Getting
braces is a great way to perfect your smile. While most people
experience very few problems with braces, some develop problems with
their braces on occasion. Learning about these potential problems can
help you understand how to prevent them and what to do if they
occur.
Read
on to learn about four common braces problems, how to prevent them,
and how to treat them.
After
your orthodontist attaches your braces, he or she will need to adjust
them on a regular basis. These regular adjustments are an important
part of the teeth-straightening process. To adjust your braces, the
wires are tightened to place additional pressure on your teeth to
help move them into proper alignment slowly over time.
After
each adjustment, your teeth may feel sore for several days. This
soreness is normal and not a cause for alarm. To ease this soreness,
you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as ibuprofen or
acetaminophen, massage your gums, or place hot or cold compresses on
your jaw.
Also,
eat very soft foods when your teeth are sore, such as mashed
potatoes, yogurt, soft fruits, and oatmeal, to prevent the placement
of additional pressure on your teeth that can worsen your pain.
Braces
are made of many components, including two wires that run through
both your top and bottom braces brackets. These wires are relatively
sturdy and meant to stay in place when you eat meals and brush your
teeth. However, these wires can break if you place too much pressure
on them.
To
keep the wires of your braces from breaking, avoid eating very hard
foods, such as hard candies, nuts, and breadsticks, and never use
your teeth as tools.
If
a braces wire does brake, do not panic. Instead, simply place a
portion of orthodontic wax on the end of the wire to keep the sharp
tip from poking the inside of your mouth. Then, contact your
orthodontist to schedule an emergency braces repair appointment.
Brackets
are another important component of your braces. When applying braces
to your teeth, your orthodontist adheres one bracket to each tooth
with a strong dental adhesive. While this dental adhesive is very
strong, the bond created by this adhesive can be broken if you apply
too much force to one bracket.
Since
the wires of your braces run through your braces brackets, a loose
bracket will typically not fall out of your mouth, but instead simply
loosely hang in place near where it once adhered to your tooth.
To
keep brackets from loosening due to force, avoid eating hard, sticky,
and chewy foods.
If
a braces bracket does become loose, then don't panic. Instead, place
orthodontic wax on and around it if needed to keep the bracket from
scraping against the inside of your cheek. Then, contact your
orthodontist to schedule an emergency braces repair appointment.
Some
people who wear braces begin to develop cavities more frequently than
before they had braces. Food particles can linger around braces
brackets and adhere to braces wires, and some people who wear braces
do not brush their teeth sufficiently to remove these particles.
To
prevent frequent cavity development while wearing braces, be sure to
brush your teeth gently, yet thoroughly, at least twice a day. Also,
don’t stop flossing your teeth on a daily basis due to difficulty
threading the floss through your braces wires. If you struggle to
floss your teeth properly while wearing braces, ask your orthodontist
for a hands-on flossing tutorial and remember that practice makes
perfect when learning any new task.
If
you plan to get braces soon, then follow these tips to help prevent
and treat several common braces problems. Contact Donald
E. Snyder Orthodontics to
schedule your orthodontic exam today.
