Yesterday was School Nurse Appreciation Day. We all know and appreciate the important role that school nurses play in the care of our families while they are in the classroom. This sometimes includes helping with the occasional orthodontic emergency too. But what can YOU do if that orthodontic emergency happens at home causing discomfort or unexpected tooth movement? Here are a few ideas for dealing with orthodontic emergencies at home, to use in the first instance. It is important though, that you also call our office to schedule an appointment for Dr. Roos to take a look and see what is causing the pain or unexpected movement, and so that we can fix the issue.
Poking Wire?
A pencil eraser is a soft and gentle tool to push the poking wire down. We recommend that you keep a handy box of dental wax on hand to cover up the end of the wire too.
Loose Bracket or Band?
If the bracket or band is still attached to the wire, leave it in place and again, use that spare wax to cover up the end. If the wire comes out entirely, wrap the bracket with a tissue until you can get to our office.
Loose Wire?
Use tweezers to gently try and put the wire back into place. If doing this and using wax does not help, as a last resort use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened.
Loose Appliance?
If your appliance is poking you, place wax on the offending part of your appliance.
General Soreness?
It is usual to feel a general tenderness in your mouth and teeth for a few days, when you first get your braces, or when changing Invisalign trays. Try rinsing your mouth vigorously with a warm salt water mouthwash (1tsp salt/ 8oz warm water). If the tenderness is severe, take your regular OTC pain reliever for headaches or similar.
Remember, after alleviating your discomfort, it is still very important that you call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to fix the problem.