Although orthodontic emergencies aren’t necessarily considered common, it’s still possible to have unexpected issues requiring your provider’s assistance to address. For example, you might accidentally break a bracket on your braces or develop sores in the tender tissues inside your mouth that become infected.
While you can’t predict when you might have an urgent oral concern, there are thankfully several ways you can prevent one from occurring in the first place. Read on to learn about 3 helpful tips for preventing orthodontic emergencies!
Tip #1: Use Orthodontic Wax
Braces are the tried-and-true solution for addressing everything from minor to more severe misalignments because they allow your provider a greater ability to manipulate the range of motion than other services do. However, the metallic gear it relies on is notorious for leaving cuts or blisters on the insides of your cheeks, lips, or gums.
You can avoid this by placing a small amount of special orthodontic wax over the sharp corners of the square brackets or clipped ends of wires so they’re less likely to cause any wounds or injuries.
This wax can sometimes also be used to temporarily anchor a destabilized or broken bracket until you can arrive at your provider’s office to have it repaired.
Tip #2: Make Conscientious Dietary Decisions
Many orthodontic services require that patients avoid certain foods that are problematic for their treatment. For example, you shouldn’t be eating anything too hard or sticky with braces because you could push or yank them out of place, which can interrupt your treatment timeline until it’s fixed.
Thankfully, you can avoid many common orthodontic concerns, like broken brackets or wires, by sticking to the provided list of dietary restrictions. Making more conscientious eating decisions can help you stay on track so you’re more likely to complete your treatment at the anticipated time.
Tip #3: Build An Emergency Kit
This is less of a preventive measure and more of a “just-in-case” provision, but it can also be helpful to build your own orthodontic emergency kit. Keeping some basic supplies in an easily accessible case at home, in the office, or in your car ensures that you’ll have what you need if anything happens.
Some helpful items to include are:
- Orthodontic wax.
- Travel-sized toothbrush and toothpaste, including interproximal brushes.
- Floss or floss threader.
- Topical anesthetics, like numbing gels.
- Lip balm.
- Bottled water.
- Cold compress.
- Over-the-counter pain medications, like Tylenol or ibuprofen.
- Contact information for your orthodontist’s office.
Taking a few simple precautions can help preserve your orthodontics to avoid potential emergencies!
About the Practice
At Wigal Orthodontics of Columbus, families benefit from two experts eager to help them improve their lives by straightening their smiles. Dr. Wigal and Dr. Kluemper collaborate to provide a wide array of quality services to address everything from slightly crooked teeth to severe bite misalignments. Their caring approach is combined with advanced technology to deliver accurate treatments for long-lasting results. You can request an appointment on the website or call (614) 495-9002.