During orthodontic treatment, it is essential that you properly take care of your braces. Following the guidelines below can help you handle your braces with care.
Benefits of Braces
Improved Appearance
The most visible benefit of undergoing orthodontic treatment is the improved appearance and self-esteem that comes from a straight, beautiful smile! It is commonly observed and reported that improved appearance can help a person’s academic, professional and personal success, and that one of the most significant factors of appearance is a wide, bright smile.
Having a beautiful smile can help a patient look and feel better about themselves, which can have a significant impact on every aspect of their life. Orthodontics is clearly worth the cost and time when considering what benefits are available, which can explain orthodontics’ increased popularity over the last few decades.
Better Oral Health
Straight teeth aren’t just more attractive – they’re also easier to clean. Teeth in proper alignment offer little to no room for food particles to become trapped and turn into enamel-degrading plaque and caries.
Also, severe orthodontic cases can make certain teeth more vulnerable to injury. Improper tooth alignment can also lead to gum and soft tissue recession, contributing to periodontal disease.
Proper Oral Function
Orthodontics is one of the most comprehensive – and non-invasive – options for treating jaw discrepancy problems. Since we depend on food to survive, jaw muscles and joints will often adapt to bad teeth positioning in order to maximize chewing effectiveness, even if it means putting those joints into a position that can cause damage over time. Thus, having teeth that are properly aligned can restore jaws to their proper position, offering benefits for such far-ranging symptoms as jaw popping, jaw and chewing pain, migraines and sleep disorders such as sleep apnea.
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Before Leaving our Office
To minimize discomfort and eliminate any future problems or confusion, make sure to follow these steps before leaving our office with your new braces.
- Move your teeth around to check for all wires that may be poking you.
- Make sure you have listened to and understood your doctor’s instructions about what steps to follow until your next scheduled appointment.
- Make sure you have proper cleaning aids.
- Make sure you have enough dental wax; you will need it!
- Make sure you have rubber bands if your doctor told you to wear them.
- Schedule your follow-up appointment! Appointment times fill up quickly! Don’t delay your treatment by not scheduling your next appointment!
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Oral Hygiene with Braces
Brushing
You should brush at least twice a day; in the morning and at night. Poor brushing can cause cavities and permanent white marks on your teeth. Brush thoroughly; be sure to brush your tongue, gums and all chewing surfaces. After brushing each night, rinse with a fluoride mouthwash. Your toothbrush should be replaced at each appointment.
Flossing
Flossing is necessary for cleaning areas between the teeth that can’t be reached while brushing. Use dental floss each night to remove plaque and food particles. Use a reusable floss threader each day to floss under the archwire.
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Foods to Avoid
For most situations, common sense will tell you what to avoid. Hard foods, sticky foods and foods high in sugar must be avoided. Hard foods can break or damage wires and brackets. Sticky foods can get caught between brackets and wires. Minimize sugary foods; they cause tooth decay and related problems. Nail biting, pencil and pen chewing and chewing on foreign objects should be avoided.
Examples of Hard Foods to Avoid:
- Suckers
- Frozen candy bars
- Kettle chips
- Nuts
- Doritos
- Ice cubes
- Peanut brittle
- Beef jerky
- Hard pizza crusts
- Hard candies
Examples of Sticky Foods to Avoid:
- Laffy Taffy
- Caramels
- Tootsie Rolls
- Sugar Daddies
- Milk Duds
- Starbursts
- Licorice
- Jolly Ranchers
- Caramel Apples
- Gummy Worms
*Cut apples, celery, carrots, etc. into bite-sized pieces.
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Emergency Info
The guidelines below can help you handle common problems associated with braces. True orthodontic emergencies are rare. However, if you have an emergency, feel free to call our office. On evenings or weekends, please call the number listed on our answering machine for assistance.
- Loose Bands or Brackets – Loose bands or brackets may not be a problem, but call our office as soon as possible so we can schedule an appointment for you.
- Loose Teeth – If you notice your teeth are a little loose, don’t panic! This is normal. In order to move your teeth into the proper positions, braces must first loosen your teeth.
- Lost Separator (s) – It is common to lose a separator during treatment. However, please call us to see if it needs to be replaced.
- Poking Wire – Poking can occur due to the shifting and bending of the wires. Bending the wire using the eraser of a pencil or covering the area with wax can ease discomfort. Call us if the problem continues.
- Mouth Sores – To relieve discomfort, apply Zilactin-B to the area. You can also use wax to protect the area. Rinsing with warm salt water can further alleviate discomfort.
Broken/loose brackets or bands, missed appointments, poor use of rubber wands, and improper oral hygiene can prolong your treatment.
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Playing Sports with Braces
Great news for athletes! You can continue to play sports during orthodontic treatment. However, we recommend you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and appliances. If you have an emergency during a sport activity, examine your mouth and appliance immediately to see if any damage has occurred. If your teeth feel loose or your appliance is damaged, call us immediately. Wax or a salt water rinse can temporarily relieve discomfort.
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Playing Instruments with Braces
Yes, you can still play your instrument during orthodontic treatment. Comfort covers can ease discomfort. We provide these for a small fee.
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
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