How to Repair Loose, Poking, & Broken Braces Wires

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Tips for getting irritating braces wires back in working order
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Ever been eating or playing a sport and one of your braces wires come loose? Or have you been having issues with braces wires digging into your cheek? These are common orthodontic problems that can be resolved with a few simple steps.

Things You Should Know

  • Apply a pea-sized amount of orthodontic wax over small, poking wires to relieve irritation and discomfort.
  • Or, bend back longer wires along your teeth with your finger to fix poking, irritating wires.
  • Alternatively, push loose wires back into the bracket with your fingers or tweezers. Cover the bracket with orthodontic wax to secure the wire in place.
Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Fixing Irritating Wires

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  1. The longer you wear braces, the more your teeth are pulled into alignment. When this happens, your teeth shift, which causes the wires used in your braces to shift as well. The closer your teeth get to one another, the more extra wire you will end up with along the back of your braces. The excess wire can cause irritation and discomfort. If it is just a small amount of wire sticking through, you can use orthodontic wax to help ease the discomfort until you can get it repaired. Dry off the area with a cotton ball or q-tip. Then, roll a pea sized amount of wax between your finger and apply it to the irritating wire in the back your mouth. [1]
    • You may also want to consider using cotton balls in this area of our mouth. It may be slightly more cumbersome, but it will work until you can get some wax or see your orthodontist. [2]
  2. If the wire is longer than is comfortable and cannot be covered with wax, you need to move the wire. Try bending the wires back with your fingers. If the wire is too small, try using a pencil eraser to move the point away from the area that it is irritating.
    • Make sure you don't move it to a place where it will irritate another area of your mouth. Also make sure you don't bend it to the point that you pop off one of your brackets. This will cause you to need additional repairs when you get to the orthodontist office.
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  3. When you have a particularly annoying wire in the back of your mouth, putting wax on it and bending it back might not be the best method to fix it. If the wire is too long to apply wax to and too strong to bend, take a pair of sharp fingernail clippers or wire clippers and cut off the wire as close to the end as you can without damaging the bracket. [3]
    • Make sure you catch whatever wire you cut off. You don't want to swallow it or poke yourself with the leftover wire. To catch the wire, place a tissue or cloth under your mouth to catch it as you cut it off.
    • If you don't cut it all the way off, you may need to use orthodontic wax on the back.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Fixing a Loose Wire

