Emergency Care

Flower Mound, TX Emergency Care Tips

True orthodontic emergencies are very rare, but when they do occur we are available to you. We want our patients to be informed of problems that may occur, and understand how to solve them, at least temporarily, until it is possible to return to our office.

General soreness

When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth, and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. Stick to a soft diet until your teeth do not hurt to chewing. Irritated gums and other sore spots can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt-water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in eight ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. An alternative (better tasting) mouthwash is the Healthy Gums Rinse by The Natural Dentist. Placing Orabase on the affected area may also help relieve discomfort; Orabase can be found in a pharmacy. If the tenderness is severe, take Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain. Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and Naproxen Sodium (Naprosyn, Anaprox) actually slow the tooth movement, so it is not advisable to use them frequently while wearing braces.

The lips, cheeks, and tongue may become irritated for one to two weeks as they learn a new posture and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We’ll show you how!

Loose appliance

If your appliance is poking you, place wax on the offending part.

Loose or broken bracket or band

If a bracket comes loose from the tooth, call our office for an appointment.  If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it if needed for comfort. If the bracket or band can be removed easily, place it in an envelope and save it to bring to your next appointment.

Loose wire

Try to place the wire back in the tube. Place wax over it if there is any discomfort and call for an appointment.

Poking wire

Roll a small piece of wax that was provided to you at the beginning of your orthodontic treatment into a small ball and press it onto the part that is poking you. If the wire is sticking more on one side than the other, try to push the side that is not poking into the tube until the wire is even on both sides. Usually, you will notice this when the wire slides more on one side than the other. If the wire is still poking, try to place a small piece of wax that was provided to you.

Lost tie-wire or elastic tie

This is not a real emergency, but please notify an assistant at your next appointment.