By Elara Orthodontics If you have young children, then you probably know the importance of having them wear braces. The benefits are numerous, and the future smiles are so bright they can light up a room with their brilliance. However, when it comes to something as fragile as little teeth, sometimes accidents happen. It is important to know what to do in the event that your kids’ braces break.
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How To Tell if Your Child’s Braces Are Broken
If your child’s braces are broken, it’s important to find out as soon as possible. The longer broken brackets stay in place, the more likely it is to cause injury to your child’s mouth. Here are a few things you can observe.
Your Child Complains Their Teeth Hurt
If your child has had a broken wire in their braces for more than 24 hours, they may start to complain of pain or tenderness in their mouth. This is because the wire will have shifted slightly and could be pressing on the gum tissue or even cutting into it. If this happens, try to get an appointment with your dentist.
Your Child’s Gums Are Swollen
If your child’s wire breaks, they may experience some swelling in their gums or cheek area where the break occurred — this is because blood vessels have been cut by the sharp edge of the broken brackets. You might notice discoloration around their mouth if this happens; however, this will usually go away within one week after having their braces adjusted by their orthodontist again.
Your Child’s Teeth Are Crooked or Not Aligned
If your child’s teeth are crooked or not aligned, it could mean that they have broken brackets. This can happen with any type of brace, but it is more common in older patients who have had the braces for a longer period of time.
If You Notice Protruding Wires or Brackets on the Braces
When you look at your child’s mouth, do their wires or brackets look like they are sticking out? If so, then chances are that this was caused by accident. You should contact your orthodontist as soon as possible to find out what needs to be done.
Your Child Broke Their Retainer
If your child has braces, they will be wearing a retainer all the time. This is what keeps their teeth in place and prevents them from moving back to their original position. If you notice that your child’s retainer is loose or broken, it’s time to schedule an appointment with their orthodontist as soon as possible. Your child may have to wear a new one, but if he or she continues to wear the old one, it could cause problems with their teeth moving out of place again.
Why Do Orthodontic Braces Break?
Orthodontic braces are made of metal wires and brackets that attach to teeth to move them into better positions. The wires are very strong, but they can break. This can happen for a number of reasons:
Chewing Hard Foods
Chewing on hard foods can cause the brackets to bend or break. This includes nuts and popcorn kernels, but also carrots and other crunchy vegetables. When these foods are chewed, they put pressure on the teeth and the wires that connect them. This pressure may bend or break the wire, which could cause discomfort and damage to your braces.
Not Wearing a Mouthguard
A mouth guard isn’t just for preventing sports injuries; it’s also essential for protecting your teeth when you wear braces because it prevents grinding and clenching during sleep. This habit can lead to tooth damage or even tooth loss if left unchecked for long periods of time. A mouth guard will also protect your brackets from breaking if you hit them.
Teeth Grinding
Grinding teeth is the most common reason for broken brackets. It happens when you clench or grind your teeth together during sleep or when you’re awake. This puts pressure on your teeth, causing them to shift and putting stress on your braces. If you grind your teeth at night, it could also lead to headaches or jaw pain in the morning.
Children Playing With Their Braces
Another common cause of broken braces is when children play with their braces and accidentally snap one off or bend it beyond repair. While this type of accident may happen once in a while, it’s important to keep an eye on your child if they have braces to ensure they don’t damage their orthodontic appliances by playing with them too much.
They Use Their Teeth To Open Things
The other common reason for braces breakage is children use their teeth to open things, such as soda cans or even more difficult items like jars. This puts stress on the wires, brackets, and bands which connect them, leading to small broken braces over time. If they continue to use their teeth to open things while wearing orthodontic braces, the chances of breaking their braces increase significantly.
Caring for Broken Orthodontic Braces before Seeing an Orthodontist
Broken orthodontic braces are a common occurrence. If your child has broken orthodontic braces, it is important to take them to an orthodontist as soon as possible. Broken braces can cause serious health problems to your child’s teeth and jaw if they are not treated quickly. Here is how you can take care of broken orthodontics.
Check for Bleeding
If there’s any bleeding, use cotton swabs or a clean piece of gauze to wipe away the blood. Don’t apply pressure, as this may force blood into the gum tissue or cause more damage. Rinse the mouth with warm water.
