First Aid for Problems with Your Braces

Aligner lost or broken: What now?

Put the previous aligner back in and call us — this keeps everything your teeth have already achieved stable until we sort out the replacement.

What to do:

• Keep wearing the last aligner that fits — it holds your teeth securely in position.
• If the aligner is torn or broken: keep the pieces and bring them with you.
• Call us. Together we’ll figure out whether you can switch to the next aligner earlier or if we need to order a replacement — this usually takes just a few days.

What you should not do:

• Don’t jump to the next aligner on your own — whether that makes sense depends on your stage of treatment.
• Don’t go days without any aligner: even after just a few days, teeth can shift back.
• Don’t continue wearing an aligner with a sharp broken edge.

The aligner presses or has a sharp edge: What can I do right away?

A feeling of pressure in the first one to two days after switching is completely normal — and you may carefully smooth a single sharp edge yourself.

What you can do yourself:

• Gently round off the protruding edge with a clean, fine nail file — only the edge, not the inner surfaces.
• Switch to new aligners in the evening: the initial pressure then occurs while you sleep.
• Use your aligner chewies: they help the aligner settle fully — this often relieves the pressure right away.

When you should call us: if a spot bleeds, becomes inflamed, or the pressure does not ease after several days.

An aligner attachment has come off: Is that serious?

No, this is not an emergency: continue wearing your aligner as normal and let us know briefly — we will reattach the small composite attachment in a few minutes.

What to do:

• Note or photograph which tooth the attachment was on.
• Let us know at your next call or appointment — if it is missing for a long time, the planned tooth movement at that spot may proceed more slowly.

The aligner no longer fits after a break in wear: What should I do?

Please do not force it: insert the last aligner that still fits without tension and call us — together we will find the right way back in.

Good to know:

• Even after just a few days without an aligner, teeth can shift slightly — the current aligner then feels too tight. This is frustrating, but almost always solvable.
• Often it is enough to go back one step and extend the wear time a little. Whether that is sufficient in your case, we will clarify by phone or at a brief check appointment.

What you should not do:

• Do not skip aligners and do not force the aligner in by “biting down hard.”

The new aligner hurts: Is that normal?

Yes — a feeling of tension in the first one to three days after switching shows that the aligner is working. It subsides on its own.

What you can do yourself:

• Soft foods, plenty of fluids, use chewies.
• Continue wearing the aligner consistently despite the pressure — breaks tend to prolong the adjustment rather than help.

When you should call us: if the pain gets stronger day by day instead of weaker, or if a single tooth throbs intensely.

The wire of the fixed braces is poking into the cheek or tongue: What should I do?

The quickest help is a piece of protective wax: press it onto the dry wire end — this immediately relieves the pressure on the mucosa.

What you can do yourself:

• Use protective wax: Dry the area with a cotton swab, shape a pea-sized portion of wax, and press it firmly onto the wire end.
• Rinse your mouth: Lukewarm water or a mild salt solution soothes irritated areas.
• If the wire end protrudes significantly, you can carefully push it toward the tooth using a clean, blunt object (such as the handle of a teaspoon).

What you should not do:

• Please do not trim the wire yourself — clipped pieces can be swallowed or inhaled. We can take care of this at the practice in one minute.
• Do not pull or push on the wire with your fingernail.

When you should call us: if the wax does not hold, the area is open, or the wire has slipped completely out of the tube — then we will schedule an emergency appointment.

A bracket has come loose: What now?

A loose bracket is frustrating but usually not an acute emergency. Call us so we can reattach it soon — until then, wax helps with the wobbling.

What to do:

• If the bracket is still hanging on the wire: Leave it alone as much as possible. If it bothers you, secure it with protective wax so it does not rub.
• If it has come off completely: Keep it and bring it with you to your appointment.
• Until your appointment, avoid hard and sticky foods — nuts, caramel, and bread crust are the most common bracket killers, by the way.

Good to know: The longer a bracket is missing, the sooner the tooth “pauses” — please do not wait for weeks.

A rubber band or ligature on the fixed braces has come off: Do I need to do anything?

A single lost rubber band is harmless — just mention it at your next appointment.

Good to know:

• If several ligatures are missing or the wire no longer stays in the bracket as a result, please give us a quick call.
• Are you wearing hookable elastics? Simply replace lost ones from your supply — and let us know if you are running low.

Pain after adjusting fixed braces: What really helps?

A feeling of pressure and tension after activation is part of the process — it usually lasts two to four days and then subsides on its own. Your teeth are actively moving, and that is exactly what the braces are meant to achieve.

What you can do yourself:

• Soft foods like soup, pasta, or yogurt relieve chewing strain.
• Cold drinks or cooling from the outside feel good.
• For stronger discomfort, a mild pain reliever can help, provided there are no contraindications — when in doubt, ask us or your pharmacy.
• Please do not skip brushing, even if it feels sensitive — a soft brush helps.

When you should call us: if the pain remains just as strong after about a week, a tooth throbs, or swelling appears.

