Want to achieve a healthy and straight smile? Dental Braces help, but they don’t come with any fewer problems. For a perfectly straight smile, you have to sacrifice your comfort and face some common braces problems. These challenges are normal, and so are their solutions. If you face any kind of common braces problems, you can easily solve them with simple tips at home or with the help of your orthodontist.
In this blog, we will guide you through the most common braces problems in Pakistan and explain how to address them safely, ensuring your treatment stays on track.
Challenges With Braces and Their Solutions
Soreness and Discomfort After Braces
When an orthodontist first applies braces or tightens them, there is pressure on teeth and gums that causes soreness. It is common during the first week of the braces or the first week after tightening sessions. It occurs because the teeth and gums get used to the braces. The soreness and irritation due to braces make it hard to chew and talk properly. The discomfort lasts for a few days after application or readjustment.
How to ease Discomfort after braces
- Stick to soft foods for the first weeks, like cereals, yogurt, soup, banana, etc.
- Use over-the-counter pain relief medicines given by the dentist.
- Use the orthodontic wax provided by the dentist to soothe irritation.
Broken Brackets or Loose Braces
Hard or chewy foods can loosen the grip of the bracket on the wires. Moreover, playing sports without a mouthguard can also loosen the brackets, which can cause unsuccessful movement of teeth.
How to fix a loose bracket
- Do not try to fix the bracket on your own
- Use an orthodontic wax to cover any sharp edges that may cause wounds on the inside of your mouth.
- Book an appointment with your orthodontist at Teeth and Smile to fix your bracket.
Poking Wires
Poking wires occur due to the shifting of teeth or any accidental pressure while chewing or any trauma. It causes the archwire to stick out from the edges and poke the inside of cheeks or gums.
How to fix poking wires
- Use a cotton swab to gently push the wire back into its place
- If it can’t be pushed back, cover the poking wire with dental wax.
- Book an appointment with your dentist to fix the poking wire.
- Never cut the wire yourself
Food Getting Stuck Between Braces
It becomes difficult to eat with braces as food particles get stuck between the teeth and the braces. The food particles lead to plaque buildup and bad breath, which can create problems in orthodontic treatment.
How to Clean Food Particles Stuck in Between Braces
- Use a soft-bristle toothbrush to clean your teeth after every meal
- Use an interdental brush or water flosser to get the food particles out of the gaps.
- Never forget to rinse your mouth after every meal
- Use a mouthwash after eating to remove bad breath
Mouth sores and Ulcers
Loose brackets or poking wires have sharp edges that rub against the inside of the mouth while chewing or speaking. The sharp edges of brackets can cause irritation, mouth sores, or painful mouth ulcers.
How to Treat Mouth Ulcers from Braces
- Use an orthodontic wax to cover any sharp edges that cause irritation
- Avoid spicy or crunchy foods that can irritate the ulcers
- Use a gentle or alcohol-free mouthwash.
Elastic Bands Snapping or Getting Lost
Overstretching, chewing food, or wear and tear can cause elastic bands to snap. Moreover, they could also get lost due to wearing it every day. The loss of elastic bands can create difficulty in teeth movement that can affect the braces treatment.
How to fix lost elastic bands on braces
- Always carry spare elastic bands with you.
- Replace them as soon as one breaks
- Ask your orthodontist to give you spare elastics to prevent delaying your treatment.
When To See Your Orthodontist Immediately
An orthodontist knows your treatment plan better. Though braces come with their own challenges, these problems are common for all and can be fixed easily. However, if you face unusual braces problems, you should see the dentist in these situations:
- Severe pain that does not go away with the use of home remedies.
- A broken wire or bracket that irritates the inside of the mouth.
- Extreme difficulty in chewing or talking
- Signs of infection such as swelling, pus, or fever.
Final thoughts
Braces are a long-term and effective orthodontic treatment to achieve a perfectly straight smile. But they come with common dental problems that can easily be fixed. Have loose brackets, use a dental wax, and see your dentist. Have soreness and discomfort? Eat soft foods and take painkillers. Food gets stuck in your braces? Brush and mouthwash after every meal. Elastic bands getting lost? Replace it with a new one. No problem with braces is too serious. But you should know when to call your dentist for smooth braces treatment.
Your dentist at Teeth and Smile Dental Clinic in Gulberg 3, Lahore, is always at your service to help with your braces treatment. If you have any braces problems, book an appointment now and get ready to have a confident, perfect smile.
