It takes a few days for the cheeks, tongue and lips to get used to the braces. Initially there may be some soreness as well due to the gentle pressure being applied to move teeth. To minimize soreness take Tylenol or Advil. Other bothersome things can be:
Long Wire: As teeth move the wire may become longer at the back. I f the long wire is painful, you can contact us and we can cut the long wire for you, in the meantime cover it with wax. You can also try to cut the wire yourself with an alcohol swiped nail clipper.
Wire out of the bracket slot: If the main wire has come out of the tube or slot on your back molar tooth, attempt to reinsert the wire with a clean set of tweezers. If you cannot re insert call us and in the meantime put wax on the wire if it is poking you. If the wire is sticking you and wax does not help and there is no orthodontist for miles, around, then the wire can be cut with a small wire cutter or clean nail clipper close to the back of the last brace.
Poking wire: If a wire is poking you, first try to bend it with your fingernail, a pencil eraser or a Q-tip. If you are unsuccessful, place a small piece of wax or a piece of sugarless gum over it until you can get in for an appointment. As a last resort, and if there is no orthodontist for miles around, you can cut the offending wire with a clean alcohol swiped fingernail clipper or fine wire cutters.
Lost spacer: If you loose a spacer, then you can try putting it back with a two strings of floss about 10 inches long. Thread the spacer with floss strings and stretch it over the space where the spacer was supposed to be. One part of the spacer will be below the contact area and the other part of the spacer will be exposed and just above the contact.
Loose bracket:Usually a loose bracket stays on the wire and if it rolling around you can slide it till it is closely adapted to the tooth and call us.
Broken Brackets: If a part of your braces breaks, save the piece and call to set up an appointment for a repair visit.
Ulcers and Canker Sores: If you develop ulcers or canker sores You can apply Orabase gel (Walgreens or any drug store aisle will carry it) to the affected area.
Cracked or broken retainer: If you develop a crack or break your retainer , please do not try to repair it yourself. Call us.
Sore tooth or teeth: If you experience soreness on your teeth after adjustment visits, then take Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) or Aspirin.
Loose teeth: As your teeth move with braces, it is normal for some teeth to feel loose. The teeth will eventually stabilize and not feel loose anymore. If your teeth feel sore then rinsing with a cup of warm water and ΒΌ tsp salt will provide comfort.
Bleeding when brushing and flossing: If you experience any bleeding when brushing or flossing, that usually means there is a local area of infection. Continue to keep the area clean by brushing, flossing and rinsing with Listerine. If a particular area is painful or you notice a bump of any sort, you should address this to your orthodontist as soon as possible.
If you are unable to resolve any issues, please call our office.