A radiant smile can significantly boost your confidence, and orthodontic treatment can help you achieve this. While it may seem easy, the path to a straighter smile usually comes with unexpected challenges.
No matter how dedicated you are to caring for your aligners or braces, orthodontic emergencies can occur anytime. They can make the procedure uncomfortable or completely alter your treatment timeline, leaving you wondering if dental emergencies can ever be prevented.
So, before you opt for orthodontic treatments, here is a guide to equip you with the necessary knowledge of what to do in a dental emergency to ensure smooth success in your orthodontic journey.
Common Orthodontic Emergencies?
Before taking steps to prevent orthodontic problems, you must first understand the type of emergencies that can occur. Here are some common orthodontic emergencies to watch out for:
Loose or Broken Wires or Brackets
Orthodontic emergencies may not happen often, but you can accidentally lose your aligner, break your wire, or suffer severe discomfort. Emergencies like a broken wire or bracket can feel overwhelming, but staying calm is key. Gently remove the loose piece and keep it safe for your orthodontist to handle later.
Sensitivity or Pain
You can seek emergency dental services if you experience intense sensitivity or pain when wearing orthodontic braces. Feeling slight discomfort when eating a particular food or when your braces are newly inserted or adjusted is normal. But if you’re sure the pain is not due to the new pressure or teeth movement, you should take it seriously and get proper help.
While awaiting a professional checkup with your orthodontist, you can use pain relief medicines like acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce the discomfort. If you feel sore or irritated in the mouth, you can also rinse with warm salt water and ensure that you contact your orthodontist.
Injury or Trauma
Another orthodontic emergency that can happen with braces is a trauma or injury in the mouth, usually due to a fist blow to the mouth or face or broken teeth due to a hard fall. If you experience this type of emergency, you must keep calm and seek medical attention before it worsens. If the pain is unbearable or there is swelling in that region, applying a cold compress can help you manage till you visit your orthodontist.
Mouth Sores
Mouth sores when receiving orthodontic treatment are a dental emergency. They are often canker sores from wearing braces, which may occur when the wires or brackets come in contact with your mouth. Sores can also occur as a result of bacterial build-up in areas of the braces that are difficult to reach when cleaning your teeth. You can ease painful mouth sores and hasten your healing by avoiding spicy and acidic food. If mouth sores persist, rinse with warm salt and ensure that you set up a meeting with your orthodontist.
Tips for Preventing Orthodontic Emergencies
Even though orthodontic problems are usually unpredictable, you can know what to do in a dental emergency if you are familiar with the best tips. Here are some of them.
Maintain Proper Oral Health
You can prevent orthodontic emergencies if you take your oral health seriously. With or without braces, brushing and flossing are daily oral habits that can help you avoid tooth decay. Also, caring less for your teeth and braces can lead to gum disease, which is usually a dangerous form of orthodontic complications.
With poor hygiene, you may lose your wires or brackets and risk losing your teeth. With braces, it is pertinent to floss and brush twice daily for about two minutes or rinse with antiseptic mouthwash after every meal to reduce bacterial build-up due to trapped food particles in the braces. If teeth cleaning feels challenging, visit your orthodontist for regular checkups and deep cleaning.
Safeguard Your Mouth
If you must engage in sporting activities, wear protective equipment to prevent dental and orthodontic emergencies. Mouthguards can also prevent trauma and injuries in case you get a blow on your face or fall face-down. People who suffer from bruxism can also use mouthguards to prevent damage to braces and teeth from excessive teeth grinding and seek emergency dental services when issues arise.
Be Careful With What You Eat
Eating some foods during orthodontic treatment is dangerous, as they can make your smile journey unsuccessful. For instance, eating hard food instead of avoiding it can cause the brackets to lose or break off the wires. The same goes for eating sugary and sticky food or just anything with your aligners in your mouth. To avoid damage to your aligners, remove them before eating and fix them back immediately. Also, ensure you rinse or brush appropriately before putting them back in to stave off the risk of cavities.
Be Dedicated to Your Treatment Plan
Patients taking their treatment seriously will likely have an emergency-free orthodontic procedure. You must follow the instructions given by your orthodontist, including the treatment plan and detailed information on how to care for your teeth and braces daily. Adhering to instructions will quicken your treatment and reduce the risk of encountering dental emergencies.
Setup Regular Orthodontic Checkups
Setting up frequent checkups and attending them can save you from dental emergencies. Your orthodontist might offer you urgent toothache relief during your sessions and identify other orthodontic issues that may become emergencies if they are not handled on time. Depending on you and your medical provider, you can attend orthodontic checkups every month or every week. By doing this, the success of your treatment is guaranteed, and problems are managed at early warning signs.
Conclusion
Indeed, orthodontic emergencies are stressful and cause discomfort. But when they occur, knowing how to handle the situation without panic can prevent further damage and pain. To have a successful treatment, you must follow several preventative measures, including practicing good oral hygiene, listening to your orthodontist, eating the right food, and safeguarding your mouth against damage due to physical activities.