Avoiding Orthodontic Emergencies

Orthodontic emergencies happen when you least expect them. As with any emergency in life, prevention is key. Below are just a few tips for keeping your smile safe and avoiding an injury or broken braces. However, if you’re currently experiencing an orthodontic emergency, contact our office as soon as possible. Even if you think you can fix a broken appliance on your own, any errors can lengthen your treatment time and increase costs if done incorrectly.

Practice Good Oral Hygiene
After eating, brush and floss slowly and mindfully to make sure you remove food particles. When the braces come off, you want your teeth underneath to be happy and healthy! Trapped food in your braces and teeth can result in excess plaque, which leads to gum disease. In severe cases, we may need to remove your braces to provide the proper dental treatment.

Eat Soft Foods
When you eat hard, crunchy, chewy, or sticky foods, you risk damaging your braces. Throughout orthodontic treatment, and especially the first few days, we recommend eating softer foods and taking smaller bites. Your teeth may feel sore the first few days after getting your braces placed, and eating foods that don’t require as much chewing or biting down can help ease some of the pain during meal times.
If you happen to break your brackets or wires, call our office to schedule an appointment for us to repair them. Please keep in mind that we may charge additional fees depending on the type of fix needed.

Wear Your Mouthguard
If you or your child play sports, we strongly encourage wearing a mouthguard. Mouthguards can greatly reduce the risk of painful injuries and broken appliances during games. At your next appointment, simply let us know you’d like a mouthguard. We can help you find the best one for your needs.