Table of Contents
- When a Broken Bracket Is an Emergency
- Common Causes of Bracket Breakage
- Immediate Steps to Take After a Bracket Breaks
- Temporary Fixes at Home Until You See the Orthodontist
- When to Call Your Orthodontist
- Preventing Future Bracket Breakage
- Talk to Dobie Revolution Orthodontics If You’ve Broken a Bracket
Brace brackets break sometimes. It just happens! Whether you bit into something too hard or bumped your face during sports, it’s not the end of the world, but you should take it seriously.
A broken bracket doesn’t always mean an emergency, but it’s still a good idea to contact your orthodontist and come up with a plan. Here’s what to know, what to do, and how to try and prevent it from happening again.
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When a Broken Bracket Is an Emergency
Most of the time, you can wait a few days. But, call your orthodontist if:
- The wire is poking into your cheek, tongue, or gums
- You’re in significant pain
- You can’t close your mouth properly
- The bracket is causing bleeding or swelling
- A wire has completely come out or is bent out of place
Common Causes of Bracket Breakage
Brackets are attached to teeth with a strong adhesive, but they’re definitely not indestructible. Here are the most common reasons they break:
Eating the Wrong Foods
Sticky, crunchy, or hard foods are often the main culprit. Chewing ice, biting into whole apples, or snacking on popcorn can easily knock a bracket loose.
Facial Impact or Sports Injury
A bump to the mouth during sports or even a fall can detach a bracket. If you’re playing any kind of contact sports, wearing a mouthguard is highly recommended and can help prevent this from happening. However, always be careful when taking the mouthguard in and out, because doing so aggressively can also knock a bracket off.
Bad Habits
Chewing on pens, biting your nails, or using your teeth as tools (like to open packages) puts pressure on your braces. Brackets can’t always take that kind of pressure.
Immediate Steps to Take After a Bracket Breaks
Stay calm, a broken bracket isn’t the end of your treatment, but here’s what to do next:
Step 1: Check What’s Loose
Check in a mirror. Is the bracket still attached to the wire? Is it dangling or sliding around? This helps you know what to tell your orthodontist.
Step 2: Relieve Any Irritation
If something is poking or rubbing, using orthodontic wax can be a game changer! Dry the area first, then roll a small piece of wax and press it over the sharp spot. This is also a great way of stabilizing a bracket so that it doesn’t slide back and forth on the wire.
Step 3: Call Your Orthodontist
Let them know what happened and they’ll tell you if it needs to be fixed right away or if it can wait until your next appointment.
Temporary Fixes at Home Until You See the Orthodontist
If you can’t get in right away, here’s how to stay comfortable in the meantime:
Managing Discomfort Until Your Appointment
- Use orthodontic wax to cover any sharp areas
- Use orthodontic wax to prevent the loose bracket from sliding back and forth
- Rinse with warm salt water to ease soreness or swelling
- Take over-the-counter pain relief if needed
- Avoid foods that require a lot of chewing
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When to Call Your Orthodontist
Even if it doesn’t hurt, a broken bracket can slow down your progress. Always call your orthodontist if:
- A bracket or wire is loose, broken, or missing
- You’re unsure if it needs fixing
- You have pain that isn’t going away
Quick fixes at home are most times only temporary. Your orthodontist still needs to check your braces and get you back on track.
Preventing Future Bracket Breakage
You can’t stop every accident, but a few small habits can help you avoid repeat issues:
- Follow the food guidelines your orthodontist gave you
- Use a mouthguard during sports or strenuous activities
- Stop chewing on non-food objects
- Cut your food into smaller pieces and chew slowly
- Keep up with regular orthodontic appointments so problems get caught early
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Talk to Dobie Revolution Orthodontics If You’ve Broken a Bracket
It’s not a disaster, but it is something to take care of. Here at dobie revolution orthodontics, we’ll help you fix any issue with your braces quickly and keep your treatment moving forward.
Call us if you’ve broken a bracket or have questions about what to do next. We’re here to make sure you stay comfortable and on track!