If you've recently been fitted with dental braces, certain issues may arise during the first few days or weeks that you have them. This is a valid cause of concern because braces consist of brackets, wires, and other parts that can break or become loose over time. Although orthodontic emergencies don't happen often, they can still occur. Figuring out the best course of action on the spot can be quite stressful, especially if it's your first time requiring emergency dental care.
It would be best to never ignore a dental braces emergency because overlooking the issue increases the risk of extensive damage that'll cost more to treat. In addition, it increases the chances of the damage becoming permanent. Read on to learn more about the problems you might have with your braces and what you can do about them.
What Is An Orthodontic Emergency?
It's a known fact that wearing braces can be quite uncomfortable, especially if you're still not used to them. This is expected because your mouth and teeth will feel tender at first as you try and adapt to the braces. In addition, you may experience slight irritation on your lips and the inside of your cheeks. Fortunately, this discomfort shouldn't last for very long, and you should be able to feel normal once you've gotten used to the braces.
You might also feel some pain and discomfort whenever your braces have to be adjusted. This is required in order to move your teeth to the correct positions using adequate pressure. However, the pain should go away after a short while.
With that said, how can you identify orthodontic emergencies? Here are some of the clear signs you need to watch out for:
- Extreme and uncontrollable pain in your mouth
- Swelling, infection, or bleeding of the mouth, face, or gums
- Severe injury or trauma to your face, mouth, or teeth
If you experience or encounter any of those symptoms, check dental websites such as https://supersmilesortho.com/ in order to seek orthodontic treatment as soon as possible.
What Are The Most Common Dental Braces Emergencies?
For you to understand how to deal with an orthodontic emergency, you'll need to learn about the most common dental problems first. That way, you'll be able to determine the best route to take to resolve any emergency situation you encounter. But before you can even handle dental braces emergencies, you'll need to have the right set of tools. It's because of this that you need an orthodontic emergency kit, which contains essential items like the following:
Using these tools, you'll be able to ease an orthodontic emergency or prevent it from getting worse before you can schedule an appointment with your orthodontic dentist. Make sure to regularly clean these items and store them in a container that's free from dust and dirt.
These are some of the most common and minor orthodontic emergencies you might have to deal with at some point after you get braces:
Brackets refer to the square pieces of metal that are attached to your teeth. They're usually fastened using a robust adhesive, but this doesn't rule out the possibility of them becoming loose and falling off. Luckily, these brackets are attached to wires as well, meaning they remain intact in most cases.
However, there are numerous reasons this kind of orthodontic emergency might arise, and those include:
- Being struck directly on the face when playing sports
- Eating sticky or hard food such as candy
- Picking at your braces with your fingers
You shouldn't panic after realizing that one or some of your dental brackets are loose. Instead, you need to use orthodontic wax if the bracket is on any of your front teeth to temporarily hold it in place. Subsequently, use a sterilized tweezer to restore the bracket to its original position. For one that's located on a tooth in the back of your mouth, you should slide it off slowly from the wire. Afterward, get a sterilized nail clipper and remove the wire that's remaining.
While these techniques will work to return loose brackets to their previous positions, you'll still need to request an appointment with your orthodontist as soon as possible. Once you're at the dental office, the brackets will either be replaced or repositioned.
Your orthodontist will ensure that all the wires in your braces are in place to prevent them from poking your gums. Nonetheless, the movement of your teeth will slowly expose excess wires that'll then begin pushing against the sensitive inner parts of your mouth. This can quickly become quite uncomfortable.
There are different ways you can fix this problem, including using a sanitized pencil eraser to direct the wire toward the direction that's aligned with the bracket so your cheeks don't get poked. If the wire is quite long due to a loose bracket, you need nail clippers to cut off the excess. As you do this, be very gentle and careful so as not to further complicate the situation. Another option would be to roll orthodontic wax into a small ball and press it onto the part of your braces that's hurting or irritating your mouth.
Keep in mind that these home remedy techniques aren't lasting solutions to your poking wire problem. Therefore, you should still see your orthodontist to prevent your braces from doing more damage.
Right after the installation of your braces, your mouth will start to experience some soreness. This feeling should last only for at most one week, and after that you'll start feeling a lot better, so biting will be a lot easier for you. During that period, it's best to eat soft foods until the act of chewing isn't causing you any pain.
In addition, using dental braces may cause discomfort in your mouth because of your unique jawline and mouth structure. When this happens, it's best to use warm salt water to rinse your mouth, and you'll start to feel a lot better. Another treatment to consider is applying an anesthetic gel, which would give you relief and heal the sores.
