Can a Broken Bracket Delay Treatment?
You’re in the middle of straightening your smile and you’ve been really careful with your braces, but one day you notice that one of your brackets is broken. It happens to all our orthodontic patients, so don’t panic! It’s not an emergency and your doctor can easily get you back on track.
Broken brackets can actually delay your treatment, but usually, a broken bracket is no big deal. We’ll talk about how broken braces affect treatment time, what can cause a broken bracket, and what you should do when it happens. So sit back, relax, and let’s get started.
How Did I Hurt My Braces?
There are a few reasons why braces can break, and it’s important to be aware of them so you can take steps to avoid accidents. Creating a beautiful smile takes more than good oral hygiene – you also need to protect your mouth from getting hurt!
Factors Behind Broken Braces & Brackets
Physical activity can put your braces at risk of breaking. A big cause of broken brace issues is trauma from children playing contact sports or accidentally falling down.
Eating hard or chewy foods can also apply enough force to cause damage to your braces. Be careful with crunchy fruits and vegetables, chewy candy, and crunchy snacks – your favorite food can lead to unexpected orthodontic emergencies! Even if brackets stay on all the teeth, some foods can still do damage to your braces and keep them from properly brightening your grin!
Finally, grinding your teeth can put stress on your braces and cause them to break. If you grind your teeth at night, it might be a good idea to wear a nightguard while you’re wearing braces.
Will a Broken Bracket Delay My Orthodontic Treatment Time?
Whether you are using traditional or clear braces to fix your bite, every bracket on every tooth counts. Missing brackets, rubber bands, and wires will all affect how well your smile transformation is working.
To stay on schedule and achieve the best results for your orthodontics, it’s important to fix issues with any wire or appliance, especially if the problem is causing you pain or discomfort. While a broken bracket isn’t a huge emergency, we don’t want you to wait weeks until your next appointment – call your orthodontic office and see when you can visit the orthodontist to have your braces fixed right up!
What to Do When a Bracket Breaks
Accidents happen, no matter how hard we try to avoid them. So, when you’re facing broken brackets or wire, it’s best to be prepared so that you can protect your smile and avoid delays!
Taking Care of Your Mouth with a Broken Bracket
Eliminating discomfort should be the first step when you notice that one of your brackets isn’t attached anymore. If the bracket is sliding around between other brackets, use a small piece of orthodontic wax to hold it in place. This will keep it from hurting your cheek.
If your bracket came off of a back tooth, a piece of arch wire may be poking out as well. The sharp wire tips can cause a lot of mouth pain if you aren’t careful. Use a cotton swab to bend it back toward your teeth – you can also use a pair of nail clippers to snip off any wire pieces that are still scratching your cheek or gums. Cover the area with wax and save any loose brackets until your next orthodontist appointment.
Getting Your Smile Back on Track
Every patient has to deal with getting their orthodontics adjusted, whether they are using braces or Invisalign. If you’re struggling with treatment, it’s time to call Pura Vida Orthodontics in Blaine, MN! Dr. Madson and the rest of our team are ready to help kids, teens, and adults discover their best smile (and address any bumps along the way!). Contact our office today to get started with your very own smile assessment.
