
Contact our office for guidance if the wire continues to cause discomfort. Do not attempt to cut a wire unless a member of our orthodontic team has advised you to do so.
Loose or Broken Bracket
A bracket may become loose after eating something hard or sticky or after an impact to the mouth. The bracket may remain attached to the wire even though it has separated from the tooth.
If the bracket is not causing discomfort, leave it in place and contact Tollgate Orthodontics. Avoid moving, pulling, or removing it yourself.
If the bracket is rubbing against your cheek, cover it with orthodontic wax for temporary relief. Our team will let you know whether the bracket should be repaired promptly or can wait until your next scheduled appointment.
Loose Wire
If a wire has slipped out of place, wash your hands and use clean tweezers to gently guide it back into the bracket or tube.
When the wire cannot be repositioned, place orthodontic wax over the irritating area and contact our office. Avoid pulling on the wire or trying to remove it yourself.
Lost Separator or Bite Pad
Separators and bite pads may occasionally become loose or fall out during orthodontic treatment.
This is generally not an emergency, but you should contact Tollgate Orthodontics to let us know. We will determine whether it needs to be replaced before your next appointment.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
Braces create additional spaces where plaque and food particles can collect. Maintaining a consistent oral hygiene routine helps protect your teeth and gums throughout treatment.
Remember to:
- Brush thoroughly at least twice each day using fluoride toothpaste
- Brush around every bracket and along the gumline
- Floss or clean between your teeth every day
- Use floss threaders, interdental brushes, or a water flosser when recommended
- Rinse your mouth with water after meals when brushing is not immediately possible
- Continue visiting your general dentist for routine examinations and cleanings
Learn more from our guide to brushing and flossing with braces.
Choose Braces-Friendly Foods
Eating the right foods can help prevent broken brackets, bent wires, and unnecessary orthodontic appointments.
Avoid hard, crunchy, chewy, and sticky foods, including:
- Hard candy
- Chewing gum
- Caramel and taffy
- Popcorn
- Ice
- Nuts
- Hard pretzels
- Corn chips
- Chewy bagels
- Biting directly into whole apples or raw carrots
Cut firm foods into small, bite-sized pieces and chew carefully using your back teeth.
See our complete list of foods to avoid with braces for additional guidance.
When Should You Contact Tollgate Orthodontics?
Please contact our office if you experience:
- A loose or broken bracket
- A loose, broken, or poking wire
- An appliance that no longer fits correctly
- Severe or persistent pain
- Swelling, bleeding, or signs of infection
- An injury to your teeth, jaw, or mouth
- Any orthodontic problem that concerns you
Problems involving significant facial trauma, uncontrolled bleeding, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or a suspected broken jaw require immediate medical attention.
We Are Here to Help
Minor orthodontic issues can happen, even when you take excellent care of your braces. The most important thing is to avoid making major adjustments to your appliance yourself.
Contact Tollgate Orthodontics whenever you have a question or concern. Our team will help you protect your braces, remain comfortable, and keep your treatment moving forward.
Sincerely
Dr. Daniel Eves
Tollgate Orthodontics
401-739-3900