Orthodontic Emergencies

Unfortunately, our on-call team member is unable to help with medical emergencies such as traumatic mouth injuries. If you have had mouth trauma, please visit an urgent care clinic or hospital emergency room.

Unfortunately, our on-call team member is unable to help with dental pain that is not caused by loose or broken orthodontic appliances.

If you’re having severe mouth pain not caused by orthodontic treatment, please contact your dentist or visit an urgent care clinic or hospital emergency room.

However, if you have orthodontic pain that is not caused by a loose or broken orthodontic appliance, there are several things you can do to minimize the discomfort. Here are some important tips ...

1. Stick to soft foods for the first day or two after an orthodontic appointment – soup, mashed potatoes, yogurt, milkshakes, applesauce, scrambled eggs, mac and cheese, etc.
2. If necessary, use over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen (e.g. Advil) or acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol).  Be sure to follow the dosage instructions on the bottle.
3. Use orthodontic wax to avoid mouth sores. Use as much wax as you need to feel comfortable. To apply, just squash the wax between your fingers and press it on the brackets that are bothering you.
4. Avoid sucking on or touching your mouth sores or teeth with your tongue or fingers. Because they’re so sensitive, the more you touch them, the more they’ll hurt.
5. Avoid acidic drinks and foods (such as citrus juices or tomato sauce), which will irritate your mouth sores.
6. Mouth sores can also be caused by accidentally biting the inside of your cheek while getting used to your braces. These sores should heal quickly, and the problem should go away once your mouth toughens up a bit.
7. Try using an over-the-counter oral anesthetic like Anbesol or Orajel to temporarily numb the painful areas. Dab a small amount of the anesthetic on a cotton swab and apply it to the sores in the mouth. The gel will numb the spot and completely eliminate the pain for a limited time. This method is particularly effective when trying to fall asleep at night, and the gel will wear off by morning.
8. Your lips and gums may also develop sores because they aren't used to the roughness of the braces yet. A weak solution of warm salt water (1/2 tsp of salt per cup of water) helps to ease the irritation. Rinse with warm salt water several times per day.
9. Finally, know that things will get better.  Once your mouth has a little time to adjust, any pain and irritation will go away – it will all get easier from here.  Most patients are completely used to their braces after about a month. After six months, or even sooner, they don't even notice they're there. However, it’s not unusual for teeth to occasionally start hurting for no apparent reason – this is normal, and should go away fairly quickly. Again, if necessary, treat with over-the-counter painkillers.

If your emergency is due to a loose or broken orthodontic appliance and you feel it is unsafe to wait for our regular office hours, please call our after hours emergency line: 731-433-0369. Please note that there may be additional charges for after hours emergency visits.