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  1. Sometimes a brace wire can come loose from inside the bracket, which is the small metal or ceramic object attached to your tooth. If this occurs, or if the wire comes completely out, see if you can push it back in with your finger. If you can't push it back in, grab a mirror and a pair of tweezers. Grab the middle of the wire and bend it so you can stick the end back into its place in the bracket.
    • If you find that it still wants to slip out, use orthodontic wax to secure it in place. To apply the wax, dry off the bracket and wire with a cotton ball or q-tip. Take a pea sized amount of the wax, roll it into a ball, and place it on the edge of the bracket and the beginning of the loose wire, securing it in place.
    • Although this is not an emergency orthodontic situation, still call your orthodontist and let him know what happened to your braces. He will let you know if repairs can wait until your next appointment. [4] [5] [6]
  2. A ligature wire, which is the wire that is wrapped around the brackets of your braces, can come loose when you're eating or brushing your teeth. If this happens, the best option is to try to bend it back in place. Use a pencil eraser or q-tip to push the edge of the wire back into place. If it still continues to bother you, use orthodontic wax. Dry off the offending wire with a cotton ball or q-tip. Take a pea sized amount of the wax and place it over the dry wire, pushing it down until it covers the whole wire.
    • If the wire has caused a sore in your mouth, rinse your mouth with salt water or a solution of peroxide and water. Do this 2-3 times a day and keep wearing the wax over the wire. Your mouth should heal over time. [7] [8] [9]
  3. There are times when a broken wire will not stay in place inside a bracket. The wire can also break off and no longer fit within the area it is supposed to fit. In this case, you may need to cut off the excess wire until you can get to the orthodontist to have the wire break repaired. Open your mouth, placing tissue or some other material under the broken wire to catch the part you cut off. Using a mirror to guide your movements, clip off the end of the wire with sharp fingernail clippers.
    • If you don't have sharp fingernail clippers, you can also use wire cutters or any clippers that will cut through the wire. Just be sure not to accidentally cut your lip.
    • Make sure you catch whatever wire you cut off. You don't want to swallow it or poke yourself with the leftover wire.
    • You might not be able to get all of the excess wire cut off, so be aware of the sharp edge it may leave. If the edge is still irritating your mouth, you can try use orthodontic wax on it. [10] [11]
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    What if I don't feel comfortable fixing a broken braces wire myself?
    Lewis Chen, DDS, FICOI, FIADFE
    Licensed Dentist
    Dr. Lewis Chen is a licensed Dentist in both New York and New Jersey, specializing in providing high-quality oral care in the form of preventative care. He holds an Economics degree from New York University. Dr. Chen earned his doctorate at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. He graduated top of his class with the highest honors and distinction and was nominated and inducted into the only renowned, national dental honor society, Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU). He then completed a comprehensive training program at the Bronx VA Medical Center and, shortly after, decided to pursue multiple practice ownership and management. Dr. Chen has acquired numerous accolades over the years, including New York Academy of Dentistry Exemplary Professional Conduct Award, Academy of General Dentistry Outstanding General Practitioner Award, American Academy of Implant Dentistry Award, and Pierre Fauchard Foundation Award.
    Lewis Chen, DDS, FICOI, FIADFE
    Licensed Dentist
    Expert Answer
    Call your dentist's office to schedule a consultation. Your dentist will provide you with the risks, benefits, and alternatives for fixing the wire. The main options are usually reattaching the wire, removing and applying a new wire, or replacing the wire with something that's removable at night.
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    Not Helpful 4 Helpful 8
  • Question
    What are the pros and cons of having a fixed braces wire?
    Lewis Chen, DDS, FICOI, FIADFE
    Licensed Dentist
    Dr. Lewis Chen is a licensed Dentist in both New York and New Jersey, specializing in providing high-quality oral care in the form of preventative care. He holds an Economics degree from New York University. Dr. Chen earned his doctorate at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. He graduated top of his class with the highest honors and distinction and was nominated and inducted into the only renowned, national dental honor society, Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU). He then completed a comprehensive training program at the Bronx VA Medical Center and, shortly after, decided to pursue multiple practice ownership and management. Dr. Chen has acquired numerous accolades over the years, including New York Academy of Dentistry Exemplary Professional Conduct Award, Academy of General Dentistry Outstanding General Practitioner Award, American Academy of Implant Dentistry Award, and Pierre Fauchard Foundation Award.
    Lewis Chen, DDS, FICOI, FIADFE
    Licensed Dentist
    Expert Answer
    With a fixed wire, you don't need to maintain the teeth in shifting rotation since they're held in place by a wire. However, it's much harder to floss your teeth.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

      • If you have any tooth pain or extreme discomfort associated with these repairs, let your orthodontist know immediately. There may be an underlying issue not related to the wire problem that needs to be addressed. [12]
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      • Wire breakage and irritation is normal with braces. Don't panic if something comes off of your braces. It happens frequently for many reasons. Just call your orthodontist and let them know what happened. They will let you know how soon you need to repair them. [13]
        Thanks
        Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
      • Always let your orthodontist know of any problems with your braces. Most of these situations will not need immediate repair, but the repairs can take time. So let your orthodontist know about the kind of repairs you will need so they can make time for them during your next appointment.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDJzSBcU_j8
      2. ↑ http://www.dentalassociates.com/braces-orthodontics/orthodontic-emergency-care/
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDJzSBcU_j8
      4. ↑ http://www.orthocenters.org/emergency.php
      5. ↑ http://www.dentalassociates.com/braces-orthodontics/orthodontic-emergency-care/
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-BmG9IAdGg
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDJzSBcU_j8
      8. ↑ http://www.orthocenters.org/emergency.php
      9. ↑ http://www.dentalassociates.com/braces-orthodontics/orthodontic-emergency-care/
      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-BmG9IAdGg
      2. ↑ http://www.dentalassociates.com/braces-orthodontics/orthodontic-emergency-care/
      3. ↑ http://www.dentalassociates.com/braces-orthodontics/orthodontic-emergency-care/
      4. ↑ http://www.dentalassociates.com/braces-orthodontics/orthodontic-emergency-care/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If a wire on your braces has come loose, try pushing it back with your fingers. If you can’t, use a pair of tweezers in front of the mirror to bend the middle of the wire back into the bracket. You can also use a pea-sized amount of orthodontic wax to stick the wire back. If a wire breaks and won’t fit back inside the bracket, use a pair of nail clippers or wire cutters to carefully clip the wire off. Make sure you tell your orthodontist what you did next time you visit so they can check your braces. If you have any tooth pain or extreme discomfort from your braces, see your orthodontist as soon as possible. For more tips, including how to reduce soreness from irritating wires, read on!

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