Dental Health Orthodontics What to Do About Loose Braces By Shawn Watson Updated on March 09, 2024 Medically reviewed by Edmund Khoo, DDS Fact checked by Nick Blackmer Print Loose braces may be handled in a variety of ways depending on the situation at hand. If your braces have become loose, you need not worry, because dealing with a loose bracket is easier than you might think. Juanmonino / E+ / Getty Images When Braces Are Loose Your braces can become loose for a number of reasons, including eating the wrong food. The most common reasons are: Bad habits such as biting your fingernails, nibbling on pens and pencils, or chewing iceA poor bond between the tooth and the bracketA change in bite due to the constant movement of the teethInjury or trauma to the mouth Relieving Your Child's Fear of Braces What You Should Do If one or more of your braces have become loose, call your orthodontist or dentist right away. If you are due for an archwire change within a few days of the bracket becoming loose, your orthodontist may suggest you wait until your scheduled appointment. If your next appointment isn’t for a few weeks, you may be instructed to book an earlier appointment to have the braces re-cemented onto your teeth. Either way, the office should be informed, so they are able to prepare in advance for the extra time required for this type of appointment. Loose pieces can be a choking hazard. If a piece is at risk for dislodging, contact your orthodontist for guidance about removing it. The bracket is essentially “floating” on the wire when it has become loose, which may cause it to slide into a position where it causes some discomfort. If the bracket is rubbing on the gum, place a piece of the orthodontic wax over the bracket as needed. If you don’t have any wax, use a piece of sugar-free gum instead. If the small rubber band that surrounds the bracket has also come off, you will want to contact your orthodontist to re-secure it. The Risks Having your braces become loose may set your treatment back by months. The teeth will need to play “catch-up” with the other teeth around them. Promptly taking care of an orthodontic emergency, such as having loose braces, will ensure that your orthodontic treatment continues to stay on track. Why You Need an Orthodontist and Braces 1 Source Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Dental Association. What (and how) to eat when you're having dental issues. By Shawn Watson Shawn Watson is an orthodontic dental assistant and writer with over 10 years of experience working in the field of dentistry. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit