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Emergency Orthodontist – Webster, MA

How to Effectively Care For Braces-Related Emergencies

From severe tooth pain to soft tissue cuts, dental-related injuries can be painful, anxiety-inducing and inconvenient. Fortunately, orthodontic emergencies are relatively rare, which means you will likely get through your entire treatment without ever experiencing one. However, it is best to be prepared, so that if one does arise, you can swiftly leap into action. With this in mind, keep reading to learn how to effectively care for braces-related emergencies. If you’d prefer to speak directly with our team, don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Closeup of girl struggling with tooth pain

Why Choose Simply Orthodontics For Emergency Orthodontic Care?

The Most Common Orthodontic Emergencies

Whether your orthodontic emergency is relatively minor or one that results in immense pain, it is important to remember that all braces-related injuries require a visit to your orthodontist. Neglecting to seek care when the issue first arises can result in further damage, delaying your treatment timeline significantly. That being said, there are a few actions you can take at home to protect your teeth and gums until your appointment!

Orthodontic Emergency FAQs

Will my toothache go away on its own?

Normally, the answer is “no.” However, it’s common for discomfort to arise from time-to-time during the teeth-straightening process. So, there’s a chance that your toothache will go away as your teeth adjust to the pressure from your braces. That said, you shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to us if the sensation seems to be getting worse or is present in tandem with other abnormal dental symptoms, like bleeding gums.

How should I sleep with tooth pain?

As we mentioned above, some tooth pain is to be expected during your orthodontic treatment. The good news is that it’s only temporary, and there are several ways you can alleviate it even sooner. The first is sticking to soft foods, like applesauce, yogurt, and oatmeal. The second is sipping on cool water to help provide a slight numbing sensation and soothe any inflammation. The third is taking OTC pain medication as directed on the label.

Should I visit the emergency room first for orthodontic emergencies?

Since hospitals don’t usually have dentists or orthodontists on-staff, it’s only recommended if you’re experiencing potentially life-threatening symptoms (i.e., severe swelling, uncontrollable bleeding, trouble swallowing). If your bracket is loose, a wire is out of place, or you can’t find your retainer, then your first call should be to our office. Once we know a little more about your situation, we can schedule a time for you to come in, hopefully the same day!

What should I keep in my emergency dentistry kit?

Just like you have a First-Aid kit for cuts and other injuries, you should have an emergency dentistry kit for damage to the teeth and gums. If you don’t have one already, then fill up a backpack or small container with the following:

  • Dental wax
  • Additional orthodontic supplies, like rubber bands
  • Sterile gloves (ideally nitrile)
  • Gauze pads and dressings
  • Cotton balls
  • Dental cement (or other temporary filling material)
  • Anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen
  • Topical anesthetic such as Orajel or a similar product
  • Floss
  • Ice pack

We also recommend keeping our phone number and address in this kit so that it’s easily accessible should you need it.

Are toothpicks safe to use?

Toothpicks can be used, but only with the utmost caution. After all, accidentally swallowing one can be deadly. That’s why we always recommend taking a different approach. First, rinse your mouth with warm saltwater (this will help loosen the debris). Then, use pre-threaded floss or a water flosser to remove the debris.

Toothache  

Is a Toothache an Emergency? If you have a toothache that’s lasted more than 24 hours, don’t ignore it. Although some minor soreness during your orthodontic treatment is normal, discomfort that is stemming from one tooth, a sharp pain when biting down, and a pimple-like bump on your gums are all signs of an untreated oral health concern, like tooth decay or gum disease. Issues like these need to be treated ASAP so they don’t have a chance to progress any further, so don’t put off scheduling an appointment.

How You Should Handle Toothaches The first step is scheduling an appointment for an exam and, if necessary, treatment. Until then, there are a few things you can do to help you stay comfortable, including sticking to soft foods and taking an over-the-counter pain reliever as instructed. Remember, these are just temporary solutions and should not be used as a long-term fix. Once your tooth has been restored, we can get your orthodontic treatment back on track. That way, you have a smile that is as healthy as it is beautiful when it comes time to remove your braces.

Loose Bracket or Wire  

Is a Loose Bracket or Wire an Emergency? A bracket or wire that is out of place poses several problems. To begin, it can result in your teeth moving out of place, which can significantly delay your treatment. Furthermore, this orthodontic emergency can result in uncomfortable soft tissue irritation. That’s why we encourage our patients to schedule an appointment with our Webster orthodontist right away.

How You Should Handle a Loose Bracket or Wire You can attempt to put the bracket or wire back in place with a soft object, like a clean, soft towel or sterile eraser. However, if it isn’t going back into place with minimal pressure, don’t force it. This can result in your bracket or wire breaking entirely, potentially damaging your teeth, gums, or the soft tissue in your mouth in the process. Instead, cover that portion of your brackets with orthodontic wax to prevent irritation.

