Brackets are strong and hold the wire of the braces in place. Brackets are usually bonded to the teeth with adhesive.

If you eat items that are sticky, crunchy or hard, they could cause the brackets to loosen. Another way they can become loose is if you get hit in the mouth. That is why you should ask about wearing a mouth guard during any physical activity.

If for any reason your bracket breaks or comes loose, contact our Scottsdale office. We will examine your mouth to decide on the best treatment to fix the bracket.

If it is poking you and you cannot get to us, use sterile tweezers to push the wire in between its two teeth. Rotate the bracket back to the proper position then slide it back to the center of the tooth. Make sure you get in to see us as soon as possible.

Sometimes, by the act of biting and chewing, the end of a wire can work itself out and cause irritation.

The best way to alleviate discomfort is to use a Q-tip or pencil eraser to push the wire back down so it’s flat against your tooth. If you still cannot get the wire back to a comfortable position, try covering it with dental wax to have a buffer between your braces and the area of your mouth that is irritated.

If it continues to bother you and you can no longer tolerate the irritation, you may as a last resort clip the wire. Reduce the possibility of swallowing the snipped piece by putting a folded tissue or piece of gauze around the area. If necessary, use sharp clippers and snip off the wire, and use dental wax if the area is still irritated.

Make a follow-up appointment with our office to make sure the braces are still secure and to get a different wire if necessary.

First of all, do not panic. The ligature tie, the tiny rubber band that is stretched around the bracket, can sometimes come off on its own. The tie is meant to hold the bracket so the wire can deliver force to the teeth to move them (Sometimes a twisted wire is used instead of a rubber ligature).

If, for any reason, this rubber ligature comes off, try to put it back in place with sterile tweezers. If it is a wire ligature, just take it out with sterile tweezers. If your wire is not loose, but sticking out into your lip, try bending it back with a Q-tip. Just note that, if one pops off, others may follow suit.

If your ligatures continue to break, give our office a call or make sure to mention it at your next visit.

Though it might feel like an emergency, having discomfort for a few days after an adjustment or your initial installment is not unusual. Just remember to take it easy when you are choosing the foods you eat.

Soft foods or liquids are the best choices. You may want to take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Just remember to follow directions on the box.

You might notice a few mouth sores on your lips, inside of your cheeks or on your tongue. Don’t worry; they will soon go away.

To help relieve the discomfort, try applying an oral anesthetic like Orabase or Ora-Gel. Not only will they help you feel better, but they will also help the sores heal. Make sure you use a cotton swab and apply just to the sore. Throw out the swab after use to help prevent introducing anything else to the mouth that could cause an infection.

When you first get your braces, your mouth is just not accustomed to having anything new in there other than teeth, tongue, and gums, so it may take a little getting used to.

If you feel some irritation, we can provide you with some dental wax, or you can pick it up at your local pharmacy. Simply pinch off a portion and roll it into a tiny ball. Flatten the ball of wax and place it over the brace that is irritating you.

If you find that you don’t have any wax and that the irritation is just too much to handle, try a piece of wet cotton wrapped around the trouble maker– even a small piece of orange peel will do in a pinch!

If the irritation persists, please give us a call as you might need a small adjustment.

We all have experienced the discomfort of food caught between our teeth, with or without braces. However with braces, it might be a little more uncomfortable and harder to address.

To fix this, just make sure you have floss handy. Tie a small knot in the middle of the string to help pull out the food. If you don’t have floss, a toothpick will do. Just remember to be gentle so to not hurt your gums.