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How to… manage a Festive Orthodontic Emergency

Dec 8, 2023

How to… manage a Festive Orthodontic Emergency

Braces

It’s best to avoid a dental disaster in the first place so here are a few tips on looking after your braces over Christmas as well as a guide to what to do if you’re struck by an emergency while the clinic is closed. 

Royal Icing vs Tooth Interface? Unfortunate Landing on the Ice Rink? Popcorn at the Ballet Mishap?… It’s a truth universally acknowledged that the worst dental emergencies occur when the clinic is shut. Most orthodontic clinics are closed for Christmas Day and Boxing Day at least (though we are open between Christmas and New Year), and with so much feasting and general merriment it’s perhaps unsurprising that this is the time of year you will do something silly and have an accident with your teeth or braces. 

First of all remember that prevention is always better than cure, so here are a few ways to keep your teeth safe this Christmas…

  • If you wear braces, try to always cut food up small and pop it towards the back of the mouth to chew with your molars, rather than using your front teeth to ‘cut’. 
  • There’s a long list of foods to avoid, we’re afraid. Toffees from your Christmas stocking (or anywhere really) are the devil’s own work. Leave them alone. Ditto candy canes. Other festive foods to take care of include crisps, crusty things like French bread and pizza on buffets, and hard foods like raw carrots or chewy meats. 
  • No matter how much you enjoy tradition, leave the coins out of the Christmas pud, too. That’s a surefire braces breaker.

If you do have a mishap, don’t panic. Here’s what to do…

  • First, call your orthodontist just in case. They may be able to give you advice over the phone or online if you can’t make an appointment. 
  • Next, before you stick your hands in your mouth yourself, WASH THEM. Also, don’t do anything under the influence of a few sherries. These things will wait. 
  • If you have a loose bracket, check whether it’s still attached to the wire properly or not. If it’s really loose, take it off the wire carefully so you don’t swallow it. If it’s still on the wire you can secure it with some dental wax. If you don’t have dental wax, some cotton wool or even chewing gum will bring some relief, though you are in ‘last resort territory’ here. 
  • If your wire is broken, check first whether the wire is scratching your gums or cheek. Try to fit some dental wax to it to cover any sharp bits and prevent it causing further damage. If it’s really sticking out, bend it under or, in dire straits, you could carefully use nail clippers to clip it shorter. 
  • If a broken wire or bracket is causing discomfort, take painkillers, rinse with salt water and avoid acidic or spicy foods which may cause pain in the sore area.
  • While you wait to see the orthodontist, stick to soft foods such as soup, boiled eggs, soft bread sandwiches with soft fillings like cream cheese, yoghurts etc. Put DOWN the Quality Street tin. Now is not the time for Russian Roulette with the Peanut Cracknell. 
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