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A poking wire or loose bracket can interrupt your day. Most appliance problems are not medical emergencies, but they still deserve a quick call so we can protect your comfort and keep treatment on track.
help with your braces
For a tooth or jaw injury, severe swelling, or another concern that goes beyond an appliance problem, see Orthodontic Emergencies.
Do not delay urgent care to read the page.
Trouble breathing or swallowing, heavy or uncontrolled bleeding, a suspected broken jaw, or major facial trauma needs emergency medical attention.
Call 911 or seek emergency care instead of waiting for an orthodontic appointment.
Some tenderness is normal after braces are placed or adjusted. Choose softer foods, rinse with warm salt water, and use an over-the-counter pain reliever only as directed on the label or by your medical provider.
Call us if pain is severe, gets worse, or does not begin to improve.
Cover the irritating area with orthodontic wax. If the wire moves easily, you may gently guide it toward the tooth with a clean cotton swab or pencil eraser.
Stop if it resists or hurts, and call us before attempting to cut or remove any wire.
Let us know when a bracket loosens, even if it does not hurt. If it is still attached to the wire, leave it in place and cover any rubbing area with orthodontic wax.
Avoid hard, sticky, and chewy foods.
Some broken brackets can be repaired at your next scheduled appointment. Our team will determine whether it can wait or needs an earlier repair.
comfort between visits
Orthodontic wax creates a temporary cushion over brackets or wires that rub against your mouth. Gishy Goo is another comfort product featured in our patient care guide. It covers irritating brackets or wires to help cushion your lips, cheeks, and tongue.
Follow the product’s instructions and ask our team if you need help applying it.
These products provide temporary comfort; they do not repair a broken bracket or wire. Contact us if irritation continues or gets worse.
troubleshooting
Call us about a loose band, expander, or other orthodontic appliance. Do not pull on it or repeatedly move it.
If it comes out completely, save it in a clean container and bring it to your appointment.
Try gentle flossing, a floss threader, or an interdental brush to loosen trapped food. Never use a pin, needle, or another sharp object around your teeth or braces.
Oral-B Super Floss is a Wildflower favorite for cleaning around braces. Its stiffened end helps guide the floss under orthodontic wires, while its spongy section cleans around brackets and between teeth.
For more cleaning tools, including water flossers and electric toothbrushes, see our Patient Resources page. Call us if you cannot remove it comfortably.
we're here to help
Call or text us with a description of the issue, when it started, and whether there is pain or injury. Sending a picture of the issue via text is helpful and will allow us to better assist you. A quick conversation helps us choose the appropriate next step.
If a poking wire or broken bracket is causing severe pain, call or text us right away. Please contact us before arriving so we can coordinate your care. Patients who arrive without an appointment may experience a significant wait because our schedule can accommodate only a limited number of patients at a time.
At Wildflower Orthodontics, there’s no such thing as a silly question. If we didn’t answer a question you have below, please call or email us. We’d love to help in any way we can.
Call us first. Wax and gentle repositioning may provide temporary comfort. Do not cut or remove a wire unless our team specifically instructs you to do so.
