Home Care

Brushing

You will notice that it is much harder to keep your teeth clean with braces. Food becomes caught in the brackets and between your teeth and can only be removed by brushing and flossing. If plaque remains on the teeth for any length of time, it can leave a permanent white scar on the surface. Brushing after meals should become part of your daily schedule. Use a soft toothbrush and brush at a 45-degree angle to the tooth in small circles above and below the brackets. Your toothbrush will wear out faster because of your appliances, so be sure to replace it whenever the bristles start to fray. Flossing is important with braces and is accomplished using reusable floss threaders. Each of our assistants is well qualified to give you guidance and suggestions in how to maintain the health of your teeth during treatment.

Eating Habits

Please do not eat hard foods, including nuts, ice, crisp taco shells, whole apples and carrots (cut them into pieces first), hard French bread crust and rolls, spare ribs, corn on the cob (cut the corn off the cob before eating) and popcorn! These foods can cause breakage of the brackets and wires. Also beware of nail-biting and pen or pencil chewing habits, since these can damage your braces. Do not eat sticky foods like taffy, caramels, bubble gum or sticky candy of any sort. Use common sense about most foods. Excessive broken appliances due to careless eating or other personal habits, will result in additional length of treatment time.

Braces

Check your braces once a week for anything loose or bent. If a bracket or band comes loose or you break a wire, please call our office so we can arrange an appointment long enough to repair it.

Sore Teeth

After braces are placed in the mouth or when adjustments are made, it is normal for the teeth to be sore for about 2 to 3 days. Ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) will help relieve this discomfort. PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE TAKING ANY MEDICATIONS, PARTICULARLY IF YOU HAVE ANY HISTORY OF ALLERGIC REACTIONS. Some irritation to the cheeks and tongue is normal, but if you feel anything sharp is poking you, please call our office.

Elastics

Attached to your braces, elastics (rubber bands) create the right amount of pressure to move teeth and correct your bite. In order for this force to remain constant, elastics must be worn all the time and changed at least twice every day. Any time missed in wearing your elastics will only prolong your treatment, so make sure to wear them as instructed. Remove them only when brushing your teeth or eating meals. Then put them back on immediately. If you forget to wear your elastics one day, don't double up the next day - just follow your regular instructions.

Phase 1 Retainer Wear (Clear Essix retainer)

Wear your retainer at bedtime only.
Brush your retainers with a toothbrush, toothpaste and cold water.
Never leave retainers lying around or wrapped in a napkin. Always place retainers in their retainer case when they are not in your mouth.
Keep retainers away from heat and hot water.
Keep retainers away from pets and small children.
If retainers are lost, broken, unable to be worn, or do not fit call us immediately! Essix retainers have a 3 day guarantee. If you do not wear them for 3 days they are guaranteed not to fit.
Always bring your retainer to each subsequent appointment after you have received it.

Phase 2 Retainer Wear (Clear Essix retainer or Acrylic Hawley Retainer with a wire)

Wear your retainers 24 hours a day for 3 months, taking them out to eat, brush, swim and play contact sports.
After 3 months, you may wear your retainers at night.
After 3 months of nighttime wear, it is your responsibility to continue retainer wear as needed to keep your teeth straight. Retainer wear is a lifetime commitment.
Never leave retainers lying around or wrapped in a napkin. Always place retainers in their retainer case when they are not in your mouth.
Keep retainers away from heat and hot water.
Keep retainers away from pets and small children.
If retainers are lost, broken, unable to be worn, or do not fit call us immediately! Essix retainers have a 3 day guarantee. If you do not wear them for 3 days they are guaranteed not to fit.
Always bring your retainer to each subsequent appointment after you have received it.

Fixed Retainers (Small gold wire on the backside of the lower 6 front teeth and/or upper 4 front teeth)

These retainers stay fixed in place as long as you want to keep your teeth straight.
Floss around your fixed retainer at least once per day.
If your fixed retainer breaks or comes unglued from the tooth, call us immediately. Although other teeth may still be attached to the retainer, individual teeth may shift if not attached to the fixed retainer.
The fixed retainer is not permanent and may be removed later on in life. However, if you decide to have the fixed retainer removed, another type of retainer will be needed in order to maintain the position of your teeth. Careful consideration of relapse should be taken if you decide to have the fixed retainers removed.

Rapid Palatal Expander/Hyrax

It may take some time to adjust to your new appliance. It is normal to feel some discomfort at first and pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be used if necessary.

PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE TAKING ANY MEDICATIONS, PARTICULARLY IF YOU HAVE ANY HISTORY OF ALLERGIC REACTIONS.

When eating, cut or tear your food into smaller bites and be sure to chew thoroughly.

Caring for your expander is simple! Brush as usual and use the water syringe to flush between the expander and the roof of your mouth at least once per day. Swishing with a mouthwash is highly recommended. Absolutely no chewing gum or other sticky candies, as these items may become stuck in the appliance and cause it to come loose.

You or your parents will be instructed on how and when to turn the expander. It doesn't matter what time of day or night you turn the expander. The key is inserted into the hole and then pushed all the way to the back of the throat. This will bring the next hole into view. It is normal to feel discomfort or tingling in the nasal area every time the expander is turned. This feeling will go away quickly. You may see a space open between your two front teeth. We will close that space later. If you lose your key, please call or stop by to get another one. If you forget how or when to turn, please call our office so that we can go over the instructions with you and, if necessary, show you how to turn the expander again.

Removable Appliances

A removable appliance is carefully designed to move or hold your teeth in place. It should be worn according to instructions and brought to each appointment. Wear your appliance at all times, even while you are asleep. It may be removed while swimming or engaging in vigorous sporting activities. In 2-3 days, your speech will return to normal with the appliance in place. Avoid flipping your appliance with your tongue. This can cause damage to your teeth or breakage of your appliance.

Your new appliance may make your teeth sore for a day or two, especially after an adjustment. If you have a sore spot on your gums, call our office so we can arrange to adjust the appliance. Clean your appliance by brushing it daily with toothpaste. Denture cleaner can also be used for a more thorough cleaning. Never wrap your appliance in a paper napkin or tissue and set it down on the table. You or someone else may throw it away. Do not put it in your pocket when playing, or you may break or lose it. Whenever it is not in your mouth, it should be in its plastic appliance case.

Keep your appliance away from dogs or cats, as they love to chew on them. Avoid storing it near any source of heat. Do not boil your retainer to sterilize it! If needed, bring it to the office, and we will be happy to disinfect it for you. Do not soak your retainer in mouthwash. An additional charge will be incurred for lost or broken appliances. Please bring your retainers to all appointments.