Care To Be Taken DURING Orthodontic Treatment

a. Eating with Braces

For the first day or so, stick to soft foods. There are certain foods that can loosen, break, or bend wires and bands when you are wearing braces. Avoid hard foods such as nuts and hard biscuits. Foods such as apples and carrots should be grated or chopped into small pieces before eating to reduce the stress on your braces. Avoid sticky foods such as caramels, toffees, muesli, or fruit bars. No chewing gum!

b. Brushing and Flossing

It’s more important than ever to brush and floss regularly when you have braces, so the teeth and gums are healthy after orthodontic treatment. Patients who do not keep their teeth clean may require more frequent visits to the dentist for a professional cleaning.

Adults who have a history of gum disease should get periodic cleaning done during orthodontic treatment.
Prepare to brush. Take off elastics and any other removable parts of your orthodontic appliance.

Clean your braces. Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle to clean around the wires and pins of your braces. Brush from the top of each wire down to the bottom. Take your time to ensure that all plaque and debris are removed and that you work around your upper and lower teeth.

Brush your teeth. Clean each tooth individually. First, place your brush at a 45-degree angle on the gum line, then apply gentle pressure as you move in a circular motion. Do this for about 10 seconds. Use the same brushing action on all outer and inner tooth surfaces, tilting the brush as needed to better reach the insides of smaller front teeth.

Floss once a day. Have your dental professional show you the best way to floss, or follow the instructions on the product package. You may also want to use a flossing product designed for braces and orthodontic work, like a floss threader.

Rinse and check your teeth. Rinse thoroughly with water or mouth rinse, and examine your teeth and braces in the mirror.

c. General Soreness

When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for several days. Drinking cold water may help since the special arch wires are activated by heat. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers, such as Crocin or Comb flam, can also reduce the discomfort.

The lips, cheeks, and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this irritation.

If you develop ulcers a soothing lotion like Dologel or Mucopain can reduce the pain and burning sensation.

d. Loose Wire or Bands

Don’t be alarmed if a wire or band comes loose. This happens occasionally. If the wire protrudes and is irritating, use a blunt instrument (the eraser end of a pencil) and carefully, gently push the irritating wire under the main arch wire. Simply get it out of the way. If irritation to the lips or mouth continues, place wax or wet cotton on the wire to reduce the annoyance. Call our office as soon as possible for an appointment to check and repair the appliances. If any piece comes off, save it and bring it with you to the office.

e. Loosening of Teeth

This is to be expected throughout treatment. Don’t worry! It’s normal. Teeth must loosen first so they can be moved. The teeth will again become rigidly fixed in their new corrected positions.

f. Care of Appliance

To complete the treatment plan, the patient must work together with the orthodontist. The teeth and jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if the patient consistently wears the rubber bands, headgear, or other appliances as prescribed.

Habits such as nail biting, unnatural tongue thrusting, pencil chewing, and nervous picking at your wires can also break braces. Be aware of these and make an effort to stop them.

Remember that damaged braces mean extra appointments, inconvenience, and extended treatment time. If you do break your braces, be sure to make an appointment with your Orthodontist immediately. Broken braces are not correcting your teeth!

g. Maintain Appointments Regularly

Frequently damaged appliances and changing or cancelling appointments can lessen the treatment time and increase the cost. If you play sports, you must take special precautions. In case of an accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances are damaged, notify us immediately. In the meantime, treat your discomfort as you would treat any general soreness.

h. Removable Expander Instructions

• Wear your expander all the time. That means all day, during meals, and while sleeping.
• Remove your expander only to brush your teeth. Brush your expander at least twice a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste.

i. Fixed Expander Instructions

• Turn your expansion screws as instructed. Insert the key into the hole and turn toward the arrow.
• If you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment, stop turning the expander.

j. Athletics

If you play sports, you must consult us for special precautions. A protective mouthguard is advised for playing contact sports. In case of any accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances are damaged, phone at once for an appointment. In the meantime, treat your discomfort as you would treat any general soreness.

k. Emergency Care

As a general rule, an emergency appointment may be made when there is severe pain, a loose band, a broken wire, or something sticking out that you can’t take care of. It’s important to know the names of the parts of your appliances. It will help, when you phone the office, to be able to identify what part is broken or out of place.