ProviderEmergency Care
Relieve Pain & Apply a Temporary Fix for Appliances
True orthodontic emergencies are rare, but issues arise from time to time while straightening your smile. Often, a quick fix on the spot can help you stay pain-free until you can get to our office.
Painful rubbing and poking, loose pieces of braces and wires that have slipped out of place can all be temporarily resolved with a little know-how.
After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you still contact your prefered office to schedule a time for us to correct the issue properly. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions to your treatment plan.
See below for how to relieve general discomfort and temporarily resolve appliance issues until you can see your orthodontist for care.
Addressing Common Orthodontic Issues
Having an orthodontic emergency? Don't panic. Try these quick, easy fixes to help relieve discomfort and keep your treatment on track, then contact us to schedule a proper repair.
General Soreness
It’s normal to feel some soreness in your mouth after getting braces and after adjustments. Your teeth may be tender to biting pressure for the first three to five days, so stick to soft foods like yogurt, pasta, or smoothies until chewing feels comfortable again.
If your gums or cheeks feel irritated, try rinsing with a warm saltwater solution. Dissolve one teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of warm water, and swish gently for relief. For stronger discomfort, you can take acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or your usual pain reliever. Avoid frequent use of aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin®, Advil®), or naproxen (Aleve®, Naprosyn®), as these medications can slow down tooth movement during orthodontic treatment.
It’s also common for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to feel tender for a week or two as they adjust to your new braces. Applying a small piece of orthodontic wax over any brackets or wires that cause friction can help protect the inside of your mouth. Your orthodontic team will show you exactly how to use it.Loose Bracket
If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it if needed for comfort. If the bracket or band can be removed easily, place it in an envelope and save it to bring to your next appointment.
Loose Wire
If a braces wire comes loose or slips out of place, don’t worry, it’s a common issue and easy to handle at home. Using a clean pair of tweezers or needle-nosed pliers, gently guide the wire back into the bracket. You can also use a small piece of dental floss to tie the wire in place by looping it around the bracket where the colored o-ring is missing.
If you can’t move the wire into a comfortable position and covering it with orthodontic wax doesn’t help, you can carefully clip the wire behind the last bracket it’s still attached to. Use a clean fingernail clipper for this, and make sure to smooth any sharp ends with wax afterward to protect your cheeks and gums.
Loose Appliance
If your appliance is poking you, place wax on the offending part.
Poking Wire
Using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or place wax on it so that it is no longer poking.
Lost or Damaged Aligner
If an aligner is lost or damaged, call us to let us know. Then, you can either go back to wearing the aligner you used right before the one you lost (if you still have it) or put in your next aligner early.
Which option is best will depend on how long you wore the lost aligner. If you had only just started wearing the lost aligner, go back to the previous one. If you wore the lost aligner for over a week, it may be best to move to the next one.