Taking Care of Your Braces

Taking care of Braces is one of the most crucial parts of any orthodontic treatment. Properly caring for braces will help ensure a successful outcome and minimize the risk of complications. When you start treatment with Webb & Goldsmith Orthodontics in Charlotte, our orthodontists will provide you with comprehensive instructions on how to care for your braces. Our team is always available to answer any questions you may have or provide support for any damage or discomfort.

Adjusting to an Orthodontic Treatment

At first, having orthodontic treatment may take a little getting used to. It isn’t uncommon to experience a bit of soreness when appliances are first put on, or some minor aches as teeth begin moving into new positions. Yet, it’s comforting to know that genuine orthodontic emergencies are rare. We provide this info about taking care of your braces so your treatment experience can be as enjoyable as possible.

Parts of Braces

Understanding each part of your orthodontic braces is essential to proper braces care. Check out this diagram below to discover braces parts and know how to report any discomfort or emergency you may be experiencing.

Braces Care Tips

• Brush your teeth after every meal. When brushing, pay special attention to areas around brackets and wires, as food debris can collect there and cause discomfort.
• Floss your teeth regularly. It’s best to use a floss threader or special flossing tools designed for braces.
• Avoid sticky, hard and chewy foods such as gum, caramels and popcorn. These can cause your braces to break or come loose.
• Be careful when eating foods like apples, carrots and corn on the cob as these may get stuck in your braces.
• Always wear a mouthguard when playing contact sports.
• Keep your scheduled appointments with Webb & Goldsmith Orthodontics in Charlotte. This will help ensure that your treatment progresses smoothly.

What is an Orthodontic Emergency?

An orthodontic emergency is an unexpected situation that requires immediate intervention by our orthodontists. Commonly, these situations involve a broken bracket or band that’s causing pain or difficulty with eating or speaking. Our office is open to accepting emergency appointments to help you during stressful times.

However, if you think you may have an emergency, the first step is to determine the severity of the problem. Is it an urgent situation that requires immediate attention, or a minor problem that you can take care of yourself, temporarily, until you can come into our office?

A Major Emergency

There are only a few true orthodontic (or dental) emergencies. In any of these situations, you should seek help as soon as possible — go to an emergency room, if that’s your best option. Generally, however, the place to start is with your regular dentist. Remember that he or she is trained to handle a range of dental problems, and can most likely offer the necessary diagnostic tools, anesthetics and treatments you need. Below are the dental or orthodontic emergencies you need to know:

Trauma or injury to the teeth, face or mouth
Trauma happens when accidents cause a physical injury to the teeth, face or mouth. This may take place due to a car accident, fall or even a sports-related incident. When you or your child experienced trauma to the mouth, the first thing you need to do is check for any loose or broken teeth or braces. Place the loose pieces in a bag and bring them to the dentist or orthodontist.

Infection or swelling of the gums, mouth or face
Infections in the mouth can occur due to bacterial buildup or trauma. Swelling is a common response when an infection occurs and can cause internal and external damage if not treated properly. If you or your child experience an infection, you can go to the emergency room or the dentist as soon as possible. You can also set an emergency appointment with Webb & Goldsmith Orthodontics especially if the swelling is thought to be related to your invisible braces charlotte nc.

Severe, unmanageable discomfort or pain
Pain or discomfort is a common side effect of orthodontic treatment as teeth move into new positions. However, severe pain that can’t be managed with over-the-counter pain medications may signal a more serious orthodontic emergency. In these cases, you should contact your orthodontist or dentist as soon as possible.

Minor Inconveniences

Fortunately, the vast majority of orthodontic problems are minor compared to these situations — but they may still cause discomfort or irritation. In general, it’s best to try and soothe the immediate cause of the discomfort, and then call our office to schedule an appointment; that way, we can allot sufficient time to take care of you. Here are a few of the more common orthodontic problems, along with some tips on what you can do to relieve them at home:

Loose or broken brackets, bands or wires
This problem is often caused by eating hard or sticky candy or food or playing with the braces. If the band or bracket is still attached to the wire, leave it as is—but don’t connect any elastics to it! You can cover it with orthodontic wax if it’s irritating the inside of your mouth. If it has come off, save it. In either case, call our office to let us know what happened, and we will schedule a visit. Be sure to bring any loose parts with you to the appointment.

Misplaced or poking archwire, bracket or tie
As the teeth start to move, the wire that connects them (archwire) may begin poking near the back of the mouth or irritating the cheeks. You can try moving the wire into a better position with a pencil eraser or a Q-Tip. If the wire won’t move, you may be able to cut the end off with a nail clipper sterilized in alcohol—but before doing so, please call our office for our guidance or instructions. Often, you can also use tweezers to gently move a misplaced wire or a tie that’s causing problems. When wires or brackets cause irritation, covering the metal parts with wax will often help ease the discomfort.

General tooth pain or loosening
It’s normal for teeth to become slightly loosened during orthodontic treatment — that shows they’re moving! Sometimes, this movement may be accompanied by tenderness, especially after braces are placed or adjusted. For minor soreness, you can use your regular over-the-counter pain reliever–ideally Tylenol, as anything with Ibuprofen in it can inhibit tooth movement. A twice-a-day salt-water rinse may also help: Mix one teaspoon of salt in an 8-ounce glass of warm water, and rinse for 30 seconds. A warm washcloth or heating pad placed on the outside of the jaw can also offer some relief.

Loose brackets, wires or bands
Notify us immediately if you notice a loose bracket, wire or band. We’ll let you know what you need to do. One way to prevent loose braces is by wearing a protective mouth guard when playing sports or similar activities.

Mouth sores from braces
For mouth sores, apply a small amount of topical anesthetic (such as Ora-Gel) to the sore area using a cotton swab. For lip or cheek sores, use relief wax as a buffer between the metal and your mouth.

Ligatures falling of
First, the colored ligatures around the brackets are just for decoration. Our braces have “doors” that close and lock the wire in place. But, if you have rubber ligatures, you may be able to replace them using sterile tweezers. If you have wire ligatures, remove the broken wire with tweezers, or use a Q-tip or pencil eraser to bend it down to eliminate any irritation.

Food caught between teeth
Use dental floss to remove the food or use an interproximal brush or toothpick to dislodge it.

After Hours Discomfort

Text “DISCOMFORT:“ to (704) 364-7343 and follow up with your concern. We will get back to you with a solution! NOTE: Sending a photo always helps too!

Contact Webb & Goldsmith Orthodontics

If you’re not sure how to deal with a braces discomfort or emergency, you can always contact our office and we’ll provide instructions over the phone. If necessary, we can also schedule an appointment with you at the soonest possible time. In the end, it’s important to remember that Webb & Goldsmith Orthodontics is here to help. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need any assistance.