4. Take Care of Your Mouth and Relieve Discomfort
There are a few ways you can protect your mouth from additional trauma and ease any discomfort. Start by avoiding hard, crunchy foods like apples and raw carrots and sticky foods, like taffies and caramels. Instead, stick to eating soft foods like boiled eggs, yogurt, and soft bread to avoid any further damage to the bracket. If a broken wire has caused a sore, rinse your mouth regularly with salt water or use an antiseptic rinse to reduce discomfort or temporarily numb the area. If you are still experiencing discomfort, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever to reduce your pain.
Broken orthodontic appliances can be uncomfortable and inconvenient, but it's very rarely a dental emergency. Your orthodontist will know what to do to fix you right up and get you back on the road to your ideal smile! All you need to worry about is staying positive, keeping up with good oral hygiene with twice-daily cleaning around your wires and brackets, and keeping yourself comfortable while you wait.