June 6, 2019
How to Prevent Broken or Loose Brackets
While a loose bracket can be a little scary, you shouldn’t be alarmed if it happens to you. Dr. Bobbi Stanley can easily fix it during your next appointment.
What to Do if You Have a Loose Braces Bracket
It’s a typical morning: you brush your teeth and suddenly notice a piece of wire poking out—your braces have a loose bracket.
At Stanley Dentistry, we often see patients who panic when they discover a loose braces bracket. While it might feel alarming, there's no need to worry. Dr. Bobbi Stanley, a trusted Cary family dentist, can easily repair it at your next visit.
However, a loose bracket doesn’t happen for no reason. There are a few simple steps you can take to help prevent it from happening in the first place.
Understanding How Brackets Work
Brackets are attached to your teeth using orthodontic glue. This glue must be strong enough to hold the brackets in place but weak enough to release if your tooth experiences trauma—like during a sports injury. This balance keeps your teeth safe, but it also means that brackets can occasionally come loose.
Common causes of a loose braces bracket include:
- Eating sticky or hard foods (like gum, candy, nuts, or carrots)
- Playing contact sports without a mouthguard
- Chewing on pens, pencils, or fingernails
How to Prevent a Loose Braces Bracket
If you're involved in sports, especially contact sports like football or basketball, wearing a mouthguard designed for braces can significantly reduce the risk of damaging your orthodontic appliances.
Likewise, avoiding certain foods is essential. Sticky, chewy, or hard foods may not break your braces the first time, but continued exposure increases your risk of a loose bracket.
We always love seeing our patients at Stanley Dentistry, but we’d prefer you avoid unnecessary visits by taking care of your braces. The better your care, the shorter your treatment time!
Can You Fix a Loose Braces Bracket at Home?
We often get asked whether it’s possible to fix a loose braces bracket at home. Unfortunately, the answer is no. While orthodontic wax can help ease discomfort by covering the loose bracket or wire, only a professional can safely reattach or replace the bracket.
If your bracket is only slightly loose and not causing discomfort, you can likely wait until your next scheduled appointment. However, if it’s painful or irritating, schedule a visit with your dentist in Cary NC as soon as possible.
Still have questions?
If you still have questions about brackets and how to take care of them, try visiting these sites:
Need to Schedule a Repair?
If you're experiencing a loose braces bracket, don’t wait to contact Stanley Dentistry, your go-to dentist in Cary NC. We'll get your smile back on track quickly and comfortably.
