Keep in mind that a change in the way you look does not change the person you really are. While eating and pronouncing certain words may be difficult at first, most patients are able to adapt in a few weeks. Remembering this will help you to:
Deal With Any Negative Comments. Your friends will be very kind and supportive. The usual "wise guys" may tease you, but remember your orthodontic care will give you a beautiful smile for a lifetime.
Develop A Positive Attitude. You are working toward a worthwhile goal. Don't become discouraged. Keeping a strong positive attitude will help you overcome any difficulties along the way.
Remember To Help Yourself! Keep all scheduled appointments with Dr. White. Broken appointments can delay progress toward your goal of a beautiful smile. Follow all instructions carefully. Not wearing appliances can also hinder your progress. Cooperation is one of the keys to success!
BRIGHT SMILES DURING ORTHODONTICS The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that all individuals with orthodontic appliances are at high risk for developing cavities. Statistics have shown that up to 50% of orthodontic patients experience decalcification (permanent white markings) around one or more braces during their treatment. Our goal is a beautiful smile, as well as, healthy teeth and gums. There is nothing more discouraging for an orthodontic patient, than having the braces removed only to discover unsightly white “scars” on their teeth. But there is hope! Eventhough cleaning with braces is more difficult, our experience has shown that patients who maintain good oral hygiene throughout their orthodontic treatment and restrict their intake of dietary sugars and carbonated beverages do not develop decalcification or cavities. In fact, many of our patients continue these good oral hygiene habits long after the braces are removed.
In an effort to help our patients develop good oral hygiene habits and protect their teeth and gums, we have designed a unique and highly effective oral hygiene program. On the day that the appliances are placed, patients are given a “Brace Care” kit and are instructed in the proper care and cleaning of their braces. As a follow-up, a special orthodontic oral hygiene class is scheduled within 1 to 2 weeks. This mandatory class is designed to review each patient’s oral hygiene effectiveness and to offer individualized instruction to further improve their techniques. Also, we will “paint” the teeth with a super-concentrated fluoride varnish, which is the strongest fluoride treatment available. The fluoride varnish will be re-applied at 4-6 month intervals and the cost for these treatments is included in the orthodontic fee. For added protection, all of the cements that we use also contain a special fluoride-releasing formula.
In addition, we ask that each of our patients use a prescription strength fluoride gel (Omni Gel) or rinse (Perio Med) that not only protects the teeth from decay, but will also kill the bacteria that causes inflammation and puffy gums. For your convenience, these medications are available in our office or they may be purchased at a local pharmacy. Finally, we cannot over emphasize the importance of effective home-care. Each patient must thoroughly brush their teeth and gums twice daily and floss everyday. For our younger patients, we encourage parents to carefully supervise their children’s home-care.
Successful orthodontic treatment is a team effort between the orthodontist, the patient and their dentist. Because proper oral hygiene is more difficult to maintain with braces, periodic dental check-ups and cleanings are essential and should continue during orthodontics. With our unique oral hygiene program and fluoride-containing medications, combined with daily, effective home-care, our patients will achieve a beautiful and healthy smile that will last a lifetime.
EATING WITH BRACES For most situations, common sense will tell you what foods to avoid. Hard foods, sticky foods and foods high in sugar must be avoided. Hard foods can break or damage wires and brackets. Sticky foods can get caught between brackets and wires. Minimize sugary foods as they cause tooth decay and related problems. Nail biting, pencil and pen chewing, and chewing on foreign objects should be avoided.
Examples of Sticky Foods to Avoid
Gum (sugar-free or regular)
Licorice
Sugar Daddies
Toffee
Tootsie Rolls
Caramels
Starburst
Examples of Hard Foods to Avoid
Ice
Nuts
Hard taco shells
Bagels
French bread crust/rolls
Corn on the cob
Apples and carrots (unless cut into small pieces)
Bagels
Chips
Jolly Ranchers
Pizza crust
Uncooked carrots (unless cut)
Minimize Sugary Foods like
Cake
Ice Cream
Cookies
Pie
Candy
Only Once a Day:
Soda
Sweetened tea
Gatorade
Kool-Aid
Drinks with sugar
It’s important to regularly check your braces for bent or loose wires and brackets. In the event of a loose/broken wire or bracket, call our office immediately to arrange an appointment for repair.
CLEANING YOUR BRACES
The best way to ensure a clean and healthy smile are brushing and flossing. Food particles can accumulate on teeth and in braces, and over time turn into plaque. The bacteria that results from this accumulation can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, and even loss of teeth. To avoid these problems while you are in orthodontic treatment, take special care of your braces, teeth, and gums to ensure you will have the best possible result.
Brushing
Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small strip of fluoride toothpaste. When you brush your teeth, move the brush in small, circular motions to reach food particles that may be under your gum line. Hold the toothbrush at an angle and brush slowly and carefully, covering all areas between teeth, between braces, and the surface of each tooth. It will take you several minutes to thoroughly brush your teeth. Brush up on the lower teeth, down on the upper teeth, and the outside, inside, and chewing surface of your front and back teeth. Brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth before you rinse.
Especially during orthodontic treatment, brush your teeth four times daily to avoid the accumulation of food particles in your teeth and braces:
In the morning after breakfast
After lunch or right after school
After supper
At bedtime
You will need to replace your toothbrush more often due to your appliances. As soon as the bristles start to wear down or fray, replace your toothbrush with a new one. It may be difficult for your toothbrush to reach some areas under your archwire. Do not swallow any toothpaste; rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after you finish brushing. It is important to floss and use an antibacterial mouthwash and fluoride treatment throughout your orthodontic treatment and beyond for optimal oral hygiene.
Flossing For areas between the teeth that a toothbrush can’t reach, use dental floss to remove food particles and plaque. Flossing takes more time and patience when you are wearing braces, but it is important to floss your teeth every day.
Use the reuseable floss threader provided by our office to floss under your archwire daily. Pull a small length of floss from the dispenser through the threader and slide it up and down along the front of each tooth. You will be able to feel when the tooth is clean and hear the squeak of the floss against your clean teeth. Use care around your archwire and do not floss too forcefully around it or put too much pressure on it. After you floss between your archwire and braces, floss between your other teeth and gums.
If you are flossing without the floss threader, pull a small length of floss from the dispenser. Wrap the ends of the floss tightly around your middle fingers. Guide the floss between all teeth to the gum line, pulling out food particles or plaque. Unwrap clean floss from around your fingers as you go, so that you have used the floss from beginning to end when you finish. Floss behind all of your back teeth.
Floss at night to make sure your teeth are clean before you go to bed. When you first begin flossing around your braces, your gums may bleed a little. If the bleeding does not go away after the first few times, inform a staff member at your next appointment.
Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a small strip of fluoride toothpaste. When you brush your teeth, move the brush in small, circular motions to reach food particles that may be under your gum line. Hold the toothbrush at an angle and brush slowly and carefully, covering all areas between teeth, between braces, and the surface of each tooth. It will take you several minutes to thoroughly brush your teeth. Brush up on the lower teeth, down on the upper teeth, and the outside, inside, and chewing surface of your front and back teeth. Brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth before you rinse. 