Common Braces Wires Risks, Problems, and At

If you have braces, a thin wire called an archwire runs through brackets that are attached to your teeth. The ends of the wire may be attached to metal bands that have been placed around your back teeth (molars).

An orthodontist periodically adjusts the archwire to apply force. This works to gradually push or pull your teeth and jaw into the desired positioning.

Regardless of the type of archwire you have out of three common materials, it’s possible that it may break or pop out of place. This can cause a variety of problems. Read on to learn what causes wire breakage, the risks involved, and what to do if it breaks or pops out of place.

The type of wire you have depends both on your condition and your orthodontist’s preference. You might also have different types of wires throughout your treatment.

The types of archwires include:

Archwire breakage is not uncommon. According to a 2020 study of 395 orthodontists, wire breakage leading to injury was the second-most cause of emergencies.

There are several things that may cause your wire to break or pop out of place.

When you have braces, some types of food are more likely to damage them. These include:

Having an injury or blow to your mouth may cause your archwire to break or come out of place. This is most likely to happen while participating in sports or engaging in rough play.

Poking or prodding at your braces — using a toothpick or finger to try and remove a piece of food stuck in your braces, for example — may dislodge a wire or bracket.

A broken wire can pose a variety of risks. These include:

If your wire has broken, contact your orthodontist. This is important for two reasons:

The treatment can depend on the specific situation, but may include:

In the meantime, there are several things you can try at home if your wire breaks and is poking you. Let’s explore these in a little more detail.

Dental wax serves as a temporary barrier to keep the wire from poking you. It’s made from several materials, including silicone.

To do this:

Sometimes you can use a soft object, such as a pencil eraser or cotton swab, to push a protruding archwire away from your lips and cheek.

To move the wire, use the pencil eraser or cotton swab to apply gentle pressure to the protruding wire. Try to orient the wire so that it rests flat against your teeth and no longer irritates the inside of your mouth.

According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), clipping a protruding archwire is only recommended as a last resort. This is because you could potentially swallow part of the wire.

To do it safely:

If a broken archwire has caused a cut or sore, there are ways to ease discomfort and help it heal.

If there’s a break in your archwire, you need to visit your orthodontist to remove the broken wire and replace it with a new one. If part of the wire has popped out of place, your orthodontist will carefully move it into place.

Do not try to remove a wire that has broken or come out of place yourself. Not only can this impact your treatment, but it may also cause injury.

You can help to lower your risk of a wire breakage with the following steps:

If you have braces, it’s possible that you may experience a break in your archwire. A broken wire can poke into the inside of your lips or cheek, leading to pain, cuts, or sores.

Call your orthodontist promptly if your archwire breaks. They can replace the broken wire with a new one. In the meantime, there are things you can do at home to temporarily ease discomfort from a broken wire that’s poking you.

You can prevent a wire breakage by taking steps to protect your braces.