Although orthodontic emergencies aren’t as common, they can be just as stressful as handling any other serious dental injury, like a chipped or cracked tooth. That’s why it’s so important to take proactive measures to protect your braces (and your teeth, of course). If you’re unsure where to start, here are four helpful tips for preventing orthodontic emergencies!
1. Don’t Eat Anything Hard, Crunchy, or Sticky
When you’re at the movies with your friends, it can be tempting to have a few handfuls of popcorn. Similarly, you might be tempted to eat a caramel apple at the fair or corn on the cob at your family’s BBQ. However, it’s of the utmost importance that you don’t eat anything hard, crunchy, or sticky. After all, it’s one of the easiest ways to push a bracket or wire out of place, requiring a same-day visit to your orthodontist’s office.
2. Wear a Mouthguard When Playing Sports
Whether you’re at practice or a game, you need to wear a mouthguard. In fact, even athletes who participate in non-contact sports, like skateboarding, are encouraged to wear a mouthguard. During your orthodontic treatment, it’s arguably even more important since your braces make it easier to sustain a soft tissue injury. In short, if you are active in sports, even a non-contact one, you should have a custom mouthguard made.
3. Quit Unhealthy Dental Habits
There are some unhealthy habits that patients know to avoid, like smoking. However, it’s also important that you don’t chew on cubes of ice, that you don’t bite on the end of your pencil, and that you don’t skip brushing or flossing. Not only can these habits leave you with a chipped or cracked tooth, but they can also loosen or break your braces.
4. Store Your Retainer or Aligners in a Safe Place
Remember, orthodontic emergencies can happen even after your treatment is over, like losing your retainer. To prevent that from happening, you should never put your retainer (or your aligners, if you chose Invisalign) in a napkin or on your plate – it’s one of the easiest ways to lose them! Instead, use their designated storage case to keep them safe.
About the Practice
At Super Braces of Lawrence, we know that accidents sometimes happen. Whether one of your wires is out of place or you’ve lost your retainer, don’t worry – we’re here to help. Furthermore, we do our best to always see emergency patients the very same day. So, if you need to schedule an appointment or you’d like to ask our team a question about orthodontic emergencies, don’t hesitate to visit our website or call (978) 794-0000.