It’s not unusual for a portion of your braces to become loose at some point during treatment. Whether it’s a wire or a bracket or some other piece, it is not likely to go unnoticed. Loose pieces can poke the insides of your mouth, or affect your eating or speech.
The most frequent reasons for your braces becoming loose include:
• eating foods from the restricted list that your orthodontist provided
• a poor bond between the tooth and the bracket
• bad habits like biting your fingernails or chewing ice
• mouth trauma or injury
• change in your bite
Contact your orthodontist
The first thing you should do is discuss the problem with your orthodontist’s staff. The orthodontist may be able to recommend a temporary fix until your appointment. If an injury caused the problem, get help as soon as possible so that your orthodontist can evaluate the damage.
Common issues:
• If a bracket or wire is poking you and causing discomfort, place a piece of orthodontic wax over the item as needed. If you don’t have any wax, try using a piece of sugarless gum instead.
• If the small rubber elastic around a bracket has come off, try to avoid disturbing the bracket or touching it with your tongue.
• If something is extremely loose, remember that there is a risk of accidentally swallowing it. See your orthodontist if you feel that this might happen.
Pulling teeth in conjunction with orthodontic treatment is nothing new, but it has gained controversy because some orthodontists advocate extractions and others say it’s unnecessary and overdone. It seems that there is no steadfast answer for every patient. Tooth extraction must be decided on a case-by-case basis, and is determined by a number of circumstances.
The most common reason for tooth extraction is to reduce crowding so that the teeth can be positioned properly. Sometimes crowding is so severe that there are no alternatives to pulling some teeth. There are also situations when it’s possible to move all of the existing teeth into place, but it might negatively impact teeth’s stability, gum tissue, or the appearance of the teeth.
Other common reasons for extraction include bite correction and profile improvement. Your orthodontist must consider many things in making the recommendation about whether or not tooth extraction is needed. The bite, crowding, jaw positions, teeth positions and sizes, profile, and other characteristics are all analyzed to determine the optimum treatment plan.
The goal of orthodontic treatment is to improve the arrangement and appearance of your teeth. Each patient’s dental and facial qualities will require either extraction or non-extraction of teeth. It’s up to you and your orthodontist to decide if it would benefit you and your smile.
At some point, you or a loved one may need orthodontic treatment. A flawless smile looks amazing and improves oral health because straight teeth are easier to clean. As you begin the process of selecting an orthodontist and considering treatment options, you will probably have questions. We have provided answers to some of the typical concerns patients raise about orthodontic treatment and care.
When should my child have an orthodontic screening?
By age seven, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) suggests a complete evaluation with an orthodontist. At this point, your child will likely have several permanent teeth in place, which helps provide a more accurate picture of development.
Won’t my teeth straighten on their own?
No. To adjust the position and alignment of crooked teeth, you will need orthodontic therapy. Typically, braces or similar treatment can shift teeth into the correct position.
How long does orthodontic treatment last?
The actual time frame depends on the severity of the problem and responsiveness of the patient, but the average time is about 22 months. Treatment can range from about 12 months to 30 months.
I am an adult. Is it too late for me?
You are never too old to enjoy the benefits of a straight, attractive smile. Modern treatment options such as lingual braces, ceramic brackets, and Invisalign clear braces allow adults to transform their images without the hassle or embarrassment of metal orthodontia.
Can I wear braces even if I have dental crowns?
Sure. The crowned tooth will move just like a tooth with a simple filling or no restoration at all.
It’s not enough just to wear braces on your teeth; you have to hold up your end of the bargain. You must care for them as your orthodontist instructs, and that includes sticking to the diet guidelines. Some foods can loosen or break braces, which will probably mean you’ll have to wear the braces for a longer period of time. Follow these rules to achieve quicker treatment and a great smile.
DON’T eat hard foods
Anything hard cannot safely be chewed with braces. Avoid items like raw apples and carrots, popcorn, nuts, hard candies, crunchy chips, corn on the cob, and ice.
DON’T eat sticky or chewy foods
Braces can be pulled apart by sticky foods. Don’t eat foods like taffy, caramels, gummy candy, jelly beans, caramel apples, and peanut brittle.
DON’T eat sugary foods
Braces make it harder to keep your teeth clean, and sugar can cause cavities, tarter buildup, and stains. Eat sparingly foods like soda, fruit juices, ice cream, candy, cake, cookies, and pie. If you do eat foods high in sugar, brush your teeth immediately afterwards.
DON’T eat highly acidic foods
Items high in acid content can lead to permanent stains and tooth damage. Avoid items such as sodas (even diet ones), citrus fruits, and lemon juice.
DON’T use your front teeth to bite foods
You can loosen your brackets by biting into foods with your front teeth. Cut meat off the bone from ribs or fried chicken, use a knife to cut corn off the cob, and tear or cut pizza into bite-sized pieces.
Your braces have been removed and your teeth are perfectly straight! It’s time to just enjoy your new smile since treatment is complete, right? Wrong! It’s time to wear your retainer so that your teeth stay in their new positions. A retainer is a custom-made appliance that continues to train your teeth to remain in place after your braces have been removed.
There are three types of retainers that orthodontists use to secure your new smile:
• Hawley: The most popular style, this is the traditional metal wire attached to an acrylic piece that fits in the roof of your mouth. You can take it in and out as desired.
• Essix: This type of retainer looks similar to Invisalign braces or to whitening trays. These are less noticeable than the traditional type, but are also flimsier and more breakable.
• Bonded: This permanent retainer consists of a wire being glued to the back of your teeth, and it cannot be removed by the patient. Your orthodontist will decide how long it remains in place; some remove the retainer dependent upon wisdom teeth removal, and others keep the retainer in place forever. One downside to this retainer is that tartar is difficult for dentists to remove with the retainer in place, so it’s very important to brush and floss properly and to see your dentist regularly.
Your orthodontist will help you decide which retainer is best for you. No matter what kind it is, the key is to wear it regularly for the recommended timeframe. Initially, that will be all day long for a number of months. Later, you’ll be able to only wear it at night. Remember, if you stop wearing your retainer, your teeth will shift. It may be the last step of your orthodontic treatment, but it’s also one of the most important.
