The video is definitely the best way to answer all the questions you might have, but we’ve also listed out the answers below if that’s more convenient for you!
The basics
Congrats on starting your journey to a new smile! throughout your treatment, you can refer back to this video to get simple solutions for common problems with braces.
General tooth pain
If your teeth are aching or feel tight, this is completely normal!
- Apply an over-the-counter oral anesthetic like Orajel to the sore area. ice can help numb the area as well.
- If the pain persists, you can use over-the-counter pain medicine.
Lip or cheek irritation & mouth sores
Brackets and wires may rub on your lips or cheeks, causing discomfort or mouth sores.
- Use orthodontic wax to cover the part of the braces that’s causing you pain.
- Mix ½ a teaspoon of salt into warm water and swish in your mouth for 30 seconds before spitting. repeat as often as you feel necessary.
Food caught between teeth
Food getting caught in your teeth is just a part of having braces!
- Use floss with a threader or superfloss and floss normally to dislodge the piece of food.
- Using a toothpick or toothbrush can work just as well.
Ligature or power chain comes off
Ligatures are the colourful elastics on your braces, and power chains are ones that go across many teeth.
- If a ligature or power chain comes off, you can use clean tweezers to wrap it back over the bracket.
- If a ligature or power chain breaks, call your orthodontist to book an appointment to get it replaced.
- If a part of the power chain broke, loose ends can be cut with nail clippers.
- Place wax on any exposed brackets causing you discomfort.
Piece of an appliance swallowed
This is an emergency. please contact your orthodontic office immediately to see if the piece you swallowed is a cause for concern.
