In a perfect world, your braces would stay intact throughout the time you wear them, never having a bracket break or a wire become uncomfortably loose. However, accidents do happen and parts of your braces can unexpectedly break, often in times 
when our Decatur orthodontics office may not be open.
If possible, always call our office if the following occur:
- broken bracket
- broken wire
- loose band
- loose bracket
- wires poking out/sticking your gums
We can either direct you to come to our office right away or offer suggestions as to a fix.
However, if you experience an after-hours change to your braces, there are some steps you can take to minimize the “ouch” factor and keep your braces as intact as possible. If you have a broken bracket, the first step is to move the bracket back into position if it is still attached. Try using a cotton swab to gently move the bracket back into position - don’t use anything sharp in case it could damage your gums.
When you first got your braces, we provided you with some orthodontic wax - now is the ideal time to use it. Apply some wax underneath the bracket to temporarily attach the bracket in place until you can get to our office. If your bracket is completely loose, however, use a cotton swab to remove it and store it in a safe place to bring in to our Decatur orthodontics office. We will re-attach it when you come in.
If you have a loose band or a band that has fallen off entirely, do not attempt to re-attach the band. Bring it with you to our office, and we will re-attach it.
Protruding or too-long wires can be painful, not to mention annoying. Resist the urge to cut the wire yourself or have someone else do it for you. Instead, bend the wire away from your gum tissue if possible. You can also cover it with dental wax to protect your gums. If you do have a sore on your mouth, rinsing with warm (not hot) salt water can minimize pain and reduce your infection risk.
We are happy to assist you with any other braces questions -- please call our Decatur orthodontics office at (217) 330-6217.