HOW TO SOLVE SOME COMMON BRACES RELATED ISSUES Patients take care of most braces issues on their own. Only the most severe emergencies need immediate attention by an orthodontist. The following orthodontic issues & their treatments are listed in the order of the least severe to the most severe. Loose Rubber Band: Small rubber bands or fine wires also recognized as ties or ligatures, grip the wire to the brace. If the rubber band comes out, you can put it back in place employing sterilized tweezers. If a ligature comes loose, just take off it with sterilized tweezers. If the wire tie is sticking into your lip, it may be bent back down with a pencil eraser to eradicate the swelling. Missing or broken ligatures should be brought to the attention of the patient’s parent/guardian, who should then inform the orthodontist.