Braces are a prevalent orthodontic treatment in our modern world. According to Humana, over 4 million people nationwide wear braces, 25% of which are adults. However, braces can come with their own set of problems, like when a bracket breaks. Braces come with a metal square secured to the front of the tooth. These are attached to the tooth with a strong adhesive to keep them in place. However, accidents can happen that make these brackets break.

Common Causes

Your orthodontist will give you a list of things to avoid while you have braces. Many of these things can break brackets. Eating hard, sticky foods or food requiring more biting force can damage your brackets. Poor oral hygiene or not wearing a mouthguard during physical activities can also break your brackets.

Consequences

Having a broken bracket can result in several problems. The broken bracket can cut or irritate nearby tissue, causing significant pain. The wire on your braces is not strong enough to guide teeth into proper alignment, so you may need longer orthodontic treatment due to the broken bracket.

Treatment

Patients should address this issue as soon as possible. This can prevent irritation and ensure you don’t require a more extended treatment plan. Contact your orthodontist when the problem occurs to avoid the many consequences of a broken bracket. Call the office when they open if it happens on the weekend.

Prevention

Your orthodontist may not be able to see you as soon as it happens because you must schedule an appointment. In the meantime, a silicone cover or mouthguard can help you prevent irritation. These create a barrier between the broken bracket and soft tissue to ensure you don’t wind up with a cut on the inside of your mouth. As always, make sure you practice proper oral hygiene when wearing them.

Correction

It can be tempting to try to fix the broken bracket yourself. However, products like orthodontic wax are intended for temporary use. These solutions do not help the teeth move into alignment like braces do. Using them long-term will result in you needing a more extended treatment plan.

Having braces requires special care, but sometimes accidents happen. It’s common for patients to wind up with a broken bracket or other issues with their braces. Contact Dr. Bret Ortho today to learn more about this common orthodontic treatment.