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What to Do If You Break a Bracket

It happens. The brackets on braces sometimes break for various reasons whether brushing too hard or eating the wrong foods. And it never fails — it always seems to happen at the most inopportune moments like the weekend or at night. Don’t panic – we have you covered. There are steps you can take to “fix” a broken bracket until you are able to get in touch with us for an appointment.

Assess the Situation

Look at the bracket and make sure the wire is not poking into your gum (more on this below). If the wire is in place, use a cotton swab to press the bracket into place and use orthodontic wax to hold it there until you can get your child to see us. For brackets that have broken, try and remove it from the wire and bring it to the orthodontist to reapply.

Check Out the Wires

If a bracket in the back has broken, the wire may poke into the gums, which can be painful and cause bleeding. The wires are easy to snip and can be cut back by adults to lessen discomfort. If the wires are too short to cut, use orthodontic wax or a pencil eraser to cover the wire until you can seek care.

Call Our Offices

Call us as soon as possible to let us know what has happened so we can assess the situation over the phone. If it is not too serious, we’ll schedule an appointment the next business day to repair the brackets and continue treatment. For serious issues or breaks, we may ask you to meet the doctor at the office as soon as possible to prevent further injury to your mouth.

Be Careful

It is important to take good care of your braces until you can be seen the following day. Be careful about what you eat sticking to soft foods to avoid further damage. Gargling with salt water is also a good idea to help any abrasions from the brackets or wires heal quickly.

Proper Care = Fewer Issues

Braces are affixed to the teeth with strong adhesive, but there are always exceptions. Doing everything you can to care for your orthodontics is the best way to prevent broken brackets. Follow the instructions we provide to care for your orthodontics and be sure to keep your appointments. We encourage our patients to reach out to Dr. Marc S. Wright with any questions. Contact our office to get your questions answered by a professional.