Sometimes your braces can act up. Things can poke, come loose, or even get lost. Below are solutions to a few of the most common problems. Click on an emergency icon to watch a short movie.... If you have any additional questions feel free to contact our office and we will assist you with your emergency.

Emergency Care Videos

Keeping your braces clean

Correcting a poking wire

Your arch expander (RPE)

Loose Brace and Wax Placement

Poking Wire

A wire poking into your cheek is usually caused by one of three situations:

  1. The last brace has come off. This leaves a long wire poking the back of your mouth. This is remedied by placing wax, moist cotton ball, or gum on the end of the wire. If the wire continues to poke the cheek, use finger nail clippers to trim the long wire directly behind the last brace still glued to a tooth.
  2. The wire may be slightly long. This can be caused by tooth movement or sliding of the wire around from the other side. The solution is the same as #1.
  3. The wire may have bent allowing it to slip out of the last brace in the mouth. Your wire is very flexible. The wire can be grabbed with a pair of tweezers, bent, and slid back into the last brace solving your problem. If you are not successful in replacing your wire, please use the solution to question #1.

The above video entitled "Correcting a poking wire" will demonstrate these techniques.

Something is rubbing my lips, cheek, or tongue

If a part of your brace is rubbing your lip, dry it with a Kleenex or napkin and place a small amount of wax on the brace. After brushing or eating, you will need to reapply the wax.

If something that is attached to your braces is rubbing, you can often use the eraser on a pencil to push the attachment out of the way of your lip.

Many peoples' lips and cheeks are sensitive. Along with using the solutions in #1 and #2, decrease the sensitivity of your cheek by rinsing with warm salt water.

  1. Fill a glass ½ full with warm water
  2. Stir in 1 spoon of salt
  3. Swish and spit the mixture 3-4 times daily to reduce soreness to your cheek or tongue.

The above video entitled "Loose Brace and Wax placement" will demonstrate these techniques.

One of my braces came off!

No big deal! We have already told you what to do if this is the last brace in your mouth. If it is any other brace, it will be fine until your next visit. If the loose brace is one to which you are attaching a rubber band, contact the office so we can schedule an evaluation appointment. (The above video "Loose Braces and Wax Placement" will help answer this problem)

I am having trouble with my expander (RPE)

The above video entitled "Your arch expander (RPE)" will answer your questions about how to clean and turn the expander.

My teeth are sore after my last appointment

Certain people's teeth may be sore after their appointment. Dr. Emerson uses "heat activated" wires that actually pull harder when heated by your mouth. Rinsing with cool water will help the soreness. If you can take over-the-counter Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen, following the dose instructions can offer relief.

I am noticing too much plaque on my teeth, what can I do?

The above video entitled "Keeping your braces clean" reviews the brushing techniques Dr. Emerson would like you to use.

Loose Wire or Band

Don't be alarmed if a wire or band comes loose. This happens occasionally. If a wire protrudes and is irritating, use a blunt instrument (the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil) and carefully, gently push the irritating wire under the archwire. Simply get it out of the way. If irritation to the lips or mouth continues, place wax or wet cotton on the wire to reduce the annoyance. Call our office as soon as possible for an appointment to check and repair the appliances. If any piece comes off, save it and bring it with you to the office.

Please click on the Loose brace and wax placement movie above to show the correction for this problem >

Care of Appliances

To successfully complete the treatment plan, the patient must work together with the orthodontist. The teeth and jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if the patient consistently wears the rubber bands, headgear, or other appliances as prescribed. Damaged appliances lengthen the treatment time.

Emerson Orthodontics - Clint Emerson, DMD

stock photo of teen boy with braces and dad