CARE GUIDELINES
Care and Cleaning of Teeth
- Dry brush to remove visible plaque.
- Then floss (once daily).
- Use fluoride at night.
Important! Plaque takes 24 hours to form. It is bacterial and acidic and will cause white spots on teeth (enamel scars). Fluoride will help prevent enamel scarring and can reverse discoloration of scarred teeth after treatment. SEE YOUR DENTIST THREE TIMES PER YEAR FOR CLEANINGS!
Care of Brackets and Bands
Those of us who wear braces will need to re-train our eating habits. Brackets are not made to withstand the stress of biting into anything. If foods are bitten into, brackets are pulled away from the teeth, causing breakage. If brackets are consistently broken, your braces will need to be worn longer than the estimated treatment time.
Below is a list of foods that we would normally bite into. These now need to be broken apart or cut into smaller pieces and chewed with your back teeth:
| • Pizza |
• Hot dogs |
• Hamburgers |
| • Sandwiches |
• Potato chips |
• Pretzels |
| • Ribs |
• Fruit |
• Chicken |
| • Pork Chops |
• Tacos |
• Cookies |
*No chewing on pencils, pens or your fingernails.*
Foods to Avoid Completely
Anything hard, crunchy, sticky or chewy
| • Caramels |
• Taffies |
• Any Hard Candy |
| • Nuts |
• Bubble Gum |
• Hard Corn Chips |
| • Cheetos |
• Popcorn |
• Snickers Bar |
| • Butterfinger |
• Now or Laters |
• Jolly Ranchers |
*No Ice Chewing!!! (This not only causes breakage, it wears the enamel on your teeth away and can cause TMJ discomfort).
Fresh vegetables should be cut into very small pieces or steamed.
Emergency Care
- Loose Band or Bracket: If band or bracket is still attached to wire, leave in place. If any discomfort, you place wax on it. If it comes out completely, wrap brace or bracket in an envelope or plastic “baggie” and bring it to us at your next appointment.
- Loose Wire: Try to place wire back in place with tweezers. If that is not possible, clip wire with fingernail clippers behind last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If any discomfort, you place wax on it.
- Poking Wire: Try to push sticking wire down with a spoon or eraser. If not possible, you place wax on it.
- Lost Tie Wire or Elastic Tie: Notify us at next appointment.
- Soreness: Use warm salt-water rinses and/or Tylenol or ibuprofen.
- Loose Appliance: See “Loose Band or Bracket” above.
*Call if you have a problem – we are available Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Appointments
- If you have stayed home from school or work due to being sick, please call our office to reschedule. This will keep our staff and other patients healthy.
- We schedule routine appointments alternately during the school year. One month, we will need to schedule your appointment before the 3 p.m. hour. The next month, we will schedule after 3 p.m. You should not miss more than three or four times a year due to orthodontic appointments. Please ask for a school/work excuse before leaving the office.
- Special appointments requiring extra time will be scheduled before 3 p.m.
Length of Treatment
- The estimated length of treatment is based on good cooperation and minimum breakage.
- Each patient has control of the length of time they will need to be in braces.
- Consistent breakage extends treatment time.
