Problems With Your Brace?

Experiencing orthodontic issues can be worrying at first, but fortunately most problems are minor and easy to manage. Below is some helpful advice on common issues you may encounter and what you can do.

If you are worried, uncomfortable, or unsure what to do, our team is always happy to help – just get in touch.

Immediate Medical Attention Required

Call 999 or attend A&E immediately if you experience:

• Difficulty breathing
• Persistent coughing
• Choking or wheezing
• Suspected inhalation of a brace component

Problems With Your Brace

Discomfort after braces are fitted or adjusted

It is normal for braces to feel sore for a few days after they are fitted or adjusted. This can make chewing uncomfortable at first.

What you can do:

• Eat softer foods for a few days
• Take your usual pain relief (such as paracetamol or ibuprofen) if appropriate and suitable for you.
• Keep your teeth and braces very clean

Food stuck around braces

Food caught between the teeth or braces is not an emergency, although it can be uncomfortable.

What you can do:

• Use floss carefully
• Use interdental brushes
• Rinse with water

This is generally easy to resolve at home.

Mouth ulcers or rubbing

New braces can rub the cheeks, lips, or tongue, especially during the first few days.

What you can do:

• Place orthodontic relief wax over the area causing irritation
• Rinse with warm salty water
• Use a mouth ulcer gel from a pharmacy if needed

Poking or protruding wire

Sometimes the end of a wire can move and start to irritate the cheek or gum.

What you can do:

• Try gently pushing the wire flat using a clean pencil eraser
• Cover the sharp area with orthodontic wax

If you still cannot make it comfortable, please contact us so we can arrange to see you.

Loose bracket

A loose bracket is not usually a true emergency, but it should be repaired.

What you can do:

• If it has rotated and is rubbing, gently turn it back into a more comfortable position with a clean finger
• Avoid hard, crunchy, or chewy foods
• Contact us so we can arrange a repair

Loose or broken brackets can slow treatment if they are left too long.

Loose teeth

Teeth can feel slightly loose during orthodontic treatment. This is usually normal and happens because the teeth are moving into their new positions.

Gaps appearing during treatment

Do not worry if spaces appear that were not there before. This can happen during treatment and is usually a normal part of tooth movement. All gaps will be closed prior to the end of treatment.

Swollen or bleeding gums

Gums may become swollen or bleed more easily if oral hygiene is poor and plaque builds up around the braces.

What you can do:

• Brush thoroughly around the brackets and gumline
• Clean between the teeth and braces every day
• Spend longer brushing and be especially careful around swollen and bleeding areas

Aligner patients

Lost attachment

If one of your attachments comes off, please contact us as soon as possible.

Please let us know:

• Which aligner number you are currently wearing
• Whether the aligner still fits properly
• Whether you are due to change to the next aligner soon

In most cases, you can continue wearing your current aligner until we advise you otherwise.

Lost or broken retainers

If your retainer is lost or broken, please contact us as soon as possible.

Retainers are important for keeping your teeth straight.  The longer a retainer is left unreplaced, the greater the risk of unwanted tooth movement.

Replacement retainers may be chargeable.

Out of Hours Care

For urgent dental advice when we are closed, please call NHS 111 or one of the numbers below for your area’s Emergency Dental Helpline.

Cardiff and Vale — 0300 10 20 247

Cwm Taf Morgannwg — 0300 123 50 60

Gwent — 01633 744 387

Other Welsh Areas — 0845 60 10 128

If you are ever unsure, we would always rather you contact us for advice.