What happens if you swallow a braces bracket?
The small metal squares attached to the teeth while putting metal braces are called orthodontic brackets. The brackets are obligated to control teeth movement. The metal fittings should not be removed until the teeth-straightening procedure is finished since the archwire of a brace passes through them. You would be aware of this if you already wore metal braces.
On rare occasions, some brace wearers swallow the metal brackets accidentally. Even though it is uncommon, it occurs. We have seen some patients who were frightened severely after gulping the orthodontic brackets mistakenly.
Fortunately, it is not bothersome as many people think. Our dentists have written this blog post to reveal what will happen once the metal square falls into our stomachs.
How does a brace wearer swallow the brackets?
No one would intentionally consume the parts of an orthodontic brace. It happens mistakenly at times, particularly while repairing the teeth straightening appliance by the wearers on their own.
Over time, the brackets attached over the teeth surfaces become loose. Orthodontists must consider many factors while tightening such loose brackets, or the treatment will backfire. Accurately gulping of brackets will likely occur if brace wearers attempt to tighten the brackets themselves.
It is because poor craftsmanship in adjusting an orthodontic bracket will knock it completely. On the other hand, chewing on hard foods tends to pull the bracket out of the brace. In such cases, the small metal object enters the stomach while swallowing saliva.
To say a long story short, when you indulge in an activity that can dislodge the cemented bracket. It starts to travel with the saliva you swallow and makes its way to the stomach.
What will happen if you swallow a bracket?
Despite seeming like a mishap, swallowing orthodontic brackets does not lead to major problems in most cases. It is because the ingested metal brackets would pass naturally. So you don’t have to scare in those circumstances.
As the orthodontic brackets are composed of ceramic and titanium, stomach acids (the digestive system’s acids) have the ability (1.5 to 4 pH) to dissolve the brackets. The fragments that escape from the running flow of flood and acids in the GI tract also will be eliminated through excretion in 1 or 2 days.
In simply, the swallowed orthodontic brackets would exit the body naturally.
Don’t try to take the gulped brackets by vomiting. The brackets are quite sharp so that they would damage any organ on their way to the mouth.
When should you seek a dentist’s help?
Even though swallowing brackets do not have any hazardous effects, you should visit your dentist. It’s because the process of straightening teeth will be hampered without orthodontic brackets.
At times, the ingested brackets get stuck in the lung, causing health problems like troublesome breathing, chest pain, and stomach pain.
Dentists take X-rays to detect where the bracket is lodged in such cases. Treatment options for removing the brackets’ pieces differ depending on their location. Surgery is recommended in rare circumstances, and the surgical procedure is relatively simple.
Bottom line
Metal braces are well-known for more precise teeth movement. As metal braces include so many tiny parts, such as brackets, archwires, bands, O-rings, and separators, they are very easy to swallow. It applies to various dental-related objects, such as temporary crowns, dental fillings, etc.
It is not a dire problem as many people think. Even though it rarely happens, persons who disregard the aftercare guidelines given by orthodontists are more likely to encounter it.