There are several kinds of oral cavity accidents, and all have different levels of severity. This is because numerous scenarios can lead to this orthodontic emergency, including sports or car accidents. If you've experienced an oral cavity accident, the first thing to do is to acknowledge your injury and head to the orthodontist right away. This is because your orthodontic will have to adjust the braces so they're in the correct position.
Injuries due to oral cavity accidents take a while to heal because it takes much longer for soft tissues to recover. Therefore, it would be best to avoid this accident in the first place by getting a mouthguard from your dentist to provide your teeth with added protection when engaging in rough sports.
Rubber bands are applied to braces to correct bite problems such as crossbites, underbites, and overbites. They're usually positioned at different angles to place the necessary pressure on your teeth. However, the issue of missing rubber bands isn't necessarily considered an urgent dental emergency. Some patients are even required to remove the bands while undergoing treatment and to just replace them afterward.
If a rubber band in your braces goes missing, use one of the extras your dentist has given you. In case you accidentally swallow the rubber band, don't panic as they're nontoxic. Even so, you still need to inform your orthodontist when that happens.
The rubbing of your lips against the brackets and wires may eventually lead to irritation. Experiencing this is normal right after getting dental braces as your cheeks or lips are still not used to them. Luckily, this issue won't last for an extended duration, and you can easily fix it.
One of the solutions to rubbing irritation is using over-the-counter medications to reduce the sensation in your mouth. Applying orthodontic wax over the brackets is also shown to be very effective at reducing mouth irritation. If you prefer home remedies, get a glass of warm water and add half a teaspoon of salt. Gargle the salt water rinse and repeat this process as often as needed.
You should expect a slight movement of your teeth during orthodontic treatment. This is normal and shouldn't be a cause for concern, and it's a sign that the treatment is working. However, this usually ends up making your mouth feel somewhat sore right after the dental braces are put in place or adjusted.
Often, the soreness due to a loose tooth isn't severe, and you can address the issue with homemade remedies. To do so, use a warm washcloth and place it on your jaw to relieve the pain. You can also make a saltwater rinse, which only requires 8 ounces of warm water and one teaspoon of salt. Swish it in your mouth for around 30 seconds, and you'll get some relief soon enough.
While this isn't a serious dental emergency, it still needs your immediate attention when it happens. Leaving the food stuck between your gums and teeth might cause plaque. Removing the piece of food shouldn't be too hard, and you can loosen it by using an interproximal brush or remove it with a special orthodontic flosser. If you're on the road, it's best to carry with you a travel toothbrush and disposable flossers to handle the emergency should it arise. You can also use a toothpick, but you'll need to be extra cautious when doing this so you won't hurt yourself or damage your braces.
Tips For Avoiding Orthodontic Emergencies
While some issues with dental braces are out of your control, you can reduce the chances of them occurring by taking proper care of your braces. Here are some tips on how you can best steer clear of orthodontic emergencies:
You'll need to consistently and thoroughly brush and floss after all your meals to ensure that your braces remain in excellent condition. This is a must as tiny food particles cab easily get stuck in between the braces and your teeth or gums. If you don't remove them, this may eventually lead to plaque and trigger a dental emergency.
In most cases, you'll be required to wear the braces for around two years. During this period, it's best to stay away from some types of food as they may harm your braces. You should avoid food items that are crunchy, hard, chewy, and sticky. While this is understandably a huge challenge for some, it's a sacrifice worth making, and ignoring it might only end up bending the wires or destroying your brace's brackets. It's also best to minimize your consumption of sugary drinks and snacks as this causes decay over time.
Although sports-related injuries to the jaw and mouth are quite common, you can still play your favorite sport even when you've gotten braces. Although this is good news if you often participate in sports, you'll need to take extra precautions to ensure that your braces remain in place and intact. The best way to protect your orthodontic braces and mouth is by wearing a mouth guard, which comes in several types.
You need to show up to all your appointments with the orthodontist regardless of how hectic your schedule is. Ideally, you should get a routine checkup every eight weeks to ensure that your treatment's going as planned. If you don't visit your dentist, the treatment might take longer or, worse, cause problems that could've easily been avoided.
Takeaway
Because dental braces emergencies are bound to happen every once in a while, you need to have an idea of what to do in such scenarios in order to remedy the situation quickly. This guide has highlighted all the important information you need to accomplish just that. With it, you'll be able to circumvent orthodontic emergencies and have a much better experience with your braces.