Emergency Care For Your Braces

Parsippany, Morris Plains, Boonton, Mountain Lakes, Whippany, and Montville, NJ’s Favorite Award-Winning Orthodontist For Braces & Invisalign

True orthodontic emergencies are rare, but when they occur, our award-winning orthodontist serving Parsippany, Morris Plains, Boonton, Mountain Lakes, Whippany, and Montville, NJ, and our orthodontics team are here for you. As a general rule, you should call our orthodontics office in Parsippany, NJ, when you experience severe pain or have a painful problem with your braces that you can’t take care of yourself. We’ll be able to schedule an appointment as soon as possible to resolve any emergencies.

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to solve many problems yourself temporarily until you can get to our Parsippany orthodontics office. If there is a loose piece on your braces that you can remove, put it in a plastic bag or envelope and bring it with you to your next appointment. If your braces are poking you, put soft wax on the piece that’s sticking out. If the wire has slid to one side, you can pull it back to the other side with needle-nosed pliers, replacing it in the tube on the back tooth.

After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you still call our Parsippany orthodontics office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair your braces. Allowing your braces to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions to your orthodontic treatment plan.

General Soreness

When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth, and teeth may be tender to biting pressure for three to five days. Stick to a soft diet until your teeth do not hurt while 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 Brace Or Band

Thankfully, a loose brace should cause no discomfort. Most often, this happens from eating foods that should be avoided. Loose braces can typically wait until your next visit for repair. If you have a loose brace, 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.

Poking Wire / Broken Braces

If you are experiencing discomfort from poking wires, there are a few quick fixes that can bring relief until your next appointment. Dental wax will create a barrier between the wire and your gums. Additionally, you can use the end of a q-tip or the eraser side of a pencil to push or bend the wire away from the gum tissue. If the poking wire is in a hard to reach place, you may need the assistance of a friend or parent. As a last resort if the above fixes do not work, you may want to get a nail clipper or cuticle cutter and cut the small piece.

Headgear

Sometimes discomfort is caused by not wearing the headgear as instructed by our Parsippany orthodontist. Please refer to the instructions provided by Dr. Caggiano. If the facebow (metal piece) is bent, please call our Parsippany orthodontics office for assistance. The headgear should hurt less the more it’s worn, so be sure you get in the prescribed number of hours.

Loose Appliance

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

Injury

If you suffer an injury to your mouth or lips, immediately apply ice and then schedule an appointment with your general dentist or go to Morristown Memorial Hospital Emergency Room first. Your dentist will have access to medical equipment for tooth and gum tissue repair that an orthodontist doesn’t typically have. After your mouth has received the necessary treatment from your dentist, you can visit your orthodontist for repairs. If your mouth has suffered extensive injuries, apply ice and seek medical attention immediately.