Urgent Self-Help
True orthodontic emergencies are rare. Most problems that come up during treatment are minor inconveniences that can be managed at home until your next appointment. Here's a quick guide to the most common situations — and what to do about them.
When to call us right away: Severe pain, a significant injury to your teeth or mouth, or anything you can't manage comfortably at home. We'll get you in quickly.
If you've had an accident involving your teeth — a fall, a blow to the mouth, a knocked-out or fractured tooth — call your dentist immediately or go to the emergency room. These situations are time-sensitive and your dentist is your first call. Let us know as well and we'll coordinate from there.
General Soreness
Some tenderness after getting braces on or after an adjustment is completely normal — usually lasting two to four days. Stick to soft foods, rinse with warm salt water, and take acetaminophen (Tylenol) if needed.
A note worth knowing: aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), and naproxen can actually slow tooth movement. Avoid using them regularly during treatment. Acetaminophen is the better choice.
Lip and Cheek Irritation
New braces can irritate the inside of your lips and cheeks while your mouth adjusts. Pinch off a small piece of orthodontic relief wax, roll it into a pea-sized ball, flatten it, and press it over the bracket or wire causing irritation. If wax is accidentally swallowed, it's completely harmless.
Food Caught in Braces
Not an emergency — just annoying. Use dental floss, an interproximal brush, or a toothpick to dislodge it. A helpful trick: tie a small knot in the middle of a piece of floss — it's surprisingly effective at grabbing food caught around brackets and wires.
Loose or Popped Tie
The small elastic or wire ties that hold the wire to the bracket occasionally come loose. If a rubber tie pops off, you can try repositioning it with clean tweezers. If a wire tie is poking out and irritating your cheek, use a Q-tip or pencil eraser to gently tuck it flat. Cover with wax if needed. Let us know at your next visit.
Loose Bracket
If a bracket feels loose or has rotated on the wire, cover it with wax if it's causing irritation and call us. We'll advise whether you need to come in right away or can wait until your next scheduled appointment.
Poking Wire
If the end of a wire is poking your cheek, try using a Q-tip or pencil eraser to gently push it flat against the tooth. If that doesn't work, cover it with wax. As a last resort — if the wire is causing significant irritation and you can't reach us — you can carefully clip the protruding end with small nail clippers. Use a tissue or gauze to catch the clipped piece. Call us when you can.
Swallowed Piece of Appliance
It's uncommon, but it happens. If a small piece is swallowed, stay calm — it will almost always pass without issue. If there is any difficulty breathing or persistent coughing, seek medical attention immediately and call us.
Helpful Supplies to Have on Hand
A small kit at home — and one for travel — makes handling most of these situations straightforward:
Orthodontic relief wax — dental floss — interproximal brush — clean tweezers — small nail clippers — cotton gauze — Q-tips — toothpicks — salt for warm water rinses — topical anesthetic such as Orabase or Ora-Gel
If you're unsure about any situation or something doesn't feel right, just call us. We're here to help.