Home Care

First Aid

If a wire causes irritation, push the wire away from the area using the eraser end of a pencil or a Q-Tip. If the wire cannot be tucked away, cover the end of the wire with a small piece of wax or a cotton ball until you can see Dr. Kuppers for an adjustment.

If the main wire has come out of the tube or pipe on your back molar tooth, attempt to reinsert the wire with a pair of needle-nosed pliers or tweezers. If the wire is not sticking you, place a piece of wax over the area. If the wire is sticking you and wax does not help, the wire can be cut with a small wire cutter or fingernail clipper close to the back of the last brace. This is a last resort if professional help is unavailable.

In case a rubber spacer falls out, take two pieces of dental floss and insert them through the spacer. Pull on both pieces of floss to stretch the spacer, then slide the spacer back and forth between the two teeth where it belongs. Once the bottom half of the spacer slips under the tight spot between the teeth, release and remove the floss and the spacer will fit back properly.

If a bracket becomes loose, it usually remains connected to the main wire by a little rubber colored ring or by a metal “door”. Eyebrow tweezers can be used to reposition the brace if it flips around the wire and becomes a source of irritation. Call our office at 519-884-2556 and inform us of your situation.

If a piece of your braces breaks, save the piece and call our office to schedule a repair visit.

Remain calm if you swallow a piece of your appliance. This will usually go into the stomach, passing out of the body in a bowel movement. However, should difficulty breathing be experienced you should seek immediate medical attention. X-rays will be taken to determine the location of the swallowed piece.

If a retainer cracks, remove the retainer from your mouth and bring all the pieces to our office for professional repair.

Take Advil (unless allergic) if your teeth are sore after a visit.

Rinsing your mouth with a cup of warm water and teaspoon of salt can also be soothing. If food becomes stuck between your teeth, use dental floss or a proxy brush to dislodge the food.