It’s not uncommon for braces to break and sometimes it happens at the most unfortunate times, such as during holidays or on vacation. There are many reasons why a bracket or wire can come loose. It’s usually nothing to be alarmed about, but it is important to know what to do if that happens. Let’s talk about what to do if your braces break.

What Causes Braces to Break?

Before we talk about what to do if your braces break, let’s talk about how to prevent it from happening. Braces can break due to many causes, but the most common cause is from eating foods that are not recommended to be eaten while wearing braces. This includes crunchy, sticky, chewy or hard foods and foods in large pieces that require you to bite into them.

You can help protect your braces from breaking by asking your orthodontist for a list of common foods that should be avoided and being diligent to follow it. Another way to protect your braces from being damaged by foods is to take some extra time before you eat to cut foods into smaller pieces so that they don’t require biting into or as much chewing when you eat them.

Another common cause of braces breaking can be trauma to the mouth while playing sports. If you’re playing a contact sport or a sport with any potential of getting hit in the face or falling, it’s important to wear a mouthguard to protect both your teeth and braces.

What to Do When They Break

If your braces do break, it’s important to call your orthodontist as soon as possible to make an appointment to have them properly repaired. A bent or protruding wire or a loose bracket can cause discomfort and pose a risk of injury to the inside of your mouth. Delaying repairs can also delay the progress of your orthodontic treatment.

Of course, if your braces break during a holiday or on vacation, it may be a short time before you can see your orthodontist. In this case, it might be helpful to apply dental wax to any sharp areas that are causing irritation. You may also want to ask your orthodontist’s office about emergency measures they might recommend for you to take in the meantime. These might include having an adult bend the offending wire or trim it for a temporary fix to help prevent it from poking you or sticking out as much. Don’t try this without help from an adult and the advice from an orthodontist, though!

Keep Your Orthodontist’s Number Handy

Our number one tip for people who wear braces is to keep your orthodontist’s number handy at all times. That way, if you have any questions or emergencies come up, such as asking what to do if your braces break, you can always call immediately. Broken braces are a common problem and your orthodontist is there to help answer your questions.

Call our Fulshear Dental Office, to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.