Minor Issues. Major Comfort.

Get dental care or advice at Bourne Orthodontics.

How To Solve Minor Issues

Bourne Orthodontics helps you find the best treatment for immediate dental concerns.

The dentist placing his hand on the shoulder of a smiling woman

Fortunately, the vast majority of orthodontic problems are minor but they may still cause discomfort or irritation.

In general, it’s best to try and soothe the immediate cause of the discomfort, and then call our office to schedule an appointment; that way, we can allot sufficient time to take care of you.

Here are a few of the more common orthodontic problems, along with some tips on what you can do to relieve them at home:

  • Loose or broken brackets, bands or wires

    This problem is often caused by eating hard or sticky candy or food, or playing with the braces. If the band or bracket is still attached to the wire, leave it as is — but don’t connect any elastics to it!

    You can cover it with orthodontic wax if it’s irritating the inside of your mouth. If it has come off, save it. In either case, call our office to let us know what happened, and we will schedule a visit. Be sure to bring any loose parts with you to the appointment!

  • Misplaced or poking archwire, bracket or tie

    As the teeth start to move, the wire that connects them (archwire) may begin poking near the back of the mouth or irritating the cheeks. You can try moving the wire into a better position with a pencil eraser or a Q-Tip.

    If the wire won’t move, you may be able to cut the end off with a nail clipper sterilized in alcohol — but before doing so, please call our office for our guidance or instructions. Often, you can also use tweezers to gently move a misplaced wire or a tie that’s causing problems.

    When wires or brackets cause irritation, covering the metal parts with wax will often help ease the discomfort. As with any of these types of problems, call our office and we’ll schedule a time to see you.

  • General tooth pain or loosening

    It’s normal for teeth to become slightly loosened during orthodontic treatment — that shows they’re moving! Sometimes, this movement may be accompanied by tenderness, especially after braces are placed or adjusted.

    For minor soreness, you can use your regular over-the-counter pain reliever. A twice-a-day salt-water rinse may also help: Mix one teaspoon of salt in an 8-ounce glass of warm water, and rinse for 30 seconds.

    A warm washcloth or heating pad placed on the outside of the jaw can also offer some relief.

    While actual emergencies are rare, our goal is to make orthodontic treatment as comfortable as possible. If you need additional advice, don’t hesitate to call us!

‘‘Our family has been so impressed by Bourne! They helped us navigate our oldest getting braces, which meant answering a ton of our questions and what-ifs with knowledge and confidence. The staff is ridiculously friendly and approachable, the appointments are super quick and the kids always look forward to seeing what special the office will have during their visits.. ice cream? hot chocolate bar? I highly recommend Bourne Orthodontics!’’

Heidi R

‘‘Dr Bourne and his staff are amazing! My end results of two years in braces was great! Highly recommend them to anyone! Recently referred my aunt and little cousin to Bourne ortho and they are so far very pleased with Dr.B and the staff as well. 🙂’’

Chantel H

‘‘Bourne Orthodontics has the most caring and friendly staff! My daughter was a patient there for over two years, and every visit we felt welcome and everyone really takes time to make sure you have all the info and supplies needed. I highly recommend Bourne Orthodontics!’’

Danielle Lofstedt

‘‘I LOVE Dr. Bourne and all of his staff. My children have been patients there for 10+ years- from headgear, to a spacer to both needing braces. Everyone here is so friendly, and treats each patient with so much kindness. I refer everyone I know to Dr. Bourne for orthodontic needs, I believe they are the best of the best! I can’t give enough praise to their team.’’

Sasha Alexander

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