Use Dental Wax
If the wire has broken off close to the gum line, it could be difficult to remove without causing further damage. In some cases, an orthodontic wax pencil (available at most drugstores) may be used to help hold everything in place while you make your appointment. The wax will keep bacteria from entering exposed areas of bone and tissue until you see your dentist or orthodontist for treatment and repair options.
Use Pain Medication if They Are in Pain
If your child is in pain due to broken brackets, it is important to use pain medication. There are a number of different over-the-counter medications that can help to reduce the pain and swelling associated with broken brackets. You will find these medications at most drug stores, as well as online.
If you have any concerns about the safety of over-the-counter medication for your child’s age or medical condition, speak with your Kids orthodontics in Sugar Land before giving them any medication.
The Best Orthodontist in Richmond Texas, being (E), will be happy to discuss any questions or concerns you may have about giving their child medicine.
Tips for Preventing Orthodontic Breakage and Damage
It’s common for people to accidentally break their braces, brackets, and wires. If you’re like most people, you probably have a few friends who have lost a few braces during their orthodontic treatment. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to prevent your Child’s braces from breaking. Here are some tips to help keep your child’s teeth straight and healthy, as well as prevent damage to their braces.
They Should Avoid Hard and Sticky Foods
The first thing you need to do is to make sure that your child does not eat foods that are hard or sticky. This will help prevent the wires in your Kids braces in Sugar Land from getting tangled and breaking. Some examples of these types of foods include:
- Chocolate
- Caramel and other sticky candies
- Hard candy
- Nuts and seeds
They Should Brush Careful and Often
Brushing after every meal will help remove food particles that can get stuck in braces. This helps prevent cavities from forming between brackets and wires. It also keeps the tooth enamel healthy so it does not become sensitive or discoloredfrom plaque buildup.
They Should Use a Mouth Guard for Sports
Sports such as football, basketball, lacrosse, and even soccer can cause injury to your child’s mouth and teeth if they don’t have protective gear on. A mouth guard made specifically for sports will protect against broken braces hence avoiding injuries to their lips and gums while playing these sports.
They Should Schedule Regular Visits With the Orthodontist
The orthodontist will perform regular checkups and cleanings to be sure that everything is going well with the braces and that there are no problems that need to be addressed. This is especially important if the braces are placed on an emergency basis, as it helps to catch any issues early.
Things To Avoid if You Notice Your Child Has Broken Braces
If you notice that your child’s braces have been broken, it’s important to take care of the problem as soon as possible. Broken braces can be very uncomfortable for your child, and they may even be in danger of further damage if not taken care of. Here are some things that you should avoid doing if you notice your child has broken his or her braces.
Don’t Try To Fix the Problem Yourself
Braces are designed by orthodontists for a reason — they know how to make sure the wires are placed correctly and that the brackets are firmly attached to each tooth. If you try to adjust them, there will likely be an uneven fit between your child’s teeth and the wire hooks, leading to more discomfort.
Don’t Wait for Your Child’s Next Scheduled Appointment
If you think your child’s braces have broken, it’s best to contact an orthodontist right away so they can determine whether or not it is safe for them to continue wearing their braces until they come in for their next appointment. You should also let them know about any problems or symptoms your child has had so they can diagnose any potential issues with their mouth or teeth.
Don’t Use Super Glue or Any Kind of Glue
It may seem like a good idea to use super glue to fix broken brackets. However, this can actually make matters worse. Super glue can cause the teeth to become stained and discolored. It can also be extremely difficult for dentists to remove once it has hardened around the brackets and wires.
How Can a Dentist Deal With Your Childs’s Broken Braces?
Depending on the cost of braces in Richmond, there are several ways that your dentist might go about repairing your child’s broken braces. The most common method is using a small screwdriver to tighten up the wire of the broken brackets. This is done by attaching it to an electric drill, which turns the screwdriver back and forth until the wire sets in place again.
If this doesn’t work, then another method is using a soldering iron or a special glue to hold everything in place. If these methods fail as well, then the best option may be for the doctor to take off all of the attachments and reattach them again from scratch using new wires that aren’t broken anymore.
It’s important to keep your child’s teeth cleaned and healthy before, during, and after their orthodontic treatment. Ask Elara Orthodotnics for advice about home care products like toothpaste, toothbrushes, and floss to use since many tend to be harsher or may contain agents that can damage braces. Keep up with regular checkups and cleanings just as you would if your child didn’t have braces. For impeccable orthodontic services in Richmond Texas get in touch with Elara today.