Did Your Wire on Your Braces Break? Here’s What to Do

Do you have a broken wire in your traditional metal braces? Jill Seladi-Schulman explains the causes, precautions, and remedies. And Woodlawn Orthodontics guides us through the next steps. (Source: Healthline, What to Do if Your Braces Wire Broke and Is Poking You, by Jill Seladi-Schulman, medically reviewed by Rooz Khosravi, DMD, Ph.D., MSD, March 1, 2021, https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/braces-wire ).

The causes

Traditional metal braces are convenient orthodontic solutions. But there are a few reasons that can cause the archwire to break. According to Jill Seladi-Schulman, it includes eating sticky, crunchy, or hard foods, prodding your traditional braces, and injury.

Woodlawn Orthodontics elaborates, “There are several reasons why traditional braces wire breakage may occur. Some of the most common causes are mentioned below:

Biting down on hard or crunchy foods: Eating hard or crunchy foods like popcorn, ice, hard candies, or nuts can cause excessive pressure on your braces, leading to wire breakage.

Trauma to the face: A blow to the face during physical activity or an accident can cause the archwire to break or bend.

Poor oral hygiene: Not keeping your teeth and braces clean can result in the accumulation of plaque and food debris. This can weaken the wire and cause it to break.

Changes in tooth position: As your teeth shift and move during orthodontic treatment, the archwire may become misaligned, leading to breakage.

Natural wear and tear: Over time, the wire may become worn or weakened due to the stresses of everyday use, leading to breakage.

The precautions

Jill Seladi-Schulman suggests that to reduce the likelihood of wire breakage, consider taking the following measures:

Brush gently: Use a soft bristle toothbrush to brush your teeth after each meal. Rinse your mouth thoroughly to remove food particles stuck in your braces.

Use floss to remove trapped food: If food becomes trapped in your braces, use floss rather than a toothpick or your fingers to remove it. A floss threader can be beneficial in this situation.

Avoid certain foods: Refrain from consuming foods that are hard, sticky, or crunchy, as they have the potential to cause damage to your braces.

Use a mouthguard during sports activities: A mouthguard can protect not only your teeth but also your braces from harm during physical activity.

Woodlawn Orthodontics agrees, “Wire breakage in traditional braces can cause pain, cuts, or sores in the lips or cheek. These could be reasons like biting hard foods, trauma to the face, poor oral hygiene, changes in tooth position, or natural wear and tear. To reduce the risk of wire breakage, one should use a soft-bristled toothbrush to brush gently. Remove stuck food using floss or a floss threader. Avoid consuming sticky, hard, or crunchy foods, and while playing sports, wear a mouthguard to protect the teeth and braces from damage.”

The remedies

Jill Seladi-Schulman states that in the event of a break in the archwire, it is essential to seek orthodontic solutions to remove the broken wire. If a part of the wire has moved out of place, your orthodontist will make adjustments to put it back in place. It is not recommended to remove a broken or displaced wire on your own, as this can jeopardize your treatment and lead to injury.

Woodlawn Orthodontics guides, “For a temporary solution to a wire on your traditional braces, use orthodontic wax to cover the wire. You can also push the wire back into place with a pencil eraser and use a cotton ball or gauze to cushion the affected area. Also, you could carefully cut the wire using a clean nail clipper or cuticle cutter.”

Jill Seladi-Sculman reiterates that if you wear braces, it is feasible to encounter a fracture in your archwire. This can result in discomfort, cuts, or sores if the broken wire pokes into the inside of your lips or cheek.

Woodlawn Orthodontics concludes, “It is crucial to seek orthodontic solutions immediately if your archwire breaks. However, suppose you are experiencing discomfort from a broken wire that is poking you. In that case, there are temporary measures you can take at home to alleviate it. Ask your orthodontist what to do in these circumstances. Taking precautions to safeguard your traditional metal braces can help prevent wire breakage.”