A broken brace can be worrying, especially when a wire starts poking your cheek or a bracket comes loose. In most cases, it is not a serious emergency, but you should not ignore it. A damaged brace may stop working correctly and can sometimes delay your orthodontic treatment.
The right action depends on what has broken and whether it is causing pain or irritation. If you have broken braces, check the damaged area, protect your mouth from sharp edges and contact your orthodontist for advice.
What Should You Do If Your Braces Wire Breaks?
If your braces wire broke, try to stay calm. Do not pull or twist the wire, as this could make the damage worse.
First, check where the wire has broken or moved. It may have:
- Come out of the tube around one of your back teeth
- Snapped between two brackets
- Become loose and start poking your cheek
- Shifted so that the end is rubbing your tongue or gums
If the broken braces wire is not causing pain, your orthodontist may advise you to leave it until your next appointment.
What to Do If a Braces Wire Is Poking Your Cheek or Gum
A braces wire poking your cheek or gum can become uncomfortable quickly. The first step is to protect the soft tissues inside your mouth.
If you have poking wire braces, place a small amount of orthodontic wax over the sharp area. The wax creates a barrier between the wire and your cheek or gum.
To use orthodontic wax:
- Wash your hands before handling the wax.
- Take a small piece of wax and soften it between your fingers.
- Roll it into a small ball.
- Place it directly over the sharp part of the wire.
- Press it gently so that the wire is covered.
This is only a temporary measure. It does not repair the brace. If the braces wire continues to cause discomfort, contact your orthodontist.
Read More: How do braces impact my lifestyle?
Can You Fix a Broken Braces Wire at Home?
You should not try to permanently repair a broken orthodontic wire yourself. Do not use glue or other household products on your brace.
In some situations, an orthodontist gives you specific instructions for managing a loose or protruding wire temporarily.
What to Do If a Bracket Comes Loose or Breaks
A bracket is the small attachment bonded to the front of your tooth. The orthodontic wire passes through the brackets and applies controlled pressure to move your teeth.
A broken bracket may remain attached to the wire but become loose or move along it. It may also come completely away from the tooth.
If a bracket becomes loose:
- Do not pull it off the wire.
- Avoid playing with it using your fingers or tongue.
- Use orthodontic wax if it is rubbing against your cheek.
- Contact your orthodontic practice for advice.
- Keep any detached piece if your orthodontist asks you to bring it in.
Hard and sticky foods are common causes of bracket damage. Biting objects such as pens or pencils can also damage fixed braces.
Is a Broken Braces Wire an Emergency?
A broken braces wire causes an emergency or not depends on the type of damage and your symptoms. Not every broken wire requires immediate treatment.
A minor problem may be able to wait for your next appointment if:
- The wire is loose but not painful.
- A bracket is loose but remains attached.
- The breakage is not rubbing your mouth.
- Your orthodontist has advised you that it can wait.
Read More: Can Braces Help Correct Jaw Alignment?
Can You Leave a Broken Braces Wire?
How long you can leave a broken wire depends on the type of damage and whether it is causing problems. A minor breakage that is not painful may sometimes be left until your next orthodontic appointment.
However, you should not simply ignore a broken braces wire. Contact your orthodontist and explain what has happened. They can tell you whether you need an earlier appointment.
You should seek advice sooner if the wire is:
- Poking your cheek, tongue or gum
- Causing ongoing pain or irritation
- Preventing you from eating comfortably
- Loose and likely to cause further damage
- Affecting the position or function of your brace
What Causes Braces Wires and Brackets to Break?
There are several reasons why braces wire break or why a bracket may come loose. Some breakages happen because of pressure placed on the appliance during eating or everyday activities.
Common causes include:
- Eating hard or crunchy foods
- Eating sticky or chewy foods
- Biting directly into hard foods
- Biting pens, pencils or other objects
- Nail biting
- An impact to the mouth
- Accidental damage to the brace
Will a Broken Braces Wire Affect Your Treatment?
A broken braces wire can affect how your appliance applies pressure to your teeth. If part of the brace is no longer working correctly, your teeth may not move as planned.
A loose bracket or broken archwire braces problem may also require an additional appointment to repair the appliance. This can sometimes add time to your treatment.
This does not mean that one broken wire will automatically extend your treatment. The effect depends on what has broken, where it has broken and how quickly it is repaired.
How to Prevent Broken Braces?
Good brace care can reduce the risk of broken wires and brackets. Follow the instructions given by your orthodontic team and take extra care when eating.
You can help protect your braces by:
- Avoiding hard, sticky and chewy foods
- Cutting firm foods into smaller pieces
- Not biting pens, pencils or fingernails
- Wearing a mouthguard during contact sports if advised
- Brushing carefully around brackets and wires
- Attending your scheduled orthodontic appointments
Read More: How to Brush with Braces?
Final Thoughts
A broken wire or bracket is usually manageable, but it should not be ignored. If you have broken braces, protect any sharp area with orthodontic wax, avoid hard or sticky foods and contact your orthodontist for advice.
Do not try to permanently repair the brace yourself. Your orthodontic team can determine whether the damage needs immediate attention or can be repaired at your next appointment. Getting the problem checked promptly can help keep your treatment on track and prevent further discomfort.
Access Quality Orthodontic Care to Fix Your Broken Braces
If you have broken braces in Aberdeen, Visage Orthodontics Aberdeen can assess the damage and recommend the right solution. Our experienced orthodontic team can help repair your braces and keep your treatment on track. Contact us to arrange an appointment and get professional advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can usually eat if the breakage is not causing significant pain, but choose softer foods and avoid anything hard, sticky or chewy.
Do not remove a broken orthodontic wire yourself unless your orthodontist has specifically told you to do so. Pulling or cutting the wire could damage the appliance or injure your mouth.
If your braces wire came out of a bracket or tube, do not pull it. Cover any sharp area with orthodontic wax and contact your orthodontic practice.
A damaged brace may not apply force in the way it was designed to. This can affect tooth movement and treatment progress.
A loose bracket may sometimes be left until your next appointment if it is not painful and your orthodontist agrees. However, contact your orthodontist as soon as possible, especially if it is causing discomfort or has come completely off.
