Self ligating brackets - can't be opened

[WiredJon]

I've been undergoing orthodontic treatment for a long time now - 4 years so far - and one big problem I'm facing is that the mechanism to open and close the brackets has become jammed up with limestone (or whatever forms on them over time); this makes trips to the orthodontist pretty unpleasant, because he then has to push and pull on the brackets to get them open.

It's now been nearly a year since any of the bottom brackets were opened (the reason being that I've had both an upper jaw expansion, and double jaw surgery) and I'm pretty anxious that now the surgery is over, it's time for him to start changing wires, and he won't be able to open some of the brackets.

Has anyone else had this problem? Is there anything I can do to descale the brackets, but not cause damage to my mouth and teeth at the same time? I've tried rubbing lemon juice on them in the past, but I'm not sure that it was very effective.

Thanks for any help!

[sandiego88]

I have this problem every time that I've gone in for my last 3 adjustments, so maybe like half my time in braces (1 year, 1 month so far). I asked the assistants if there was anything I could do (two different ones) and they both said no. That said, they can change tools, I think there's different sizes? Every time it gets stuck they usually go grab a different tool. Also, I find that if they can't get one they'll skip it and come back. One of the three times the assistant didn't get a new tool and just kept trying to open the same bracket. I seriously thought my tooth was going to fall out. That was my first time so I had no clue what was going on.

If the assistant can't get it, my ortho gets them and he's much gentler than any of them!