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It’s normal for a patient to experience some mild discomfort after orthodontic appliances are adjusted. However, this slight soreness can make eating and biting a little bit uncomfortable initially. Keep eating soft foods during this discomfort and maintain proper hygiene. We encourage the use of over-the-counter pain relievers such acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) when necessary, as long as you are not allergic to the medication you choose. The basic rule of thumb when taking medicine to relieve discomfort relating to orthodontic care is to take what you normally would for a headache. |
Lost Wire or Colored/Steel Tie
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Tiny bands or fine wires are known as ligatures and their job is to hold the wire to the bracket. If a rubber or wire ligature tie is lost, notify the parents so that the orthodontist may advise whether the patient should be seen. |
Ligature Tie (Color or Metal) is Untied From the Wire
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• If a colored ligature pops off, you may be able to replace it with a sterile tweezers. If a wire ligature comes loose, simply remove it with sterile tweezers. If the wire ligature is sticking out into the lip but is not loose, it may be bent away from the lips, cheeks, and tongue with a pencil eraser or a Q-tip to eliminate the irritation.
•Of course, when one ligature pops off or breaks, others may then follow. Be sure to let us know if one or more ties come off of the braces. |
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• Occasionally the end of a wire will work itself out of place and irritate the patient’s mouth. Sometimes, it helps to push the wire back in place using a Q-tip or pencil eraser until it is flat against the tooth. If the wire cannot be moved into a comfortable position, cover it as much as possible with orthodontic relief wax. Of course, call our office during the next business day so that we are able to personally help relieve the problem.
• In a situation where the wire is extremely bothersome and the patient will not be able to see the orthodontist anytime soon, as a last resort, you may clip the wire with a carefully handled, sterile nail clipper. |
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New or newly adjusted braces can be irritating to the mouth at first. Especially when you are first eating! A small amount of orthodontic wax makes an excellent protector between metal and mouth. Simply pinch off a small, pea-sized ball and place it completely covering the area of the braces causing irritation. |
Loose Brackets, Wires or Bands
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• If the braces, wires, or bands have become loose in any way, follow the steps detailed above and we encourage patients or parents to call our office so that we may immediately schedule an appointment to resolve the problem.
• To prevent sports-related damage to the braces and subsequent irritation to the mouth, we recommend using a special orthodontic athletic mouth-guard. We are happy to supply patients with a mouth-guard who anticipate need. |
