My Braces Have Come Loose, What Do I Do Now?

If you have braces in Stratham and one or more of your brackets has come loose, you may be wondering what to do, and why this happened. In this blog from Great Bay Orthodontics, we’ll discuss everything you need to know! Get all the details below.

Why Do Braces Become Loose?

Wondering why your braces may be feeling loose? Here are a few common culprits. 

• A poor bond to the tooth – In some cases, your orthodontist may not have made a strong connection between the metal bracket and your tooth. This can cause the bracket to detach.
  
  
• Changes in the bite – In some cases, changes to the bite and position of the teeth can put a lot of strain on a particular bracket, “popping” it out of place and requiring it to be cemented back to the tooth. This is especially common if the bracket is already weak for another reason.
  
  
• Oral injuries – Getting hit in the mouth can knock one or more of your brackets loose, and may cause damage to your teeth, too. You should consult with your orthodontist immediately for help if you have braces and are hit in the mouth.
  
  
• Eating the wrong food – If you eat foods you’re not supposed to have, such as gummy candies, popcorn, chewing gum, and other such foods, these can weaken your brackets and cause them to loosen. This is why you’re not supposed to eat these foods while wearing braces. 
  

• Bad habits – Some habits like chewing ice, biting your fingernails, or chewing on pens and other non-food objects could cause you to dislodge your braces.
  
  

Tips To Avoid Broken And Loose Brackets 

As stated above, there are a lot of different reasons that brackets may come loose from your braces. Some can’t be avoided, but most of them can. Here are a few tips you can follow to avoid broken and loose brackets.

• Brush and floss properly – Healthy braces start with healthy teeth. So make sure that you’re brushing twice a day and flossing once per day to keep your braces healthy, and follow all other oral care recommendations provided by Dr. John Walsh at Great Bay Orthodontics.
  
  
• Follow dietary & lifestyle recommendations – Make sure you don’t eat foods that Dr. Walsh says you can’t have, such as gummy candies, popcorn, bagels, nuts, corn on the cob, and so on. You should also avoid chewing on non-food objects of all kinds.
  
  
• Wear a mouthguard for sports – If you play any sport where your mouth could be struck by a player, a ball, or any other object, you need a mouthguard. Mouthguards help spread the impact of oral injuries across all of your teeth and gums, and cushion your teeth and braces against the impact. This can prevent damage to both your teeth and braces. 
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Get Help From Your Orthodontist Right Away If You Have Loose Braces

Unless you’re only a few days away from an orthodontic adjustment, you should contact your orthodontist as soon as you notice your loose braces. They will schedule an appointment to re-cement them onto your teeth.

Failing to get your braces fixed could lead to discomfort and even delays to your orthodontic treatment. This is why we offer emergency orthodontic appointments at Great Bay Orthodontics. If your braces need repairs, just give us a call at (603) 318-2602 or contact us online to get the help you need.