Getting Metal Braces? How To Deal With Broken Brackets And Wires
Traditional metal braces are a fantastic at restoring bite aesthetics and functionality. No matter what kinds of braces you have, you must take good care of them. An issue you may encounter with metal braces is a broken bracket or wire. Here are some steps to help you prevent these issues and deal with them should they arise.
Avoid Certain Foods
Although the brackets are cemented to your teeth, they can still pop off with chewing forces. Your dentist will ask you to avoid hard foods, like nuts, sticky foods, like caramel candy, and crunchy foods, like popcorn. Even foods like carrots, corn, or apples will need to be cut up into small pieces before you eat them. If you do a good job following your diet restrictions, you won't likely have to deal with broken wires or brackets unless you get into an accident.
It's important not to ignore a broken wire or bracket. The braces won't be able to do their job correctly, so if you can get an appointment sooner rather than later, do so. If a bracket happens to fall off, save it for the appointment, as the dentist can re-cement it.
Use Dental Wax and Make an Appointment
If a wire or bracket does break, call your dentist or orthodontist right away to get on his or her schedule. Broken brackets usually don't bother patients, they just tend to slide around on the archwire. A broken wire, on the other hand, can poke your cheeks and gums and be an annoyance.
Carefully bend the wire away from the inside of your cheeks and use dental wax to secure it in place and cover up sharp edges. You can find dental or orthodontic wax at grocery stores, or you can ask your dentist for some when you visit the office.
Don't Wait for the Orthodontic Appointment if It's an Emergency
If a bracket is so loose that you are worried about ingesting it, or if a loose wire has punctured skin, don't wait for an appointment. It's important to get to an ER so that you can stop any bleeding with stitches and have the wires/brackets removed.
Many ERs have emergency dentists on staff who can cut the wires down so they don't do any more damage. Once you've treated the emergency, then you can make an appointment with your dentist to repair the metal braces.
For more information about metal braces, contact a dentist in your area today.