 |
All About Braces
:
Life with Braces
To successfully complete treatment, patients, parents, orthodontist and staff must work together as a team. Following are some general considerations for patients undergoing orthodontic treatment:
Brushing
It is 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. Healthy teeth move faster, are more comfortable and look better after treatment.
Athletics
If you play contact sports, ask us for a special mouthguard that will protect your teeth and NOT damage the braces. In case of any accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If major trauma is experienced, go to the nearest emergency room. If teeth are loosened or the appliances damaged, phone us as soon as possible for an appointment. Tell the receptionist about the injury and ask for a special visit. If a tooth is loose or the area is sore, a visit to the dentist may be the first step. In the meantime, treat your discomfort as you would treat any general soreness.
Eating with Braces
Now that you have your new braces, you want to know, "What can I eat?" Just like a new pair of shoes, new braces have an adjustment period. You would not want to run a marathon in new sneakers, so, for the first three to five days with braces, stick to soft foods. Once you are accustomed to the feel of chewing and swallowing with your new appliances you will be able to eat and chew normally. What can you eat? Let's talk about what you shouldn't eat! If you've wanted to drop a few pounds, the first week wearing braces is just your chance! Avoid chewy, crunchy and sticky foods, in addition to 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.
Avoid:
- Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
- Hard foods: nuts, candy
- Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
- Sticky foods: caramels, gum
- 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, require extra repair visits, and possibly additional charges.
General Soreness
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. Rinsing your mouth with a warm salt-water mouthwash can relieve this. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in eight 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 (over the counter medicine such as Aleve, Tylenol, Advil). 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!
Loosening of Teeth
Don't worry! It's normal. This is to be expected throughout treatment. Teeth must loosen first so they can be moved. After treatment, they will again become rigidly fixed in their new corrected positions and held with retainers.
Before Leaving the Office
As part of each visit, to minimize discomfort and ensure optimal treatment progress, there are five routine steps that we ask you to take each time prior to leaving our office. Make sure that:
- the ends of the wires are not sticking out into cheecks or tongue, poking you
- you understand what is expected of you between appointments (i.e. instructions for wearing appliances, elastics, activating expanders, hygiene or specific diet issues)
- you have an adequate supply of elastics, wax and brushes
- all your questions regarding treatment are answered
- you do not leave without another appointment, so treatment does not get delayed
|
|
|
