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Orthodontic emergencies don’t happen very often, but minor problems are not uncommon. Most issues can be temporarily resolved until you are able to schedule an appointment with your orthodontist. It is helpful to know the parts of your braces and appliances so that you can tell your orthodontist what is wrong. Here are some of the typical issues that may arise when wearing braces.
Loose bracket
If the bracket remains attached to the wire, leave it alone and just cover it with wax so that it does not irritate your cheek or gums. If the bracket is no longer connected to the wire, place the bracket in a safe place so that you can take it to your orthodontist.
Loose wire
Use tweezers to reposition the wire back into place, or use a nail clipper to cut the wire behind the last tooth where it is securely attached. Put wax over the wire to protect from yourself from irritation.
Loose appliance
Do not try to remove any parts of your appliances yourself. If it is loose or poking you, place wax over the bothersome area until you can see your orthodontist.
Poking wire
Try using the eraser end of a pencil to push the wire out of the way so it stops poking you. If it is still uncomfortable, place wax on the wire.
Headgear
If your headgear is uncomfortable, first consult the instructions provided by your dentist to ensure you are wearing it correctly. Also, wear your headgear for the recommended amount of time because it becomes more comfortable with wear. If the facebow is bent, call your orthodontist to see if an appointment is needed.
Soreness
General soreness is normal when you initially get braces and after tightening adjustments. Take over-the-counter pain relievers, rinse with warm salt water, or place some oral gel on the affected area. While you’re getting used to the braces, you may experience irritation on your cheeks, tongue, or lips. Place wax on the braces in the irritating areas as needed until you become accustomed to them.
If you live in the Burbank CA area and you are looking for and orthodontist, contact our office today Dr. Fotovat has over 15 years of experience.
During orthodontic treatment, you need to take special care of teeth and gums. Extra brushing and additional flossing tools may become part of your routine. At the same time, you need to ensure that nothing happens to your braces. The following tips will help you protect your investment:
Eat right
While you have braces, you should avoid certain foods. Hard candy and sticky substances can crack brackets or break off wires. When you have apples or carrots, cut them in bite size pieces just to be safe.
Wear a mouth guard
For sports activities, you need to protect your face and mouth by having a mouth guard. Normally, dentists and orthodontists recommend custom mouth guards, but during orthodontic treatment you need the store-bought appliances so that your mouth guard won’t damage your braces.
Report problems immediately
Even when you do everything right, you may still have a broken bracket or loose wire. Apply dental wax if you experience discomfort and contact your orthodontist for the next step.
Curtail bad habits
Chewing on ice or biting your nails can harm your teeth and cause problems with your orthodontia.
Don’t make adjustments yourself
If your wires or brackets don’t seem right to you, call the orthodontist. Attempting to correct the issue can create bigger problems.
Visit the dentist for checkups
At these appointments, your dentist can make sure teeth and gums are holding up well during your time in braces. If enamel weakens or you develop gum disease, you could have trouble with your brackets and wires.
Burbank Orthodontist
When you wear braces, you probably can’t wait for the day your orthodontist takes them off and you can flaunt a beautiful, straight smile. Orthodontic treatment, however, doesn’t end with braces. Most of the time, your orthodontist will fit you for a retainer, an oral appliance that keeps teeth from shifting back into an improper position. You may wear a removable retainer as well as one that stays inside your mouth.
Initially, you will need to wear the removable retainer for most of the day. Over time, your orthodontist will watch your teeth and may lessen the number of hours you wear the appliance. For children and teenagers, many orthodontists recommend wearing a retainer until their early 20s. To keep your retainer in good condition, follow these helpful hints:
- Remove your retainer when you eat, brush, or floss.
- Clean your retainer with warm, soapy water or toothpaste after each use.
- Put your retainer in a safe place when you aren’t wearing the appliance. People often remove their retainers at restaurants and place them in napkins, which can result in expensive replacement costs.
- Carry your retainer case with you so that you have it available at all times. Never leave the case on a table, bench, or counter.
- Keep your retainer away from pets or small children.
- When you participate in sports, take your retainer out and wear a mouth guard during games.
- If a wire breaks or something else happens to your retainer, don’t try to fix it yourself. Contact your orthodontist immediately.
Schedule an appointment for your child at our Valley Village, CA orthodontists office.
Problems with your bite, or the way your teeth and jaw fit together, can wreak havoc on your mouth. It can be painful, unattractive, and lead to other problems like tooth decay. A bad bite, or malocclusion, is one of the most common reasons that orthodontists fit patients with braces.
What does it mean to have a bad bite?
When your doctor says you have spacing or alignment problems, it’s likely that you have a bad bite. This includes crooked, crowded, or protruding teeth. A bad bite also includes having your upper and lower jaws meet improperly, even if your teeth look straight. Also, bite problems can be caused by teeth that are too close together or too far apart.
What causes bite problems?
The most common causes of bite problems are thumb-sucking, heredity, early tooth loss, and mouth trauma.
What are the benefits of correcting bad bites?
Braces can help with problems related to bite issues in a number of ways, including:
- Appearance – correcting a bad bite creates a more appealing smile, and therefore also improves your self-esteem.
- Tooth wear – an uneven bite can cause abnormal tooth wear, which sometimes leads to the need for crowns or veneers. Braces can correct this problem before your teeth have a chance to wear inappropriately.
- Jaw problems – a misaligned bite can lead to painful conditions like temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.
- Teeth cleaning – it is difficult to clean crooked, crowded, protruding, and overlapping teeth. Properly aligned teeth can be more thoroughly cleaned, and therefore have less decay.
Contact our orthodontics dental office in Sherman Oaks, CA to schedule an appointment!
