There’s no way around it: any orthodontic treatment from traditional braces to Invisalign is bound to cause at least some discomfort. After all, you’re moving your teeth and essentially reshaping your mouth! However, do you know the warning signs of an orthodontic emergency? While serious problems are somewhat rare, it’s important that you know what to look out for and when you should seek urgent dental care. Here’s how you can tell if you’re experiencing an orthodontic emergency and what you should do.
Orthodontics & Discomfort: What’s Normal
Treatments like braces and Invisalign are not usually uncomfortable, but there are times it’s natural to feel some soreness in your teeth, jaws, or mouth. One of these times is when you have your braces first put on or you wear your first set of aligners. Your mouth will need to undergo an adjustment period, and in the beginning, your braces may irritate your oral soft tissues or your aligners may feel sharp on your gums. Then, it’s likely that you’ll feel some soreness in your teeth every time you have your braces tightened or you move on to your next set of aligners. Thankfully, all these instances of discomfort should be mild and easily managed with over-the-counter pain relivers. Your smile should feel comfortable again in a matter of days.
Handling Minor Orthodontic Issues at Home
Most orthodontic issues are minor and can be treated at home. If your braces or Invisalign are uncomfortable or you are worried about symptoms you’re experiencing, give your orthodontist a call. They’ll likely be able to help you determine what you need to do next to correct the problem over the phone. Here are some of the most common at-home remedies for minor orthodontic issues:
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers as directed
- Use cold compresses, ice packs, or cold foods and drinks to numb soreness
- Rinse with warm salt water to ease inflammation and kill bacteria
- Use dental wax to cover up sharp brackets or wires
- For Invisalign, switch to a new set of aligners right before bed
Orthodontic Emergencies
However, other orthodontic problems need to be addressed immediately by your orthodontist to keep your smile safe. If you experience any of the following, call your orthodontist immediately:
- Intense pain that hasn’t faded in several days or is not responding to the typical pain-relief solutions listed above.
- A serious injury or trauma to your mouth, face, teeth, or jaws
- Signs of infection, such as swelling in the gums or jaws, discharge between teeth, a small bump on the gums, bright red gum tissue, fever, or fatigue.
- Broken or bent wire, brackets, aligners, or any other orthodontic appliance.
Hopefully you will never experience an orthodontic emergency. However, keeping the above information about which problems can be handled at home and which need urgent treatment can help you act quickly and correctly in these scary situations.
About the Practice
At Simply Orthodontics Hopkinton, our talented and experienced team of orthodontists strives to ensure every treatment goes as smoothly as possible. However, we know that life doesn’t always go as planned, which is why we are well-equipped and prepared to handle any and all orthodontic emergencies! We go above and beyond to accommodate emergency patients with same-day appointments so you can get back to enjoying a happy, healthy smile. If you are experiencing orthodontic pain, don’t hesitate to contact us online or at (508) 435-1200.