Instructions For Care
DO
- Brush anytime you eat anything.
- Brush 4 times a day to avoid white spots & swollen gums. Clean teeth with healthy gums move faster.
- Cut your apples, carrot, or anything hard into small pieces and chew with your back teeth.
- See your general dentist for regular cleanings and check-ups.
- Follow all instructions carefully, it will shorten your treatment time.
- Floss once a day.
- Get a new toothbrush from us when you need it.
DON'T
- Don’t chew on anything such as pencils ,ice, nuts,…
- Don’t eat sticky candy or foods with high amounts of sugar.
- Don’t drink pop or sugary drinks.
- Don’t ignore problems with your braces, call us.
- Maintain a soft diet for the first few days after receiving the expander
- Avoid hard or sticky foods, like popcorn or caramels, that might dislodge the expander
- Brush thoroughly after meals to keep the expander free of food and plaque
- Call to make an appointment if the expander becomes loose
- Brush retainer with cool water
- Store in the case when you’re not wearing them and keep away from pets
- Bring your retainers with to each appointment
- Call to make an appointment if retainers are lost or broken
- Wear 24 hrs. a day except when eating, swimming or sport activities
- Store in the case when you’re not wearing them
- Soak the appliance in Polident to remove odors and keep clean
- It is common for your mouth to water a lot the first couple of days until your body gets used to having something new in your mouth
- Rinse your mouth several times a day in the beginning with warm salt water to help toughen up tissues and help heal any sores
- Do not open your mouth too wide when yawning or biting into food, rods and tubes can come apart, call if you can’t get them back in
Orthodontic Diet Chart
Foods that cannot be cleaned off the braces may lead to discoloration and decay of your teeth. Even though our braces and wires are metal, they are fragile and are usually damaged by eating the wrong foods, thus taking us longer to finish our treatment.
Absolutely No:
- Gum: Sugarless or otherwise
- Sticky Foods: Caramels, Carameled Apples, Toffee, Now & Laters, Sugar Daddies, Sugar Babies, Tootsie Rolls, Starbursts, Licorice, Gummy Bears
- Hard Foods: Nuts, Apples or Carrots (unless cooked or cut into small pieces), Popcorn, Hard Candy, Corn on the Cob, Doritos, Jerky, Bagels, Pizza Crusts, Hard Pretzels
Minimize Sugar Intake:
- Eat much less: Candy, ice cream, cookies, foods with sugar, cake, pie
- Drink much less: Pop, drinks with sugar
- Avoid chewing: Pens, pencils, fingernails
Problems & Solutions
You may be able to solve many braces problems temporarily by yourself until you schedule a repair appointment with our office. These problems need not cause delay in your treatment.
If the bracket or band is still attached to wire, leave it in place. If uncomfortable, cover with wax. If it comes out completely, wrap brace or bracket in tissue and bring it with you to the next appointment. Call for an appointment.
DO NOT connect headgear or elastics to a loose band.
Please call to ask if an appointment is necessary. Notify the assistant at your next appointment.
Try to place wire back in place with tweezers. If that is not possible, clip wire with fingernail clippers behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If any discomfort, place wax on it.
Try to slide wire back around to the other side. If unsuccessful, place wax on wire and call for an appointment.
Try to bend wire back with a spoon or pencil eraser. If unsuccessful, cover with wax and call for an appointment.
Cover with wax or wet cotton. Call for an appointment.
Rinse mouth with warm salt water. If necessary, take the pain reliever that you would use for a headache or similar discomfort.
Sometimes caused by not wearing as prescribed. If facebow is bent, call office at once.
Call your dentist or orthodontist immediately.
Brushing & Flossing
with Braces
- Brush 4 times a day; morning, noon, dinner & bedtime.
- Brush under, above, behind and around ALL surfaces of the teeth AND braces
- Brush inside and outside of both top and bottom gums
- Rinse mouth thoroughly after brushing
- Use a soft toothbrush
- Brush slowly
- Take your time!
- See your dentist regularly while you wear braces.
Detailed Instructions
Start brushing on the upper right. Brush above and below the braces using a small circular motion. Slowly work your brush toward the front teeth and over to the left side. Then brush the insides and biting surfaces. Take your time!
Brush the outside of the lower teeth. Using the circular brushing motion, brush above and below the braces until the teeth and braces are sparkling clean. Move the brush slowly toward the front and left side. Then brush the insides and tops of teeth.
flossing
Gently clean sides of teeth and under gums with and up-and-down motion. Floss between all teeth once a day.
The Impact After Braces
Embark on your journey to a beautiful, confident smile with Bemidji Orthodontics. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!