Emergency Info

Sore Teeth

Your teeth are moving – that’s exciting! They might be a little sore for about a week as they get going. We promise there are better days ahead! To help with the adjustment period:

• Eat Soft Foods (smoothies, yogurt, mashed potatoes, ground beef, etc)
• Take Sips of Cold Water
• OTC Advil or Tylenol, as needed 

Wire Irritation

• Covering the wire: cover the end of the wire with a small piece of wax or cotton. If you do not have either, OrthoDots work great and can be found at Walgreens or Amazon.
• Repositioning the Wire: You can try moving the wire away from the irritated area using a pencil eraser.
• Cutting the Wire: You can cut it with nail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol.
• Warm Saltwater Rinses: The mouth is very sensitive, but it is also the fastest healing part of the body! To help speed up the healing process, you can rinse with warm water and salt (make it as salty as the ocean!) a few times daily until you feel better.

If you have to make any adjustments to your braces, give us a ring during the next business hours, and we will get you put back together!

Loose Brackets or Wires

• Please call or text us so we can assist you in managing the situation
• Wax is perfect for covering loose brackets or pokey wires in the short term (if the wax is tough to work with, Ortho Dots can be found at Walgreens or Amazon)
• If you lose a baby tooth that has a bracket on it, don’t panic! You can slide it off the wire at home (sometimes the wire needs to be clipped first) and give the office a call during business hours, and we will get you fixed!
• A loose wire can be moved away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or pencil eraser. You can also cut the wire with nail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol.
• Keep any parts that detach from your braces and bring them with you for repair.

Loose Expander

In the unlikely event that your expander comes loose on one side, do not panic!

• You will not swallow or choke on your expander
• Call us so that we can assist you in managing the situation
• Your expander will likely stay in place with tongue pressure
• If you are unable to get to the office, you can pull down the expander to remove the appliance. Bring it with you to your next visit so that we can assess if it needs to be replaced.

Lost or Broken Retainers

• Unfortunately, teeth move throughout our entire lives! Do not wait to give us a call if you have lost or broken retainers to avoid any shifting!
• If you have a loose bonded retainer, try not to play with it with your tongue and call us during business hours for repair.

Lost Separator

If a separator comes out, contact our office to determine if it needs replacement. Losing a separator during treatment is a common occurrence and typically not a cause for concern.