True orthodontic emergencies are uncommon, but our orthodontist in North Miami Beach, FL, is here to help if they do happen. As a general rule, you must contact our office if you are in excruciating pain or have an unpleasant appliance problem that you are unable to resolve on your own. Then, we’ll be able to set up a meeting to address the issue.

You might be amazed to know that till you can come to our office, you may be able to address many difficulties yourself. If you can extract a loose piece, place it in a plastic bag or envelope, and carry it with you to your next appointment. Apply soft wax on the protruding piece if your braces are hurting you. If the wire has slipped to one side, use needle-nosed pliers to draw it back to the side, then replace it in the tube on the back tooth.

After you’ve relieved your discomfort, you must contact our dental office in North Miami Beach, FL, as soon as possible to set up an appointment to fix the problem. Allowing your appliance to be broken for an extended period can cause your treatment plan to be disrupted.

For 3 to 5 days after getting your braces on, you may experience general discomfort in your teeth and gums that are tender to biting pressures. Stick to a soft diet until chewing no longer hurts your teeth. Rinse your mouth with a warm salt-water mouthwash to alleviate irritated gums and other sensitive places. Rinse your mouth aggressively with one teaspoon of salt dissolved in eight ounces of warm water. Take Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or whichever pain reliever you regularly use if the discomfort is severe. Because aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), and naproxen sodium (Naprosyn, Anaprox) decrease tooth movement, they should not be used regularly when wearing braces.

For between 1-2 weeks, the lips, cheeks, and tongue may irritate as they adopt a new posture and adjust to the braces’ surface. You may reduce this by putting wax on the braces. We’ll teach you how to do it!

When you don’t wear the headgear as directed by your orthodontist, you may experience discomfort. Keep following your orthodontist’s directions carefully. Please feel free to contact our office for support if the facebow (metal piece) is bent. The helmet should become less painful the longer you wear it, so make sure you get in the recommended number of hours.

You can place wax on the area of your device that is poking you.

If your bracket or band has still been linked to the wire, keep it in position and cover it with wax if necessary for comfort. Then, put the bracket or band in an envelope and store it to bring to your next appointment if it can be removed easily.

Try to reposition your wire with a pair of tweezers or needle-nosed pliers. It’s alright to tie the wire into place with floss: wrap the floss all around the bracket to replace the missing-colored o-ring. If you can’t get the wire into a comfortable spot and covering the end with wax isn’t working, snip the wire behind the final tooth to which it is securely secured with a small fingernail clipper as a last resort. If the wire’s tip is still sharp, apply wax to it.

Push the protruding wire down with a pencil eraser or cover it with wax to make it stop poking.

For orthodontic treatment in North Miami Beach, FL, contact Esteem Braces and Aligners at (786) 744-1570. Reach out to us if you need consultation or treatment with any emergency care and schedule an appointment with our orthodontist in North Miami Beach, FL.