First, please reach out to us! After caring for thousands upon thousands of patients, we’ve seen it all. We understand that sometimes accidents happen, even for people who are careful. Don’t stress. We want your problem fixed as fast as possible so you’re comfortable and your treatment stays on track. In our experience, a few issues come up most frequently:

• Broken or loose brackets and bands—Call us to schedule a repair. We’ll need to secure the bracket as soon as possible to continue your progress. If it has broken off completely, bring it with you. If it’s loose, just leave it there and we’ll take care of it.
• Wire out of place—Wires occasionally slip out. Just call us for a quick appointment to slide it back in place.
• Lost tie wires, elastic ties, or separators—In some cases, these items need rapid replacement, but sometimes it can wait until your next regular appointment. Call us to find out for sure.

You can resolve many irksome problems at home without having to schedule an additional appointment:

• Sores or ulcers inside the mouth—Try to cover abrasive areas of your braces with a little wax. Rinse with salt water to speed healing.
• Regular discomfort with treatment—Your teeth are shifting, so when you first get braces and after adjustments, your teeth will be a bit sore for a day or two. Eat soft foods and take an over-the-counter pain reliever if you need.
• Wire irritations—Wires sometimes poke at their ends. Try to bend a poking wire back with the eraser of a pencil or put some wax over it. We can take a look at your next appointment.

As always, give us a ring if you feel unsure about anything. There are no dumb questions.

We love this question. Preventing damage is easier and more cost-effective than repair.

• Mind the food restrictions. Kids and teens don’t love this part, but reassure them it’s only temporary.
• Wear an athletic mouth guard while playing sports. Athletic  mouthguards are sold at many retailers, however if you are struggling to find one let us know and we will be happy to help.

Brackets are affixed to teeth with pretty strong glue, but some foods still cause problems:

• Sticky stuff—caramel, gum, taffy, gummy candy. These foods can adhere to your braces and dislodge wires. Plus, their high sugar content can breed bacteria more easily.
• Crunchy food—apples, carrots, popcorn, chips, ice. These foods easily get stuck between brackets and wires and sometimes damage or detach a bracket.
• Hard food—pizza crust, jerky, nuts. Though delicious, hard food can also damage brackets and wires.

• Avoid high-sugar foods. Candy and other sugary foods get stuck easily on braces. Sugary bits trapped in your braces are an all-you-can-eat buffet for bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease.
• Using fluoride toothpaste, brush morning and night and after every meal and snack. Food can get caught on braces so you want to be sure to remove it and prevent plaque buildup.
• Use an interdental (between the teeth) toothbrush in addition to your regular toothbrush. A Proxibrush makes it simple to clean behind wires and between brackets.
• Floss every day. Orthodontic flossers make flossing a breeze.
• Add in a fluoride mouthwash. In addition to your fluoride toothpaste, a mouthwash will help protect your enamel.

• Yes! Because hygiene can be trickier with braces, it’s more important than ever to get regular cleanings and checkups with your dentist. An orthodontist is a dentist with additional training, but your general dentist is dedicated to the health of your teeth, gums, and mouth.