Orthodontic treatment often raises questions about the durability of the appliances used to straighten teeth. Braces are precision-engineered devices designed to apply gentle, continuous forces to reposition teeth. While modern metal and ceramic braces are robust and constructed from medical-grade materials, they cannot withstand all forms of external stress. Understanding these limits is the first step in ensuring a successful and timely treatment outcome.
The Reality of Braces Durability
Modern braces are built with materials like high-grade stainless steel, titanium, and nickel-titanium alloys, chosen for strength and biocompatibility. These components tolerate the constant, low-level forces required for tooth movement. Brackets are attached to the tooth enamel with a strong dental adhesive, creating a bond that resists the routine vertical forces of chewing and speaking.
The hardware is most vulnerable to forces that push or pull components in unintended ways. Brackets are particularly susceptible to shear or lateral forces, such as when a bracket is twisted or pulled tangentially away from the tooth surface. The bond can fail when subjected to these forces, leading to a loose bracket. Similarly, the flexible archwires can bend permanently or snap if subjected to sudden, sharp force.
Common Causes of Damage
Dietary choices are one of the most frequent causes of damage. Hard foods like nuts, popcorn kernels, and ice create concentrated forces that can pop a bracket off or permanently bend a wire. Sticky or chewy foods, such as caramels, toffee, and gum, can grip and pull the archwires, weakening the adhesive bond until it fails. Cutting food into small pieces is recommended over biting directly into items like whole apples or carrots, which exert excessive leverage on the front brackets.
Harmful oral habits are another significant contributor to breakage that patients can control. Repetitively chewing on non-food items, such as pens, pencils, or fingernails, applies unnecessary pressure to the brackets and wires. This localized stress can lead to component fatigue and failure. Fidgeting with the braces using the tongue or fingers can also inadvertently dislodge a bracket or bend a wire.
Physical trauma from sports activities poses a threat to the integrity of the braces and oral health. Any direct impact to the mouth without protection can cause severe damage, including broken brackets, wires, and lacerations of the cheeks and lips. Orthodontists recommend wearing a custom-fitted mouthguard during any contact or high-impact sport to absorb the force of a blow. Neglecting proper oral hygiene can also indirectly lead to failure by allowing plaque buildup to compromise the adhesive bond.
Immediate Action Steps When Damage Occurs
If a bracket or wire breaks, contact the orthodontic office immediately to report the damage. Even minor damage can halt treatment progress or move teeth in an undesirable direction. The office staff will determine if an emergency appointment is necessary or if the repair can wait until the next scheduled visit.
For patient comfort, a loose bracket still attached to the wire can be gently repositioned and stabilized with a small piece of orthodontic wax. If a wire is protruding and irritating the cheek, push the wire flat against the tooth using a cotton swab or pencil eraser. If the wire cannot be tucked away, covering the sharp end with wax will provide a barrier to prevent cuts and sores.
Never attempt to fully remove a loose component or clip a wire unless specifically instructed by the orthodontist. Clipping a wire incorrectly creates a safety risk, as a small piece could be swallowed. For immediate pain relief from sore spots, rinsing the mouth with warm salt water can help soothe irritation and promote healing. Following these steps ensures patient safety and minimizes treatment delays until a professional repair is performed.