A bracket comes loose halfway through lunch at Lino’s, a wire starts poking right before a Rockford Rivets game, and suddenly your braces are demanding attention. Luckily, Dr. Gary Sexson II and the team at Sexson Orthodontics have seen it all and know how to keep little hiccups from turning into big headaches. From runaway elastics to missing retainers, there’s usually a quick fix you can handle from home until your next visit. Let’s start with one of the most common braces moments Rockford patients run into: a loose bracket.
Loose Brackets
You’re enjoying dinner or snacking on something chewy during movie night when you feel that tiny click: a bracket has come loose. It’s one of the most common braces issues and usually happens when something sticky, hard, or crunchy sneaks into the mix.
Don’t try to push or twist the bracket back into place. Instead, dry the area gently and place a bit of orthodontic wax over the bracket to keep it steady until your next visit to Sexson Orthodontics. If it completely comes off, store it in a small container and bring it with you. Dr. Gary Sexson II can easily reattach it during a quick appointment at the Rockford office.
Once a loose bracket is fixed, the next thing to watch for is a wire that starts to poke or bend.
Poking or Bent Wires
With the bracket back in place, it’s worth keeping an eye on another common issue that can sneak up fast: a poking wire. You might notice it while talking, brushing, or grabbing a quick bite after school at Rockford Christian School.
As teeth shift, the archwire guiding them can slide slightly, leaving an end that irritates the cheek or gums. To handle it, use a clean cotton swab or pencil eraser to gently nudge the wire back toward the bracket. If that doesn’t help, cover the area with a small piece of orthodontic wax for comfort until you get it checked out. Avoid trimming the wire on your own. It’s an easy fix once Dr. Gary Sexson II takes a look.
After a poking wire, the next most common culprit often comes from the tiniest piece of your braces: those stretchy elastics.
Lost or Broken Elastics
Those tiny elastics might look small, but they do some serious work behind the scenes. They help your braces move teeth in the right direction, and when one breaks or disappears, progress can stall.
Here’s how to handle it:
- Keep extras on hand. Always carry a spare pack in your bag or locker if Dr. Gary Sexson II has you wearing elastics regularly.
- Replace them quickly. If one snaps during lunch at Guilford High School or a snack stop near Perryville Road, switch it out as soon as possible.
- When in doubt, skip it. If you forget which hooks to use, leave the elastics off and call Sexson Orthodontics before guessing.
- Check for patterns. If elastics keep breaking, mention it at your next appointment, and the team will see if a small adjustment can help.
After elastics, another part of your braces sometimes decides to loosen up: the metal bands and attachments that keep everything secure.
Loose Bands or Attachments
Every so often, a band or attachment decides to loosen up, usually after biting into something that’s just a little too tough. You might notice it feels wobbly or that your bite suddenly feels different.
If this happens, avoid tugging or twisting the piece, as that can make it harder to fix. Instead, leave it alone and call Sexson Orthodontics to schedule a quick repair. The Rockford office is conveniently located just off East State Street and North Perryville Road, close to Lowe’s and Chick-fil-A, making it easy to stop in between errands or on the way to school. Dr. Gary Sexson II will check that everything is secure and make sure your treatment stays on track.
Once that’s handled, let’s move on to a braces issue that nearly every patient experiences after an adjustment: mild soreness.
Soreness After Adjustments
After an adjustment, your teeth might feel a little tender as they settle into new positions. It’s a normal part of treatment and usually fades within a few days. Soft foods like mac and cheese, yogurt, or a smoothie from Meg’s Daily Grind can help make eating easier.
You can also rinse with warm salt water or apply a small piece of wax if any bracket edges feel rough. Give your mouth time to adjust before diving back into crunchier snacks. If the soreness lingers longer than expected, Dr. Gary Sexson II and the team at Sexson Orthodontics can take a look to make sure everything’s moving smoothly.
Now that soreness has passed, let’s wrap up with a few of the other common braces issues that can appear during treatment.
Common Braces Issues
Even when you’re careful, small issues can still show up from time to time. Luckily, most are quick to fix, and with a little help from Dr. Gary Sexson II and the team at Sexson Orthodontics, they’re nothing to stress over!
Here are a few you might run into:
- Food getting stuck: Check after meals at Beef-A-Roo or your favorite Rockford lunch spot, and keep floss threaders or a travel brush handy.
- Brushing challenges: Take your time, use small circles, and add a fluoride rinse for extra protection.
- Missing ligatures: If one pops off, don’t try to replace it yourself. Just call the Sexson Orthodontics office for a quick fix.
- Mouth irritation: Wax can smooth rough spots from new brackets while your mouth adjusts.
- Lost retainers: Give the office a quick call before teeth start shifting out of place.
Every minor fix builds confidence, and by the time your braces come off, you’ll know you had Rockford’s best team in your corner every step of the way.
When Braces Throw a Curveball
Braces can test your patience, but Rockford families know Dr. Gary Sexson II and Sexson Orthodontics turn every challenge into progress. Their mix of modern tools, flexible scheduling, and genuine care makes treatment feel easy to keep up with, even on your busiest days! Book your free consultation today and experience what hometown orthodontic care feels like when every detail works in your favor!