Sore spots and mouth ulcers from braces: How do I get rid of them?

Especially in the beginning, braces often rub against the cheek or lip — orthodontic wax applied to the affected area of the appliance is the most effective immediate relief.

What you can do yourself:

• Rinses with sage or chamomile tea soothe the mucous membrane.
• Adhesive gels for the oral mucosa from the pharmacy, such as those containing hyaluronic acid, help.
• A little patience: The oral mucosa usually adapts to the braces within two to three weeks — after that, sore spots occur much less frequently.

When you should call us: if an area is large, looks infected, or does not heal after more than a week.

A band on a molar is loose: What should I do?

A loosened band (the metal ring around the molar) should be re-attached soon, as food particles and bacteria can collect underneath it.

What to do:

• Until your appointment, chew carefully on that side and brush especially thoroughly.
• If the band comes off completely: save it and bring it with you.

The retainer wire behind the teeth has come loose: How urgent is this?

Please schedule an appointment soon: if the bonded wire comes loose, your teeth can shift again within a few weeks — and that would be a shame after the result you achieved.

What to do:

• Check with your tongue whether just a single bonding point has come loose or whether the wire is completely loose.
• If an end is poking: apply orthodontic wax — just as you would with the archwire of fixed braces.
• Do you also have a retention tray? Wear it at night until your appointment — that keeps everything in place.

What you should not do:

• Please do not try to glue it yourself — superglue has no place in the mouth.
• Do not leave a completely loose wire in your mouth for days.

Good to know: Re-bonding is a short routine appointment. The cost depends on the effort involved — we will tell you in advance on the phone.

The retainer tray is broken or lost: What now?

Call us as soon as possible — especially in the first year after active treatment, teeth shift most quickly without a retainer.

What to do:

• Do you still have an older, intact tray? Wear it temporarily, as long as it fits without tension.
• Please do not continue wearing a broken tray with sharp edges — simply bring the pieces with you.
• Replacement usually requires only a brief scan or impression appointment.

The retainer suddenly feels tight or a tooth feels different: What does this mean?

A suddenly changed fit can indicate an unnoticed debonded point — we should take a quick look at that.

Good to know:

• Even if everything appears secure on the outside: better to have it checked once too often than to overlook the beginning of tooth movement. The check takes only a few minutes.

The removable appliance is broken or a wire is bent: What should I do?

Please do not continue wearing the appliance if broken edges or wires are sharp – call us, the appliance can often be repaired.

What to do:

• Keep all parts and bring them to the appointment – even small fragments help our laboratory.
• Going without the appliance until it is repaired: not a disaster, but the shorter the break, the better.

What you should not do:

• Please do not try to bend a bent retention wire back yourself – the material fatigues and will then break more quickly.

The removable appliance presses or no longer fits: What is the reason?

Usually a longer break in wearing is behind it – the teeth have shifted minimally, and the appliance now sits tight. Please do not force anything, a brief adjustment appointment solves the problem.

Good to know:

• Until your appointment, only insert the appliance if it fits without pain.
• Please only turn the expansion screw as we have shown you – if unsure, call us briefly.

The removable appliance is gone – or the dog was faster: What now?

This happens more often than you think – just call us so we can arrange a replacement quickly. The shorter the break, the more smoothly treatment continues.

Good to know:

• The classics from our practice routine: appliance wrapped in a tissue and thrown out with the tray – or grabbed by a pet. So you are in good company.
• Best protection for the future: the appliance case always belongs in the school bag, and never wrap removed appliances in napkins.

How long is pain after insertion of braces normal?

A clear feeling of pressure and tension is normal in the first two to four days after insertion or adjustment – after that it noticeably subsides.

Good to know:

• The pressure shows that your teeth are moving – uncomfortable, but not a warning sign.
• Persistent throbbing, swelling, or fever, however, are not normal braces discomfort – then please call us.

A part of the braces was swallowed: Should I be worried?

Usually not: a swallowed small part such as an elastic, a ligature, or a small bracket almost always passes through the digestive tract without problems.

What to do:

• Let us know briefly so we can replace the missing part.

Act immediately if: the piece was inhaled or if coughing and shortness of breath occur – in that case, please call emergency services 112 directly.

Braces problem on the weekend or during vacation: What now?

Almost all braces problems can be bridged well until the next business day with orthodontic wax and the tips on this page.

Good to know:

• For severe pain outside our office hours, the dental emergency service can help.
• During vacation, the rule is: wax and staying calm are almost always enough. Only a completely detached retainer or a lost aligner series may require an orthodontist on site – call us beforehand, and we will advise you briefly by phone.

What belongs in a braces emergency kit for travel?

With six small items, you are well-equipped for travel and vacation:

• Orthodontic wax – available free of charge from us at any time
• Aligner or appliance case
• Fine nail file for sharp aligner edges
• Chewies for aligner treatment, replacement elastics for fixed braces
• Interdental brush for trapped food particles
• Our phone number: 0221 – 93 53 02 0