Enduring Stay At Home and Shelter In Place orders means there are some simple things that Dr. Jolley would normally have you come into the office to resolve that we now need to find a way to help you resolve at home. To keep you, and our team, safe and minimize the risk of exposure, we know there are some things you can do to resolve discomfort at home.

Treating Discomfort at Home

Sometimes when you’re eating, you suddenly feel a wire poking you. Look in the mirror. It could simply be a wire is bowing out and isn’t completely off the bracket. If this is the case, use your finger to push the wire back into place.

IF that doesn’t work here are a few more things to try:

Cut off the End: Pull the cheek back and use fingernail clippers to clip off the end of the wire.

Bend it: Instead of cutting it, try gently bending the wire back into position. You can use your fingers, a blunted toothpick, or an eraser head to do this. Go slowly; you don’t want the wire to snap in a problematic place.

Get out the Tweezers: If you have eaten something that has moved a wire out of place, you may need a pair of thin nosed tweezers. Before putting them in your mouth, disinfect the tips. Then grab the end of the loose wire with the tweezers. This will be easier if you have a magnifying mirror. Gently guide the wire back into the bracket slot or you could also tuck the broken lace behind the arch wire or around the bracket.

Use Some Wax: Hopefully you have some orthodontic wax on hand; we give you some at each appointment. Put a small ball of that wax on the end of the wire that’s poking you to some relief from the pain without doing anything to compromise your braces. Keep both the wax and the bracket dry. Don’t have wax on hand? You can use a cotton ball or some gauze in a pinch.

Treat your Cuts and Sores: Sometimes those loose wires can really cause a bad sore or cut in your cheeks. Swish a mixture of warm water and salt in your mouth for a minute at a time, up to six times a day to help it heal.

If you are experiencing a true orthodontic emergency that cannot be remedied by these tips, please call us.