Braces First Aid

PATIENT INFO | First Aid

If a wire causes irritation, push the wire away from the area using the eraser end of a pencil or a Q-Tip. If the wire cannot be tucked away, cover the end of the wire with a small piece of wax, a cotton ball, or a piece of sugarless gum until you can see us for an adjustment.

If the main wire has come out of the tube or band on your back molar tooth, attempt to reinsert the wire with a pair of needle-nosed pliers or tweezers. If the wire is not sticking you, place a piece of wax over the area. If the wire is sticking you and wax does not help, the wire can be cut with a small wire cutter or toenail clipper close to the back of the last brace. This is a last resort if professional help is unavailable.

If a bracket becomes loose, it usually remains connected to the main wire by a little rubber colored ring, called a ligature. Eyebrow tweezers can be used to reposition the brace if it flips around the wire and becomes a source of irritation. Call our office at 413-443-0644 if it is still causing irritation.

If a piece of your braces breaks, save the piece and call our office to schedule a repair visit.

Remain calm if you swallow a piece of your appliance. This will usually go into the stomach, passing out of the body in a bowel movement. However, should difficulty breathing be experienced you should seek immediate medical attention. X-rays will be taken to determine the location of the swallowed piece.

If a retainer cracks, remove the retainer from your mouth and bring all the pieces to our office for professional repair.

Take Aspirin, Tylenol or Ibuprofen (unless allergic) if your teeth are sore after a bi-monthly visit.

Rinsing your mouth with a cup of warm water and teaspoon of salt can also be soothing.

If food becomes stuck between your teeth, use dental floss or a proxy brush to dislodge the food.

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Dr. Hanson is a board certified orthodontist located in Pittsfield, MA.