Table of Contents
- What to Do When You Break a Wire on Your Braces
- When a Broken Wire Is an Emergency
- Common Causes of Wire Breakage
- Immediate Steps to Take After a Wire Breaks
- Temporary Fixes at Home Until You See the Orthodontist
- When to Call Your Orthodontist
- Preventing Future Wire Breakage
- Talk to Dobie Revolution Orthodontics If You’ve Broken a Wire
What to Do When You Break a Wire on Your Braces
A broken brace wire can be annoying, uncomfortable, and sometimes even painful. Often times a broken wire isn’t an emergency, but you do want to take care of it in a timely manner so it doesn’t cause continued irritation or slow down your treatment process.
Let’s walk through what to do, what not to do, and when to call your Orthodontist in the event that your wire does break.
When a Broken Wire Is an Emergency
Call your Orthodontist if:
- The wire is stabbing your cheek, tongue, or gums
- You’re in serious pain or bleeding
- A wire has fully come loose and is hanging out
- You can’t eat or close your mouth properly
- You’re starting to develop a sore or infection near the wire
Are you in the New Haven/Shoreline area and have questions about a broken brace wire?
A free consultation with dobie revolution orthodontics is always available.
Common Causes of Wire Breakage
Brace wires are designed to be resilient, but unfortunately, they’re not invincible. Here are the most common ways they break or bend:
#1 - Eating hard or crunchy foods
Eating chips, popcorn, raw veggies, or biting into something with a tougher texture can snap or bend a wire easier than you may think. It’s important to try and stick to foods that your Orthodontist approves during your braces treatment.
#2 - Physical trauma or injury to the mouth
Getting hit in the face while playing sports, or accidentally bumping your mouth can dislodge or break a wire. If you play contact sports, wearing a mouthguard specifically designed for braces will help protect your brackets and wires.
#3 - Wear and tear or incorrect brushing technique
Sometimes wires break from normal wear, but brushing too hard or at the wrong angle can also pull or bend them out of place. Be gentle and use the brushing technique your Orthodontist recommended.
Immediate Steps to Take After a Wire Breaks
The first few minutes after a wire breaks matter. Make sure you stay calm and follow these steps:
Step #1 - Check the damage and locate the broken wire
Using a mirror and clean hands, see if the wire is poking out, bent, or hanging loose. Take note of what’s happening so you can explain it when you call your Orthodontic office.
Step #2 - Use orthodontic wax or clip sharp edges
If the broken wire is irritating your cheek or gums, you can dry the area and cover it with orthodontic wax. If it’s really sharp and you can’t get to the office right away, you can carefully trim the end with clean nail clippers or cuticle cutters, but only if you can cleanly see and access the bothersome wire.
Step #3 - Avoid playing with the wire
You can try and push the bent wire back into place gently using a pencil eraser. After you have pushed it back into a more comfortable place, do not keep playing or poking at it. If you continue to play with it, you can make things worse. Once you’ve covered it with wax, leave it alone until you’re seen by your Orthodontist.
Temporary Fixes at Home Until You See the Orthodontist
Your wire may need professional attention, but in the meantime, there are a few things you can do to stay comfortable.
Managing Discomfort Until Your Appointment
- Cover the wire with orthodontic wax to prevent rubbing or cuts to your mouth and gums
- Rinse your mouth with warm salt water to reduce irritation
- Eat soft foods and avoid chewing near the damaged area
- Take over-the-counter pain relief if needed (Advil or Tylenol, etc.)
- Avoid touching or pulling on the wire, this could make the damage worse
These steps aren’t a permanent fix, but they’ll help until you can get into the office.
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When to Call Your Orthodontist
It’s important to call your Orthodontic office as soon as you notice a broken or painful wire. Even if it doesn’t seem urgent, it’s still best practice to let the professionals know.
Reach out right away if:
- Your broken bracket is causing you severe pain
- The wire is cutting into your mouth or gums and you cannot bend it away
- You’re unsure what damage happened or how to manage it
- It’s been longer than 24 hours and things aren’t improving
It’s always better to be safe than sorry and check with your Orthodontist. This way, you don’t wait and risk slowing your progress.
Preventing Future Wire Breakage
There are a few small habits that help keep your wires from breaking:
- Try to stay away from sticky, hard, or crunchy foods
- Use a mouthguard designed for braces during sports or physical activities
- Brush and floss gently and use the right tools
- Don’t use your fingers or tongue to mess around with your braces and wires
- Follow your Orthodontist’s care instructions closely
If breaking wires becomes a common occurrence, we’ll talk through your habits and figure out what’s going on together.
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Talk to Dobie Revolution Orthodontics If You’ve Broken a Wire
Brace wire breaks aren’t fun, but fortunately they’re pretty easily fixable. The key is to act quickly, protect your mouth, and let us know what’s going on.
If you’re dealing with a broken wire, don’t wait and call dobie revolution orthodontics and we’ll walk you through the next steps or get you in as soon as possible for a repair.
We're here to keep your treatment smooth and stress-free!