Braces are ideal for straightening smiles because they can treat even the most severe bite or jaw misalignments. This method utilizes metal brackets cemented to your teeth, threaded with an arch wire to exert enough pressure to shift them to their ideal places.
However, the brittle material isn’t invincible and can be broken if your child isn’t careful. Whether they broke their braces by eating something too hard or sticky, or didn’t wear their mouthguard during physical activity, it’s natural to wonder what to do next. Continue reading to learn 3 ways to address your kid’s orthodontic emergency!
Step #1: Assess the Damage
There are several ways that braces can be harmed. For instance, the bracket itself can potentially be broken, the wires might snap, and the cement holding the metal in place can weaken.
Identifying what happened is the first step in helping your child cope with the injury. You can examine their mouth to try to identify the source of the problem, but do your best not to touch anything with your fingers because you might introduce unhealthy germs to their mouth. Once you’ve determined exactly what went wrong, you can take steps to address it.
Step #2: Protect Their Tissues
Once you know what happened, you can help alleviate any anxiety or aches your kid might be feeling. Sharp ends of damaged wires and corners of brittle, broken brackets can, unfortunately, dig into the tender tissues inside their mouth, adding additional discomfort and frustration to what has already happened.
If possible, try covering any pokey bits with a small amount of orthodontic wax to protect their gums and the insides of their lips and cheeks. You can also make a solution of warm salt water by mixing about ½ teaspoon of salt into a glass of water until it dissolves. Then, have your child sip some and swish it around their mouth before spitting it out. This acts as a natural disinfectant that keeps their mouth clear of germs and debris without pressing aggressively with a toothbrush or floss, which can be triggering.
Step #3: Don’t Try to Fix It Yourself
You might think it’s safe to try to repair your kid’s damaged bracket yourself, but unfortunately, you could end up doing more harm than good. Many household products patients have tried to use, like superglue, are not intended for oral use and can be toxic if ingested. Not only that, but you might not position the bracket correctly, and the adhesive can hurt their enamel when their dentist or orthodontist tries removing it.
The best way to safely address your child’s orthodontic emergency is to contact their pediatric provider to make an appointment as soon as possible!
About the Practice
At Main Street Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics of Pleasanton, your family benefits from two board-certified experts eager to help guide still-developing smiles. Dr. Margaret Santiago and Dr. Amy Brandon collaborate to provide a comprehensive menu of services to help children of all ages improve their dental condition. Whether your kid needs a checkup and cleaning or a more complex procedure, they have the specialized training and state-of-the-art technology to help. If your kid has damaged their braces, you can request an appointment on the website or by calling (925) 425-9292.