Breaking a bracket on braces is relatively common but not very easy if proper care is taken. Brackets are very strong and are bonded to teeth with a special adhesive designed to hold firmly while still being removable. However, brackets can break or come off if exposed to excessive pressure like biting into hard foods (nuts, hard candies), chewing sticky foods (caramel, taffy), accidental trauma (sports injuries or hits to the mouth), or poor oral hygiene that weakens the bond. Sometimes, brackets may loosen due to wear and tear or uneven pressure during teeth movement. People often break brackets by biting hard or chewy foods or getting hit in the mouth. But the glue or bond is not worn away by touching with the tongue, and normal gentle brushing does not usually cause breakage. Most orthodontic patients experience at least one broken bracket during treatment, but breaking brackets can be minimized by avoiding hard or sticky foods and protecting the mouth during physical activities. Broken brackets should be repaired promptly to avoid disruption in treatment.
In summary, breaking a bracket is not extremely easy, but it is a common risk if care is not taken, especially regarding food and accidental trauma.
