Did you Break Your Braces? Here’s What to Do 

It was a sunny afternoon in Cumming, GA, when you were on the field playing your favorite sport. Really getting into it, you went the extra mile and invested every ounce of your energy in helping your team claim the victory. The ball collided with your face, sending you backward right before the game ended. After the initial shock, you gained your balance and took inventory of your body. You didn’t seem to be hurt, but you felt your braces shift in your mouth. With a mirror in front of you several minutes later, you realized that your braces had broken. It’s rare for a person’s braces to break, but certainly not impossible or unfixable. Here are a few action items outlined by an orthodontist in Cumming that you should implement as soon as possible. 

Contact Your Orthodontist 

Once you detect damage to your braces, it’s essential to contact your local orthodontist in Cumming as soon as possible. To determine if you should receive immediate care, explain the break in detail. In some cases, your orthodontist can address minor issues affecting just one or two brackets during your next regularly scheduled appointment. More severe damage may require a new appointment right away.  

Try Orthodontic Wax 

When you break your braces, your mouth may be exposed to sharp pieces of metal. To prevent potential pain and damage to your teeth, cheeks, and gums, you can apply dental wax to cover these sharp pieces. Most dental wax can be purchased at a supermarket or drugstore. The wax is harmless if accidentally swallowed, and it can be broken apart to fit over any exposed metals easily. 

Monitor Your Diet 

To avoid worsening the break, you should avoid foods that are either hard or overly chewy. This is true whenever you wear braces but even more so when there’s a break. Steer clear of pretzels, nuts, carrots, apples, gummies, and popcorn. Eating these foods could dislodge your braces further and expose your mouth to more irritation. When you have a slight break, be especially careful about what you eat until you’re able to visit your orthodontist and fix the problem.

Limit Infection 

Initially, broken braces might cause some lacerations to your cheeks and gums. To reduce the irritation and swelling this may cause, try gargling with warm saltwater. You may gargle a few times per day, particularly after a meal that irritates any potential cuts within your mouth. 

Breaking your braces might be inconvenient, but it normally isn’t anything too dangerous. Make sure to keep your orthodontist in Cumming informed and take some additional steps to protect your oral health in the meantime. 

About the Practice 

Serenity Orthodontics help their patients achieve straight smiles through their pleasant and seamless care processes. Led by two certified orthodontists, the Serenity Orthodontist team offers free consultations, financing options, and quick results. Utilizing the industry’s latest advancements, Serenity Orthodontics provide virtual consultations and rely on digital technology to speed up the straightening process. If you have questions about broken braces, feel free to contact their team at (678) 879-3006 or visit their website.