First Aid for Problems with Braces

Lost or Broken Aligner: What Now?

Reinsert the previous retainer and give us a call—that way, everything your teeth have already achieved will remain stable until a replacement is arranged.

Here's how to do it:

• Continue wearing the last aligner that fits —it will keep your teeth securely in place.
• If the rail is cracked or broken: Keep the pieces and bring them with you.
• Give us a call. Together, we'll figure out whether you can switch to the next model sooner or whether we should order a replacement—which usually takes just a few days.

Things you should avoid doing:

• Don't switch to the next treatment level on your own—whether that makes sense depends on your current stage of treatment.
• Don't go without your retainer for days on end: Your teeth can start shifting back after just a few days.
• Please do not continue to wear a splint with a sharp edge.

The splint is digging into my skin or has a sharp edge: What can I do right away?

A feeling of pressure during the first one or two days after the change is completely normal—and you can carefully smooth out any sharp edges yourself.

Here's what you can do yourself:

• Gently round off the protruding edge with a clean, fine-grit nail file—just the edge, not the inner surfaces.
• It's best to switch to new aligners in the evening: that way, the initial pressure will occur during sleep.
• Use your aligner chewies (chew rolls): They help the aligner settle into place completely—which often relieves the pressure right away.

When to call us: if a wound is bleeding, becomes inflamed, or the pressure does not subside after several days.

An attachment has come loose: Is that a problem?

No, this isn't an emergency: Just keep wearing your aligner as usual and let us know—we'll reattach the small plastic attachment in just a few minutes.

Here's how to do it:

• Make a note of or take a photo of which tooth the attachment was on.
• Please let us know the next time you call or come in for an appointment—if it’s been missing for a while, the planned tooth movement in that area may proceed more slowly.

The splint no longer fits after a break: What should I do?

Please don't force anything: Insert the last rail that fits without tension, and give us a call—together we'll find the right way to get back on track.

Good to know:

• Even after just a few days without the aligner, your teeth can shift slightly—which means the current aligner will be too tight. This is frustrating, but it’s almost always easy to fix.
• Often, all you need to do is take a step back and extend the wearing time a little. We'll determine whether that's enough for you over the phone or during a brief follow-up appointment.

Things you should avoid doing:

• Do not skip any rails, and do not force the rail into place.

My new brace hurts: Is that normal?

Yes—a feeling of tightness during the first one to three days after the adjustment indicates that the splint is working. It will subside on its own.

Here's what you can do yourself:

• Soft food, plenty of fluids, and use Chewies.
• Continue to wear the splint consistently, even if it feels tight—taking breaks will actually make it take longer to get used to it.

When to call us: if the pain is getting worse instead of better each day, or if a single tooth is throbbing severely.

The wire is poking my cheek or tongue: What can I do right away?

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

Here's what you can do yourself:

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

Things you should avoid doing:

• Please do not cut the wire yourself—the pieces you cut off could be swallowed or inhaled. We’ll take care of that at the office in a minute.
• Do not pull on the wire or press on it with your fingernail.

When to call us: if the wax isn't holding, the area is exposed, or the arch has slipped completely out of the tube—in that case, we'll schedule an emergency appointment.

A bracket has come loose: What should I do now?

A loose bracket is annoying, but it's usually not an emergency. Give us a call so we can reattach it as soon as possible—until then, wax can help keep it from wobbling.

Here's how to do it:

• If the bracket is still attached to the wire: Leave it alone if possible. If it gets in the way, secure it with protective wax so it doesn't chafe.
• If it has come off completely: Save it and bring it with you to your appointment.
• Avoid hard and sticky foods until your appointment—by the way, nuts, caramel, and bread crusts are the most common bracket killers.

Good to know: The longer a bracket is missing, the more likely the tooth is to “shift”—please don’t wait for weeks.

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

A single missing rubber band is no big deal—just mention it at your next appointment.

Good to know:

• If several ligatures are missing or if the wire is no longer secure in the bracket as a result, please give us a quick call.
• Do you use clip-on elastic bands? Just replace any that are lost from your supply—and let us know when your supply is running low.

Pain After an Adjustment: What Really Helps?

A feeling of pressure and tightness is normal after the braces are activated—it usually lasts two to four days and then subsides on its own. Your teeth are moving, and that is exactly what the braces are designed to do.

Here's what you can do yourself:

• Soft foods such as soup, pasta, or yogurt make chewing easier.
• Cold drinks or cooling off from the outside feel good.
• If your symptoms are more severe, a mild pain reliever may help, provided there are no contraindications—if you're unsure, feel free to ask us or your pharmacist.
• Please don't skip brushing your teeth, even if they're sensitive—a soft-bristled toothbrush can help.

When to call us: if the pain is still just as severe after about a week, if a tooth is throbbing, or if swelling develops.

Sores and Canker Sores: How Do I Get Rid of Them?

