Orthodontic emergencies – from broken brackets and loose wires to cracked retainers – can lead to considerable discomfort. Not only that, but they can cause you to fall off-track with your treatment plan. Fortunately, there are several ways you can prevent orthodontic emergencies, including:
1. Wear a Mouthguard During Sports
Whether you play a contact sport, like football, or you prefer to stay active by jogging, riding your bike, or rollerblading, it’s important that you wear a mouthguard. This small dental device will reduce your risk of everything from knocked-out teeth to damaged brackets, so it’s important to wear it consistently.
2. Avoid Crunchy and Sticky Foods
Hard pretzels, tortilla chips, caramel-filled candies, and taffy should all be avoided because they can cause a bracket to break or a wire to come out of place. Instead, stick to nutrient-dense foods that are softer in consistency, like scrambled eggs, oatmeal, bananas, and cottage cheese.
3. Break Unhealthy Habits
When patients think of unhealthy dental habits, they often think of smoking. While that’s certainly a habit that’s worth breaking, it’s not the only one that can negatively impact your oral health and orthodontic treatment. Biting your nails, chewing on ice cubes, and using your teeth as tools can be equally as disastrous.
4. Brush and Floss Consistently
Remember, orthodontic emergencies aren’t limited to broken brackets and wires. The development of tooth decay, gum disease, or another serious oral health problem will also lead to considerable treatment plan delays. So, it’s of the utmost importance that you incorporate healthy habits into your routine, like brushing for two full minutes each morning and evening.
5. Prioritize Your Check-In Visits
Throughout your teeth-straightening journey, you’ll attend progress visits so your orthodontist can monitor the movement of your teeth. They will also examine the condition of your braces and, if they see anything that needs to be repaired, they will do so, reducing your risk of experiencing an orthodontic emergency in the process.
About the Practice
With a board-certified orthodontist leading the way, our team at SimpliBraces is here to assist you with every step of the treatment process – from scheduling the initial consultation to having a custom retainer made. We’re also just a phone call away when you need us, we’re open until 6 PM four days a week, and we welcome dental insurance. In other words, we’re here when you need us most, and we go above and beyond to make each patient’s experience smooth and stress-free. If you need to get in touch with us, reach out to our friendly team via our website or by phone at (516) 756-0111.