Handling Broken Brackets: Tips to Stay on Track with Your Braces

Getting braces is a move made after careful consideration. But it can be truly exhausting when your ‘thoughtful evaluation’ fails to work its best. 

Metal braces can give you a hard time with occasional broken brackets. While it’s familiar, it might be your first time experiencing it. The damaged bracet can slow your orthodontic progress and cause discomfort. But it’s not an emergency. Knowing what to do when it happens ensures your orthodontic treatment stays on track without causing pain. Let’s explore the proper steps to keep your metal braces in Spokane Valley in the right condition:

Common Causes of Broken Brackets

Before we shed light on how to handle broken brackets, let’s get to know what causes this: 

• Eating hard, crunchy, or sticky foods like popcorn, nuts or caramel candies
• Not wearing mouthguards during sports or physical activities
• Poor oral habits like chewing on pens or fingernails
• Teeth grinding or clenching during sleep

What to Do When a Bracket Breaks?

As you know what can cause broken brackets, not making those mistakes can keep your metal braces pristine. But as now you’re struggling with the damaged brackets, it’s time to unveil steps to handle broken brackets: 

• Assess the Damage: The bracket can be detached or loosely attached to the wire. This decides your next step. 
• Avoid Further Issues: If the bracket has unfastened, the wire might still be intact. It helps you continue your dental alignment treatment until you visit the dental professional for your metal braces repair. You must store a detached bracket safely until your appointment. If you have loose brackets, let your orthodontist take care of them. 
• Use Orthodontic Wax: The sharp edge of brackets can irritate your mouth. Get rid of such discomfort by covering the broken bracket with the wax.
• Call Your Orthodontist: It’s best to schedule an appointment with the orthodontist to repair the brace as soon as possible.
• Stick to Soft Foods: Depend on a soft diet (broth, soup, applesauce, mashed eggs) until fixed. 

How to Prevent Broken Brackets?

While we cannot control the situation 24*7, you can follow the steps mentioned below to handle broken brackets:

• Follow food restrictions as recommended by your orthodontist
• Wear a mouthguard during sports
• Cut fruits and veggies into small pieces
• Keep up with regular orthodontic checkups to monitor your metal braces in Spokane Valley

When to Seek Immediate Orthodontic Help?

You mustn’t delay your orthodontist’s visit if you struggle with: 

• A broken/loose wire causes severe pain or cuts into your gums
• The fractured bracket is affecting your bite
• You suspect the bracket is completely off and lost
• Swelling, bleeding, or infection appears near the broken area

A broken bracket doesn’t have to derail your progress. Acting quickly and following the steps to handle broken brackets keeps your treatment on schedule. Keep up with proper oral care, avoid problem foods, and contact your orthodontist if an issue arises.