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What to Do if Wire is Poking Your Mouth Philadelphia, PA
Mouth Pain Philadelphia PA

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.

Posted on behalf of Broad Street Braces

1819 S Broad St
Philadelphia, PA , 19148

Phone: (215) 234-3030

Email:

Mon – 8am to 5pm
Tue – 8am to 5pm
Wed – 8am to 5pm
Thu – 8am to 5pm
Fri – 8am to 1pm

Our Patient Reviews

Broad Street Braces

5.0 / 5.0

Based on 387 reviews

Felicia W

Excellent staff, excellent service with trusty expertise. It was overall a great experience for my son and myself. We are highly satisfied with all the services performed today.

Alisa O

I am pleased with this Orthodontist location because they are very prompt with appointments. It's never a long wait. The staff is kind and willing to fix misunderstandings quickly. They actually play relaxing music in the office. My favorite staff member is Trinh because she answers questions gracefully. Trinh always greets me with a smile. Glad I chose this dental office.

Phuong H

Really nice office. Very clean and modern. Everyone is friendly, especially Trinh. She is great. Love taking my son here.

Refie H

The staff is really friendly, very satisfied with the service. The place is cozy, and also clean, seriously I recommend it to anyone who wanted to have the braces on

Kevin A

My mom received THE BEST service here. Consultations & visits were a breeze & the staff was always so kind. Their bilingual employee, Sara, was very helpful because my mom only speaks Spanish.

Hung C

This is my son’s first time here. This Office is very nice and very professional. Great service. Mrs. Trinh did an excellent job helping us translate Vietnamese. She is really nice and did a great job! Thank you so much!

Angela D

Great experience!! welcoming and good at what they do. Ask for amanda- she's the best!

Thang N

Many friends told me that Trinh always does a great job and I am very lucky today to have her put my braces on! They look great. I am looking forward to coming back for my second appoinment. The treatment coordinator, Rachel is very friendly and welcoming. She is awesome. I would recommend anyone who is interested in braces to come to Broad Street Braces. You would love Dr. Neil!