Braces are stuck to the teeth with a small amount of dental glue or composite. They are tough but can become loose if you bite too hard on them. The wires we use can bend or break if put under too much pressure. Removable braces break if they are constantly clicked in and out. They should be kept in their retainer box when out of the mouth.
You need to be careful with your brace. This means eating gently and taking your time. Avoid hard, chewy foods and biting pens or nails.
Broken braces slow down your treatment and ultimately lead to you being in braces for longer. If you are worried about your brace being broken, just give us a call and we will guide you through what best to do. If it is a loose bracket, and it is not causing any pain, it can sometimes be left until your next appointment.
If a wire is long and hurting the gum, then you might need to pop in the practice where we can fix this for you. Because we are a specialist orthodontic practice, there is an orthodontist here every day to help you and our staff are trained to manage orthodontic emergencies. You are generally seen on the same day as you have a problem. There is no waiting around if you are in trouble!
Below is a really helpful link from our colleagues at the American Association of Orthodontists on how to manage orthodontic emergencies if you can’t get to see us. https://www.aaoinfo.org/system/files/media/documents/OrthoEmergency-FLYER-13-hl.pdf
