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 What can you eat? Let's talk about what you
shouldn't eat! If you've been wanting to drop a few pounds, the
first week wearing braces is just your chance! For the first
day or so, stick to soft foods. Avoid tough meats, hard breads,
and raw vegetables. Before long, you'll be able to bite a
cucumber again. But you'll need to protect your orthodontic
appliances when you eat for as long as you're wearing braces.
- Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
- Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
- Sticky foods: caramels, gum
- Hard foods: nuts, candy
- Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots
- Chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails)
can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment
to take longer.
When you get your braces on, you may feel
general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting
pressures for three to five days. This can be relieved by rinsing
your mouth with a warm salt water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful
of salt in 8 ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously.
If the tenderness is severe, take aspirin or whatever you
normally take for headache or similar pain. The lips, cheeks
and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks
as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the
braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We'll
show you how!
This is to be expected throughout treatment. Don't worry!
It's normal. Teeth must loosen first so they can be moved.
The teeth will again become rigidly fixed in their new – corrected – positions.
To successfully complete the treatment plan, the patient
must work together with the orthodontist. The teeth and
jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if
the patient consistently wears the rubber bands, headgear
or other appliances as prescribed. Damaged appliances lengthen
the treatment time.
It's more important than ever to brush and floss regularly
when you have braces, so the teeth and gums are healthy
after orthodontic treatment. Patients who do not keep their
teeth clean may require more frequent visits to the dentist
for a professional cleaning. Adults who have a history
of gum disease should also see a periodontist during orthodontic
treatment.
- Wear your retainers full time, until the doctor instructs otherwise.
- Take your retainers out when eating... and always put retainers in their
case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.)
- Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste.
Use warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque, and eliminates
odors. Efferdent or other orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used, but
do not take the place of brushing.
- When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer
case. Pets love to chew on them!
- Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading,
or singing out loud to get used to them faster.
- Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost
or broken call us immediately.
- If you have any questions or concerns about your retainers, or your retainers
need adjusting, call us. Do not try to adjust them yourself.
- Always bring your retainers to your appointments.
- Retainer replacement is expensive... with proper care they will last for
years!
- Remove retainers when swimming.
- Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing
machine, and napkins.
- Wear your expander all the time. That means all day, during meals, and
while sleeping.
- Remove your expander only to brush your teeth. Brush your expander at least
twice a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste.
- Turn your expansion screws as instructed. Insert the key into the hole
and turn toward the arrow.
- If you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment, stop turning the
expander.
If you play sports, it's important that you consult us for special precautions.
A protective mouthguard is advised for playing contact sports. In case of
any accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately.
If teeth are loosened or the appliances damaged, phone at once for an appointment.
In the meantime, treat your discomfort as you would treat any general soreness.
Don't be alarmed if a wire or band comes loose. This happens occasionally.
If wire protrudes and is irritating, use a blunt instrument (back of
spoon or the eraser end of a pencil) and carefully, gently push the irritating
wire under the archwire. Simply get it out of the way. If irritation
to the lips or mouth continues, place wax or wet cotton on the wire to reduce
the annoyance. Call our office as soon as possible for an appointment
to check and repair the appliances. If any piece comes off, save it and bring
it with you to the office.
As a general rule, an emergency appointment may be made when there
is severe pain, a loose band, a broken wire or something sticking
out that you can't take care of. It's important to know the names of the
parts of your appliances. It will help, when you phone the office,
to be able to identify what part is broken or out of place.
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