What to Do if Wire is Poking Your Mouth

Orthodontic treatment is just a normal part of adolescence for most teens. It is not the most enjoyable thing to go through, but the results are well worth it. One of the most common complaints that orthodontic wearers complain about is a wire poking them in the back of the mouth. This common occurrence with metal braces is not life-threatening, nor will it undermine your orthodontic treatment, but it can be very bothersome. It is important that you contact your orthodontist as soon as your discomfort begins so that your wire can be clipped, and you can feel better.

Most of the time, the wire will poke out in the back of the mouth when the teeth come together. Following an orthodontic adjustment, a new wire is typically put in place. It will be tightened to bring the teeth into the desired position. As the teeth move closer together, the wire will become longer than the span of the teeth. Most orthodontists can see you right away to clip this wire because it takes only seconds to fix, so call your orthodontist – don’t try to suffer through it.

Of course, as we all know, most things like this happen at inconvenient times. If your wire or your child’s wire pokes through on a Friday afternoon and your orthodontist is closed for the weekend, here is how to handle an uncomfortable wire until the office opens.

Pull Out Your Orthodontic Wax

You should always have orthodontic wax on hand throughout your orthodontic treatment. Clean your hands, and clean the area where you need to apply the wax. Take a small amount of wax (about the size of a green pea), and roll it into a ball. Place the wax over the area where the wire is poking you. Try to minimize the amount of movement in the area to keep the wax in place, and don’t forget to remove the wax before eating and brushing.

You do not want to reuse orthodontic wax, so once you remove it for eating or brushing, you will need to get a new amount of wax to put back in your mouth.

Orthodontic wax will provide a temporary solution to the wire poking you in the mouth. Contact Broad Street Braces if your wire is bothering you, and we will help correct the issue as quickly as possible.