A bracket is the little metal or ceramic piece of your appliance that is glued to the front surface of your tooth. There are many things that can break your bracket, including eating chewy or sticky foods, getting hit in the mouth, and improperly brushing and flossing your teeth. However, there are many things you’ll need to do to manage and help the situation, and those things are:

No. 1: Check to see if the wire is still attached to the bracket. If it is, simply put orthodontic wax around it to keep it in place. Please do not play with it. If the wire is no longer attached to the bracket, simply remove it from your mouth and bring it into the orthodontic office during your next appointment.

No. 2: If there are wires that are poking you, it’s best to clip them as short as possible with fingernail clippers. You can also try putting the wire back into place with a pencil eraser or a Q-Tip.

No. 3: Schedule an appointment. It’s best to see your orthodontist as soon as possible after you’ve broken your bracket. However, if your next appointment is coming up in the next couple of days, you may just be able to wait until then to get it fixed but please do call us and let us know the bracket is off. If you don’t get the bracket fixed within a few days, it could prolong your treatment and cause additional problems with your appliance.

It’s very important that you care for your orthodontic appliance. If you don’t, your treatment time could be prolonged and your smile could suffer the complications. So, if you’ve broken your bracket, do your best to manage the situation and call our office and schedule an appointment with our friendly orthodontist. We are happy to help you!

Advice on What to Do If You Have a Broken Bracket

Cavanaugh Orthodontic Care