Like many things in life, braces brackets are not always as permanent as we hope. No matter how good your orthodontist is, there’s still a chance that your brackets can come loose during the course of wearing your braces. Sometimes a particular bracket can keep coming loose, leaving you wondering “Why Do My Brackets Keep Coming Off?!”
Why Do My Brackets Keep Coming Off?
A bracket coming off is an inconvenience for sure, but it’s not the end of the world. It may not even be something you did. Here are a few of the reasons why you might lose a bracket, and what to do when it happens.
Your Tooth
Brackets bond best to healthy enamel.
Any discoloration or other issues on the enamel can lead to a weak bond between the bracket and your tooth.
The same goes for fillings, crowns, and other dental work. Brackets adhere best to natural enamel rather than artificial replacements.
Unfortunately, there’s not a lot you can do about this. Your mouth is what it is. However, if you know that you have enamel issues, try to maintain the best oral hygiene possible to prevent the situation from getting worse.
If you know that you have problems with enamel, be aware that your brackets are more likely to come off and pay attention to them. This may also impact your eating habits, which we’ll discuss later.
Your Orthodontist
No orthodontist is perfect and mistakes can happen.
Brackets bond best to teeth that are clean and dry. If the orthodontist is in a hurry, they may try to apply the bracket too quickly. If you feel that there’s excess saliva in your mouth, speak up so it can be taken care of before work begins.
On the other end of the spectrum, the cement used to bond brackets also weakens the more it’s manipulated. This happens when your orthodontist is trying to position the bracket just right.
As a patient, you do not have a good way to gauge what the correct amount of time for placement should be, but don’t be shy about discussing this with your orthodontist as a reason for losing a bracket if it does happen.
Your Habits
Wearing braces requires lifestyle changes in order for the treatment to be successful. This specifically applies to the foods you eat.
Chewing ice and eating hard or sticky foods can cause brackets to come off. We know it’s tough to give up these foods, but doing so will mean that your braces work faster and you’ll wear them for less time.
It’s basically short term sacrifice for long term beauty.
Learn more: about what foods to avoid with braces.
Brackets can also become stuck in mouthguards or fall out while you are brushing your teeth. To prevent this from happening, make sure that your mouth guard is properly fitted and consult with your dentist about a proper brushing technique that will clean your teeth without damaging your braces in the process.
Nervous habits like chewing your fingernails, pens, or other objects can also cause brackets to become dislodged. Again, we know these habits are tough to break, but doing so — or even reducing the amount that you do them — will save you from spending excess time in the orthodontist’s chair.
What to Do if You Lose a Bracket
Losing a bracket from your braces is not typically considered a dental emergency, but it is something that should be addressed as quickly as possible. The longer the bracket is missing, the longer it will take for the braces to straighten your teeth.
Most brackets can be replaced quickly by an orthodontist. There are many guides out there for do-it-yourself bracket repair, but we do not recommend doing that. You are just as likely to make your situation worse, which sets you back even further.
If you swallowed the bracket, it will likely pass through your system without any harm, but seek medical attention if you feel any pain or discomfort.
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