Especially at first, braces often rub against your cheek or lip—applying protective wax to the affected area of the braces is the most effective immediate remedy.

Here's what you can do yourself:

• Rinsing with sage or chamomile tea soothes the mucous membrane.
• You can find oral mucosa-protecting gels at the pharmacy, such as those containing hyaluronic acid.
• Please be patient: The oral mucosa usually gets used to the braces within two to three weeks—after that, sores occur much less frequently.

When to call us: if the sore is large, looks infected, or hasn't healed after more than a week.

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

A loose band (the metal ring around the molar) should be reattached as soon as possible, because food particles and bacteria can accumulate underneath it.

Here's how to do it:

• Until the appointment date listed on this page, chew carefully and brush your teeth especially thoroughly.
• If the band falls out completely: keep it and bring it with you.

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

Please schedule an appointment as soon as possible: If the bonded wire comes loose, your teeth could shift again within a few weeks—and that would be a shame, given the results you’ve achieved.

Here's how to do it:

• Use your tongue to check whether just a single adhesive dot has come loose or whether the wire is completely loose.
• If one end is sticking out: Apply protective wax to it—just like with the archwire on fixed braces.
• Do you also have a retainer? Wear it at night until your appointment—that way, everything will stay in place.

Things you should avoid doing:

• Please do not apply the adhesive yourself—superglue does not belong in the mouth.
• Do not leave a completely loose wire in your mouth for days on end.

Good to know: Reattaching is a quick, routine procedure. The cost depends on the amount of work involved—we'll let you know in advance over the phone.

My retainer is broken or lost: What should I do now?

Call us as soon as possible—teeth shift the fastest during the first year after active treatment if you don't wear a retainer.

Here's how to do it:

• Do you still have an older, undamaged splint? Wear it as a temporary solution, provided it fits without being too tight.
• Please do not continue wearing a broken splint with sharp edges—just bring the pieces with you.
• A quick scan or impression appointment is usually all it takes to get a replacement.

My retainer suddenly feels tight, or a tooth feels "different"

A sudden change in position may indicate that an adhesive dot has come loose without you noticing—let's take a quick look at that.

Good to know:

• Even if everything looks fine on the surface: It’s better to have it checked one too many times than to overlook the early signs of tooth movement. The checkup only takes a few minutes.

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

Please stop wearing the braces if they are broken or if any wires are sharp—call us; we can often repair them.

Here's how to do it:

• Please keep all the pieces and bring them with you to your appointment—even small fragments are helpful to our lab.
• Until the repair is done without braces: no big deal, but the shorter the break, the better.

Things you should avoid doing:

• Please do not try to straighten a bent retaining clip wire yourself—the material will fatigue and break more quickly.

My braces are causing discomfort or no longer fit properly: Why is that?

This is usually caused by a long break from wearing the braces—your teeth have shifted slightly, and the braces now feel tight. Please don't force them; a quick adjustment appointment will solve the problem.

Good to know:

• Until your appointment, only wear the braces if they fit without causing pain.
• Please turn the expansion screw only as we have shown you—if you're unsure, it's best to give us a quick call.

The clip is gone—or the dog got to it first: Now what?

This happens more often than you might think—just give us a call so we can quickly arrange a replacement. The shorter the interruption, the more smoothly the treatment will continue.

Good to know:

• Some classic scenarios from our daily practice: a brace wrapped in a tissue and thrown away with the tray—or snatched by a pet. So you're in good company.
• The best protection for the future: Always keep your hair clip in your school bag, and never wrap removed clips in napkins.

How long is it normal to experience pain after the implant is placed?

A distinct sensation of pressure and tightness is normal during the first two to four days after insertion or adjustment—it will then noticeably subside.

Good to know:

• The pressure indicates that your teeth are moving—it's uncomfortable, but not a cause for concern.
• However, persistent throbbing, swelling, or a fever are not normal side effects of braces—if you experience any of these, please call us.

Part of my braces got swallowed: Should I be worried?

Usually not: A small object that has been swallowed—such as an elastic band, a ligature, or a small bracket—almost always passes through the digestive tract without any problems.

Here's how to do it:

• Please let us know so we can replace the missing part.

Take immediate action if: the substance has been inhaled, or if you experience coughing or shortness of breath—in that case, please call 112 immediately.

A problem over the weekend or on vacation: What now?

Almost all braces-related problems can be managed until the next business day using protective wax and the tips on this page.

Good to know:

• If you experience severe pain outside of our business hours, the dental emergency service can help.
• When you're on vacation, the rule of thumb is: staying calm and collected is almost always enough. Only a completely loose retainer or a lost set of aligners might require a visit to a local orthodontist—give us a call beforehand, and we'll give you a quick consultation over the phone.

Your Emergency Brace Kit for When You're on the Go

With these six small items, you'll be perfectly prepared for trips and vacations:

• Protective wax—available from us for free at any time
• Aligner or Braces Case
• Fine-grit 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