It’s no secret that braces require specialized care in order to maintain a healthy smile during treatment, but if your child breaks a bracket, there’s no need to panic! Our orthodontist near Highland Park often treats patients who have come in with an unexpected broken bracket. It’s only natural to experience some mishap while wearing braces, but understanding what causes broken brackets can help reduce the frequency of them.
Here is some guidance from our team on how to avoid breaking a bracket:
- Eating hard, sticky foods that may have the force to pull the bracket off of the tooth. Common examples of foods that cause this include nuts, popcorn kernels, caramel candies, etc.
- Sustaining a mouth injury
- Brushing your teeth using too much force
- Using a toothpick
- Being too rough while flossing
Even the most diligent patients experience hiccups throughout the process of wearing braces. In the case that your child does break a bracket, take the following steps.
Examine the Damage Level
Look at the level of damage that was caused by examining the wires surrounding the bracket. In the case that the wire is still attached to the bracket, use a cotton swab to gently push it back into place. The wire can be covered with orthodontic wax to prevent irritation and damage. If there are long wires that may cause damage to the mouth, we recommend using a pair of nail trimmers to cut the wire as closely as possible to the teeth. Only remove the bracket if it is very loose and keep it in a safe spot. Our orthodontist near Highland Park will reattach that bracket during the next appointment.
Schedule an Appointment
You’ll also want to schedule an appointment regardless of the extent of the damage. While damaged brackets are not considered an orthodontic emergency, it’s ideal to swiftly treat the problem to avoid any delay in treatment. Please get in touch with us today to schedule your appointment!