Caring For Your Braces

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