Braces Emergencies: A Loose Bracket or Poking Wire and What to Do Tonight

Most problems with braces are annoying, not dangerous. A poking wire, a loose bracket or a sore patch can be eased at home tonight with orthodontic wax and a salt-water rinse, then fixed at the orthodontist’s next available visit. Call the clinic to arrange it. Go to an emergency department only for a hard knock to the mouth, swelling of the face, bleeding that will not stop, or if your child has swallowed or inhaled a piece of the brace.

What counts as a braces emergency?

A wire is poking my child. What do I do?

Check where it is.

Use a torch and look at the end of the wire at the back of the mouth, which often sticks out and rubs on the cheek.

Try to move it.

Use the eraser end of a clean pencil to gently push the wire so it lies flat against the teeth.

Cover it with orthodontic wax.

Roll a small piece into a ball, flatten it a little and press it over the sharp end. Dry the area first with a clean tissue. Your orthodontist can give you wax, and it is sold at many pharmacies.

Rinse with warm salt water

(half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water) to soothe a scratched cheek.

Call the clinic

so the wire can be trimmed or replaced.

Do not cut the wire yourself unless the orthodontist has told you how to do it. A cut end can fly into the mouth or throat, and the wire is under tension.

A bracket has come loose. What do I do?

If it is still on the wire,

the bracket may slide along it. Leave it, and cover any sharp part with wax.

If it has come off,

keep it in a small bag and bring it to the visit. Do not try to glue it back.

Avoid hard, sticky and crunchy foods

that could cause more brackets to come off.

Call the clinic

to rebook. A loose bracket slows treatment, so a visit within a few days is better than waiting for the next scheduled one.

What if a band, spacer or elastic has come off?

A loose band on a back tooth needs the orthodontist’s attention soon, because it can let food in and cause decay. If an elastic or spacer is lost, tell the clinic. They will advise whether it needs replacing before the next visit.

What about a sore mouth?

Teeth are often sore for two to three days after braces are fitted or adjusted. Soft foods such as yoghurt, eggs, soup and pasta help. Ask the orthodontist or pediatrician about pain relief that suits your child’s age and weight. Rubbing sores on the lips and cheeks are common in the first weeks, and wax over the brackets protects them. A warm salt-water rinse eases ulcers. If a sore does not improve in about two weeks, or is very painful, ask for a check.

What should I do if my child has swallowed part of the brace?

A small bracket or piece of wire swallowed into the stomach usually passes without trouble, but tell a doctor. If your child is coughing, choking, struggling to breathe, has pain in the chest or throat, or a piece may be inhaled, go to an emergency department or call 998 straight away.

What about injuries to the mouth?

A knock to the mouth, a broken or loose tooth, or a cut inside the lip needs attention. See our guide to dental trauma in children. Go to an emergency department for a head injury, heavy bleeding or swelling of the face.

How can I reduce the chance of problems?

• Avoid hard, sticky and crunchy foods such as hard sweets, toffee, ice and whole apples bitten into. Cut up fruit and raw vegetables.
• Brush after meals and clean around the brackets. Use interdental brushes if the orthodontist advises.
• Wear a mouthguard for sport. Ask the orthodontist which type suits braces.
• Do not chew pens, nails or ice.
• Keep your appointments, so small problems are found early.

Our guides to braces and retainers and metal braces explain more about living with braces.

When to see an orthodontist

How we can help at myPediaclinic

Dr. Mohamed Hassabu, Specialist Orthodontist, looks after children and teenagers with braces through our metal braces service. If a wire or bracket is causing trouble, call reception on 04 430 5926 or message us on WhatsApp, and we will arrange the earliest suitable visit. Consultations at our clinic in Dubai Healthcare City are available in English and Arabic.

Frequently asked questions