Protecting Our Kids' Smiles

A thorough and efficient way to straighten crooked teeth is through orthodontic treatment. If you have severely misaligned teeth, you may have to resort to metallic braces, which would provide you with adequate support. Moreover, since metallic braces are not removable, it also reduces the chances of you interfering with your treatment. Thus, you can be assured of competent results once the metallic braces have to come off.

However, if you are not meticulous with the care of your braces, you could end up facing a dental emergency that would put both your mouth and braces at risk of damage. Below are tips that all wearers should know to make sure that they are not at risk of an orthodontic emergency.

Invest in a mouth guard from your dentist

People tend to assume mouth guards are only imperative for athletes. And although they are a staple for people who engage in sports on a regular basis, it does not mean that the average person cannot utilise them too. If you participate in physical sports as a way to keep fit, it would be advisable to get a mouth guard from your dentist.

The reason why you should not buy the mouth guard over the counter at your local pharmacy is that it will not be a perfect fit for your mouth. Thus, it would not be able to provide you with the protection that you require. Instead, have your dentist custom make one for you, which would be able to protect both interior of your mouth as well as the braces themselves from unnecessary damage.

Monitor the braces for compromised wires

Although metallic braces have remained a relevant orthodontic option due to their high durability, they are not immune to structural problems from time to time. These issues typically affect the wires, as these are the fragile parts of the braces. In some cases, the wires may be too tight and then end up breaking off. On the other hand, the wires could come loose and lose their ability to secure the brackets.

Broken wiring does not just diminish the performance of your braces. Not having the problem fixed will also increase the risk of your cheeks, tongue, gums and other soft tissue in your mouth becoming punctured and causing serious oral injuries. Moreover, if a wire comes entirely off you could end up swallowing it, and this could cause internal bleeding. It is therefore prudent to visit the orthodontist to have any loose wiring fixed as soon as you notice the issue.