Emergency Care for Orthodontics

At first, your braces and orthodontic care may take a little longer to get used to. It is not surprising to undergo a little soreness when your braces are first applied or some minor aches as teeth are being shifted to their correct positions. A real orthodontic emergency is rare, but when they do emerge, here are some tips to help you get through it.

A Major Emergency

There are only a few true dental emergencies which include

• infection or swelling of gums, mouth and face trauma
• injury to your teeth
• severe discomfort or ache in your face or teeth

If you experience any of these problems, you should seek help from your dentist as soon as possible.

Go to an emergency room if your dentist is unavailable. Consult your dentist and trust them because they are trained to handle various dental problems and can provide the necessary treatment that you need based on your condition.

Furthermore, severe aches could be a symptom that you have an infection or disease which a dentist or orthodontist is best able to treat.

Minor Orthodontic Emergency Care

Luckily, most orthodontic problems are minor compared to these occurrences, but they may still cause you pain and irritability. Here’s what to do when you encounter these problems:

General Soreness

When you get your braces installed, you may feel a little discomfort in your mouth and your teeth may be sensitive to pressure from biting or chewing for almost a week. Stick to a soft diet until your teeth do not hurt anymore when you are chewing. If the pain is intolerable, take Aspirin or Ibuprofen or over the counter pain reliever for headaches or similar pain.

Loose Appliance

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

Loose Bracket

If your band is still attached to its wiring, leave it in place and put wax for comfort. If the band is removed, keep it in a safe place and bring it to your next appointment with your dentist.

Poking Wire

Use a pencil eraser and push the poking wire down or place wax on it so that it is no longer poking your mouth.

For more information please go to: Orthodontic emergency care.