Emergency Care

True orthodontic emergencies are rare, but when they do occur, we are available to help you. As a general rule, you should call our office when you experience severe pain or have a painful appliance problem you can't take care of by yourself. We'll schedule an appointment to resolve the problem.

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to solve many problems by yourself temporarily until you can get to our office. If there is a loose piece that you can remove, put it in a plastic bag or envelope and bring it with you on your next appointment. If your braces are poking you, put soft wax on the piece that's sticking out. If the wire has slid to one side, you can pull it back to the other side with needle-nosed pliers, replacing it in the tube on the back tooth.

General Soreness

When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth, and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. Stick to a soft diet until your teeth do not hurt when you chew. 

Irritated gums and other sore spots can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in eight ounces of warm water and rinse your mouth with the solution vigorously. An alternative (better tasting) mouthwash is the Healthy Gums Rinse by The Natural Dentist. 

Placing Orabase, which is available in most pharmacies, in the affected area may also help relieve discomfort. If the tenderness is severe, take Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain. Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), and Naproxen Sodium (Naprosyn, Anaprox) slow the tooth movement, so it is not advisable to use them frequently while wearing braces.

Loose Appliance

If your appliance is poking you, place wax on the offending part.

Loose Bracket

If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it if needed for comfort. If the bracket or band can be removed easily, place it in an envelope and save it to bring to your next appointment.

Loose Wire

Using a pair of tweezers or needle-nosed pliers, try to put your wire back into place. It is okay to use a piece of floss to tie the wire into place: tie the floss around the bracket in place of the missing colored o-ring. If you cannot put the wire into a comfortable position, and covering the end with wax doesn't help, as a last resort use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If the end of the wire is still sharp place wax on it.

Poking Wire

Using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or place wax on it so that it is no longer poking.