Orthodontic emergencies

If your teeth are sore, you may take acetaminophen or other non-aspirin pain relievers to alleviate discomfort. A warm wash cloth, heating pad or warm salt water rinse may also reduce soreness in your jaws.

If your braces are irritating your mouth, try moving the wire away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or eraser. If the wire does not move, try covering the end of it with a small piece of cotton or a small amount of wax. If the wire is painful, you can cut it with nail clippers or scissors that have been properly washed and sterilized.

If the main wire or a bracket in your braces comes loose, contact our office to schedule a refitting or repair. In situations where you must cut the wire or slide a bracket off the wire, you may use fingernail clippers that have been properly washed and sterilized.

If a separator comes out, contact our office to see if it needs to be replaced. Many patients naturally lose separators during orthodontic treatment, and it is rarely a cause for concern.