Ortho Emergencies

While this can be uncomfortable and embarrassing, it’s not an emergency. It can be fixed easily with a piece of dental floss.

Try tying a small knot in the middle of the floss to help remove the food or use an interproximal brush or toothpick to dislodge food caught between your teeth and your braces.

It’s normal to feel some discomfort for a day or two after your braces or retainers are adjusted, making eating uncomfortable.

Soreness during treatment is to be expected. Warm saltwater rinses and Advil help relieve soreness.

Your braces don’t cause mouth sores, but if you’re already prone to them, any irritation caused by your braces could make them worse.

One or several patches of sores may appear on your cheeks, lips, or tongue. This isn’t an emergency, but can still be very uncomfortable.

Get quick relief by applying a small amount of topical anesthetic (such as Orabase or Ora-Gel) directly to the area with sores using a cotton swab.

You can reapply as needed.

New braces can irritate your mouth, especially when you’re eating.

A small amount of non-medicinal relief wax makes an excellent buffer between the metal and your mouth.

Just pinch off a small piece and roll it into a ball the size of a small pea.

Flatten the ball and place it completely over the area of the braces causing irritation.

Then, you can eat more comfortably. If you accidentally swallow the wax, it’s not a problem. The wax is harmless.

Occasionally, the end of a wire will work itself out of place and irritate your mouth.

Sometimes a poking wire can be safely turned down so that it no longer causes you discomfort.

Try to tuck the wire back in and out of the way with the blunt end of a toothbrush or some other smooth object.

If you cannot take care of a poking wire, apply wax and call our office for an appointment.

You'll need to make Dr. Goldberg, Dr. Davis or Dr. Steitz aware of the problem.

If the wire is extremely bothersome, and you can't see Dr. Goldberg, Dr. Davis or Dr. Steitz anytime soon, you may clip the wire as a last resort.

Reduce the possibility of swallowing the snipped piece of wire by using folded tissue or gauze around the area.

Use a pair of sharp clippers and snip off the protruding wire.

Relief wax may still be necessary to provide comfort to the irritated area.

If a bracket comes loose from the tooth, call Dr. Goldberg, Dr. Davis or Dr. Steitz to determine the next steps.

Brackets are the parts of braces attached to teeth with a special adhesive. They are generally positioned in the center of each tooth. The bracket can be knocked off if you've eaten one of those hard or crunchy foods you are instructed to avoid or if the mouth is struck while at play.

We encourage all patients, especially those with braces, to wear a protective mouthguard while playing sports.

If the bracket is off-center, the adhesive may have failed. In this instance, it is best to immediately notify Dr. Goldberg & Dr. Davis, who will determine the course of action.

While a tight bracket actually protects a tooth from decay, a loose bracket is extremely dangerous, and decay can occur under it very rapidly.

If the bracket is still attached to a wire, leave it in place and apply wax if there is discomfort. If the bracket comes completely off, place it in an envelope and call for an appointment.

Contact our office immediately, or contact your general dentist.

Please remember: If you are involved in contact sports, a regular mouthguard can be fitted over your braces for added protection.

This is rare, but when it does happen, it can be alarming. It’s best to stay calm.

If you're coughing excessively or having difficulty breathing, you may have inhaled the piece into your airways or lungs.

If you can see the piece, you may carefully attempt to remove it.

DO NOT make the attempt if you could cause harm.

If appropriate under the circumstances, examine your braces for problems resulting from the missing piece, such as looseness or irritation, and treat as specified above.

If you cannot see the piece and believe it may have been inhaled, call Dr. Goldberg, Dr. Davis or Dr. Steitz immediately.