Tips if you wear braces

This is very important especially when you have a fixed orthodontic appliance. We recommend that you brush your teeth with either a manual tooth brush or an electric tooth brush three times a day for 4-5 minutes each time. It is very important that you have a good brushing technique this simply means angling your tooth brush 90 degrees and brushing the gurns as well as the teeth and brace. It is a good idea to use tepee brushes to remove any excess debris around the brace that the toothbrush cannot get to. Use the tepee brushes in between the gaps in your teeth, under the wire and most importantly around each edge of the bracket. If debris is left around the brackets for long periods of time without thorough brushing then at the end of the treatment it is very likely that you will be left with white marks. These marks are called demineralization and are permanent and cannot be removed. A mouthwash is also recommended once a day before bed no food or drink afterwards apart from water. If you are not sure if you are brushing properly at the orthodontic surgery we sell disclosing tablets. These are good to show the areas in the mouth where you have missed with the tooth brush.

The teeth will start to move almost automatically this means there may be some pain once this happens. We recommend you to stick to a soft food diet for the first few days’ things like soup, yoghurts, mash potato and ice cream. If the pain is too much take whatever you would normally for a head ache.

Throughout the entire treatment we recommend that you avoid certain foods to prevent breakages to the brace. These foods are:

• Chewing gum
• Hard boiled sweets
• Toffees
• Baguettes
• Crusty rolls
• Hard/chewy foods

Don’t bite into an apple or raw carrots we recommend that you cut your food up into small pieces and chew slowly if you keep biting into foods the brackets will keep coming off and will delay your treatment.

Fruit juices and fizzy drinks are to be avoided during the orthodontic treatment. However if it is a special occasion and you are going to have some then limit how many you have and try to have them around meal times, use a straw and brush your teeth half an hour after you have the drink where it is possible to do so.

2 Packs of wax are provided. Some patients use it all the time but others don’t have to use it at all every patient is different. To use the wax take a little bit off rol1 it into a ball and keep it in your fingers for about 30 seconds to get it nice and warm. Meanwhile get a tissue and dry the area that is rubbing onto the soft tissue and place the wax over the bracket (the square block glued to your tooth) the wax will act as a barrier to prevent any ulcers from appearing.

If you play contact sports it is a good idea to use a mouth guard, the one that molds to the shape of your mouth are the best option while having braces since the position of your teeth will continuosly change. Ask me on your next appointment if you need them!

If at any time you have any concerns or problems with your brace please get in touch with us even if it is just for advice. The treatment is long so leaving a problem can delay your treatment.

If a bracket comes off it is not an emergency, so do no panic! Just give as call and we will arrange an appointment. If it is a wire digging in and you are in pain then give us a call and will try to squeeze you in ASAP to get you out of pain.

If you need to cancel a booked appointment please do it at least 24 hours before your appointment is due and rebook another one ASAP.