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Tips and Remedies for Dealing with Damaged Braces

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Your braces represent a serious investment in realigning your teeth to give you an appealing smile that can last a lifetime. Certain activities, foods and lifestyle choices can damage your braces, and increase the total amount of time you need to wear them. If something does happen, there are a few things you can do to manage the problem and reduce the chance of injury to your mouth.

If your braces are damaged, it’s important to call us as soon as possible. We can offer advice on how to handle the problem and schedule an appointment to fix it quickly.

The metal brackets and bands are attached to your teeth by a strong resin adhesive. Eating hard and sticky foods or chewing on gum and hard objects like pens and pencil, are some of the more common causes of a loose band or bracket.

If something is poking into your cheek or gums, you can usually secure it inside the orthodontic wax you were given when the braces were first put on. If you don’t have the wax handy, you can make do in a pinch with a pencil eraser.

It’s not uncommon for a spacer to fall out shortly before you are due for your next alignment session. If one of the metal bands comes loose don’t try to put it back on. Call use as soon as possible and we’ll be able to determine if it needs to be cemented back on immediately or if it can wait until your next adjustment appointment.

If you have something broken on your braces, please call us at 504-361-3277 to schedule an appointment.