Braces breakages tend to sort themselves into three groups: the few that need attention today, the many that can be booked in over the next several days, and the minor ones that can simply be mentioned at your next adjustment. Which group you are in depends less on what has broken and more on whether it is hurting you, whether a part is loose in your mouth, and whether it can be made comfortable.
Sorting the problem by urgency
| What you notice | How soon to be seen |
|---|---|
| A bracket or band loose in the mouth and not attached to anything, or a piece missing that may have been breathed in | Call the same day. Coughing or trouble breathing needs emergency care. |
| A wire cutting the cheek or gum that wax will not settle | Same day or next day |
| Swelling, bleeding that does not stop, or a knock to the mouth with braces on | Same day |
| A bracket that has come off the tooth but is still threaded on the wire | Within a few days |
| A wire end that has slid out but is comfortable once covered | Within a few days |
| A missing coloured elastic tie, or general tenderness after an adjustment | Mention it at your next visit |
If you are unsure which row fits, ring the practice that fitted your braces and describe it, or send a photo if they accept them. Many problems can be judged over the phone.
A bracket that spins on the wire
The most common breakage is a bracket that has come unstuck from the enamel but is still held by the wire and its tie. It may slide along or rotate. This is rarely painful, but that tooth is no longer being guided, so it is worth having the bracket rebonded within the week. Do not try to pull it off the wire. Leave it in place, cover any rough edge with wax if it rubs, and avoid chewing on that side.
Hard and sticky food is the usual cause. Crusty bread, nuts, popcorn kernels, ice, toffee and biting directly into apples or corn cobs are frequent offenders. Biting nails or chewing pens can do the same.
A bracket that has come right off
If the whole bracket is out, take it out of your mouth, keep it in a small bag and bring it with you. A bracket or small band that is swallowed without symptoms usually passes harmlessly, but let your dentist or GP know. If there is coughing, wheezing, choking or chest discomfort after a part goes missing, treat it as possible inhalation and go to an emergency department or call 000.
Keeping comfortable until your appointment
Dry the area and press a small piece of orthodontic wax over anything sharp. Already chewed sugar-free gum will do for a few hours if you have no wax. A warm salt water rinse a few times a day soothes rubbed tissue, and a soft diet takes pressure off the loose part. Our separate guide to managing a broken braces wire covers poking wire ends in more detail.
Avoid household scissors, pliers or bending the wire with your fingers. These can snap off small pieces, distort the wire and add to the repair. If a long loose end cannot be covered and you cannot be seen soon, call for advice before attempting anything yourself.
When the same bracket keeps letting go
One loose bracket over a course of treatment is common. Repeated breakages are worth raising, because there is often a pattern: the same food, a habit such as nail biting or grinding, or a tooth that touches an opposing tooth heavily when you bite. The person treating you can check the bite, reposition the bracket or suggest small changes so it holds. If you are still deciding on treatment, our comparison of clear aligners and braces for adults sets out how the two differ, and our guide to retainer types and wear time covers the stage after braces come off.
Not every sore mouth during treatment comes from the braces. A tooth that has chipped on something hard, described in our article on chipping a tooth on ice, or swollen gum around an erupting wisdom tooth, covered under pericoronitis, can feel similar and need different care.
What patients ask about loose brackets
Will a loose bracket slow my treatment down?
It can if it is left for weeks, because the tooth it belongs to stops moving as planned and may move the wrong way. Having it rebonded within a few days usually keeps any delay small.
Can I still wear my elastics with a loose bracket?
Not on a bracket or hook that is no longer stuck to the tooth. Ask the person treating you whether to carry on with the other elastics until the repair.
Is a broken bracket a hospital problem?
Almost never. Hospital is only needed if a part may have been inhaled, there is heavy bleeding or swelling, or the braces were damaged in a larger injury to the face.
If something has come loose and you would like it checked, our team can arrange a short appointment through our general dentistry service. Current new patient offers are on our deals page.
