Photo provided by oralb.com Even though you are careful, you may occasionally damage your appliances . We want our patients to be informed of problems that may occur, and understand how to solve them, at least temporarily, until it is possible to return to our office .   You can temporarily fix the loose wire by using the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil to carefully and gently push the wire back into place. If the loose wire is causing irritation to your lips or cheeks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over the broken wire to relieve the pain. If a band or bracket comes loose from the tooth, call our office for an appointment .  While a tight band or bracket actually protects a tooth from decay, a loose band or bracket is extremely dangerous and decay can occur under it very rapidly. If the band or bracket is still attached to a wire, leave it in place and apply wax if there is discomfort. If the band or bracket comes completely out, place it in an envelope