Broken Bracket or Wire  

Is a Broken Bracket or Wire an Emergency? Yes! Not only is a broken bracket or wire an orthodontic emergency, but it’s an orthodontic emergency where we recommend calling us right away. That way, we can repair your braces and get your treatment back on track before your teeth drift out of position or are damaged in any way.

How You Should Handle a Broken Bracket or Wire First, call our Webster orthodontic team to schedule an appointment. Second, place your broken bracket or wire in a clean, small container for safekeeping. Third, prevent additional damage by not chewing anything crunchy. Lastly, if you’re experiencing any irritation, then cover your braces with dental wax and take OTC pain medication as instructed.

Protruding/Poking Wire  

Is a Poking or Protruding Wire an Emergency? Although it might not seem like a poking or protruding wire is much of a problem, it is because it dramatically increases your risk of sustaining a serious soft tissue injury. That’s why we strongly recommend contacting us ASAP to schedule an appointment.

How You Should Handle A Poking or Protruding Wire In addition to calling us, we recommend covering the sharp edge of the wire with some sugar-free gum to protect your gums, lips, and tongue from getting cut. It’s also a good idea to avoid all crunchy, hard, and sticky foods because they can cause even further damage.

Mouth Sores/Irritation  

Are Mouth Sores or Irritation an Emergency? Mouth sores are quite common during orthodontic treatment, especially at the beginning. For that reason, they don’t usually require a same-day visit to our office. That said, you’re welcome to reach out to us, especially if the wound doesn’t seem to be healing.

How You Should Handle Mouth Sores or Irritation Fortunately, there are several ways you can prevent mouth sores and alleviate irritation. That includes not over-indulging on foods and drinks with added sugar, rinsing your mouth periodically with warm saltwater, and covering any sharp edges of your braces with dental wax.

Broken Ligature  

Is a Broken Ligature an Emergency? It is! Remember, although the rubber bands holding your archwire securely in place are small, each and every one of them serves an important role. So, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if one of them breaks!

How You Should Handle a Broken Ligature Between when you call our Webster dental team and when you come in for your appointment, do your best not to touch the area with your fingers or tongue and stick to soft foods to help prevent the situation from getting worse.

Cut Lips, Cheeks, or Tongue  

Is a Cut Lip, Cheek, or Tongue an Emergency? Fortunately, soft tissue cuts can be handled at home quite easily in most situations. As always, there are some exceptions. For example, if the bleeding persists for more than 10 minutes (even after applying pressure), you should go to the ER.

How You Should Handle a Cut Lip, Cheek, or Tongue First, go to the sink and thoroughly rinse your mouth with clean, cool water so you can locate the cut. Then, grab some gauze or a damp, clean washcloth and use it to apply pressure to the area, stopping the bleeding in the process.

Important note: If the bleeding persists after 10 minutes, call 911 or head to the ER for medical attention.

Something Stuck Between the Teeth  

Is Having Something Stuck Between the Teeth an Emergency? Having something, like a piece of food, stuck between your teeth isn’t usually an orthodontic emergency. That said, the debris does need to be removed ASAP. Otherwise, it’s only a matter of time until your teeth start to decay or your gums develop an infection.

How You Should Handle Something Stuck Between the Teeth First, rinse your mouth thoroughly with warm saltwater (if you don’t have salt at the moment, regular water works too). Then, grab your floss of choice and use it to gently clean between your teeth. Do NOT use anything sharp, like tweezers, a toothpick, or a pocketknife. If you can’t seem to dislodge the debris, then give us a call.

Broken/Lost Aligner or Retainer  

Is a Broken/Lost Aligner or Retainer an Emergency? Unfortunately, it’s possible for your teeth to drift back into their previously misaligned positions (this phenomenon is referred to as “orthodontic relapse”). That’s why a broken/lost aligner or retainer is considered an orthodontic emergency. So, don’t wait – contact our Webster office ASAP to share what happened.

How You Should Handle a Broken or Lost Aligner/Retainer In both cases, calling us should be a top priority. That way, we can start the process of repairing or replacing your orthodontic appliance right away. If you do have your aligner/retainer, but it’s broken, don’t wear it; store it in its designated case.

Loose Teeth  

Are Loose Teeth an Emergency? Initially, you might think that loose teeth are a dental emergency across the board. That’s not necessarily the case. After all, your teeth are moving into new positions, so it’s normal for them to feel loose from time to time. If, however, they feel like they are on the brink of falling out, then you should schedule an emergency appointment with us right away.

How You Should Handle Loose Teeth If your teeth are just slightly loose, then stick to soft foods, like yogurt, and avoid doing anything that will make the situation worse, like biting your nails. If, on the other hand, one or more of your teeth feel like they are about to fall out, then you need to call us immediately. Make sure that you don’t chew on that side of your mouth and that you avoid all crunchy, hard, and sticky foods until your visit as well.

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