A broken bracket is one of the most common issues a patient with braces may face and can be caused by a number of reasons, such as:

• Brushing teeth incorrectly
• Eating the wrong foods
• Using a toothpick or flossing roughly
• Sustaining an injury to the mouth

If you find yourself with a broken bracket, don’t panic! Follow these four steps to minimize any damage.

Assess the Damage

So, you’ve broken your bracket. The first thing to do is assess the damage. Is the wire still attached to the bracket? If so, leave it in place. If it is attached but sticking out, gently use a cotton swab to push it back into place and then place orthodontic wax on the affected bracket to hold it in place. If the bracket has come loose entirely, remove it and be sure to bring it with you for your next orthodontist appointment.

Take Control

After examining the bracket, the next step is to see if there is any damage to your wires. If the ends of the wires are long or protruding, try to cut them as close to the teeth as possible using nail clippers. Cover the area with orthodontic wax to ensure you don’t get cut from any sharp wire ends.

Book an Appointment

Regardless of how well you take care of the situation, you will need to make an appointment with your orthodontist to have the bracket and wire repaired and reattached. How soon you should make an appointment depends on how much damage there is to the bracket and how much discomfort you are experiencing. If you are able to, bring the bracket in with you to your appointment to make any repairs easier on your orthodontist.

Interim Tips

If you aren’t scheduled for an immediate appointment, take measures to make yourself as comfortable as possible. Rinse your mouth regularly with salt water to promote healing and eat soft foods to avoid further damaging your bracket. As always, continue to avoid any hard or sticky foods. If you have mouth sores from the broken bracket or wire, use a soothing product to heal your mouth or take an over-the-counter painkiller to lessen your discomfort.

If you are in need of orthodontic care or are Sequence Orthodontics patient who has a broken bracket, contact us to schedule an appointment today. We are proud to offer a variety of orthodontic services to the people of neighboring Charles and St. Mary’s counties.