CARING FOR YOUR BRACES
CLEANING WITH BRACES
You are AMAZING, and we want your teeth to look amazing too! So we’ll do our best to make them Straight and Symmetrical. But we need you to help keep them Healthy and Happy. Please consider these tips when taking care of your Teeth while you have braces:
Brush for 2 FULL MINUTES and Two to THREE times per day (Morning, Noon, and Night) and make sure to get all the following Hi Five Areas:
1. Brush on Top of the Brackets really well. Use gentle circles to get all around.
TIP:
An Electric toothbrush might be a great option. It helps with those circular motions you need and can really loosen up the sticky plaque.
2. Brush ABOVE and BELOW the bracket. Get the Bristles in all the little corners.
3. Brush the BITING surface of your teeth as well as the TONGUE side.
TIP:
Disclosing Tablets can be very helpful in seeing any plaque left on the teeth. Brush again to get rid of the colored plaque left behind.
5. Floss & Clean in-between each tooth. IT’S IMPORTANT! Here’s some options:
Floss Threaders & Floss – “Floss is the Boss”
Tear off about 8-10 in. floss
Slide Floss Threader under the wire
Pull floss Through & Clean, Clean, Clean
Slide out the front (each tooth)
PLATYPUS FLOSSER – Not quite as thorough as a regular floss, but good in a pinch
PROXYBRUSH – just slide between each brace to get any pesky food after meals
WATERPIK – a really GREAT compliment to flossing. It shouldn’t replace flossing but it’s really a great option to clean those hard to reach places!
PRO TIP
Rinse with Mouthrinse and/or you can put a dilution of mouthrinse right in your Waterpik reservoir! Minty Clean ☺
IMPORTANT :
Sometimes a Dental Cleaning every 3 months is a good idea. While most healthcare providers recommend cleanings every 6 months, braces can add a new element to cleaning. So don’t be surprised if we recommend more regular cleanings. Just ask your dentist how to make that possible.
TOOLS AND TIPS
There are so many products out there to help you through your orthodontic treatments. Some are better than others. We couldn’t let you go without tipping you off on some of our personal favorites:
Electric Toothbrush
The great thing about electric toothbrushes is that they clean more thoroughly than an old-school brush. The vibration allows you to do the same amount of work with a lot less pressure. When you’re wearing braces, that kind of deeper cleaning is always worth it.
OrthoDots
These are tiny squares of clear, bio-medical grade silicone. Wherever braces rub, poke, or wear on your mouth, just stick on one of these moldable dots. You can shape it to perfectly fit the location, and you don’t even need to dry your teeth off first. OrthoDots have a moisture-activated adhesive that makes them both easy and convenient.
Waterpik
Waterpiks are a pretty handy tool. They are to dental floss what the electric brush is to a regular toothbrush. These devices use pressurized water to clean between your teeth. They get into places that no brush can and do it much more easily than floss. If you’ve got braces, this thing can be a lifesaver.
Gishy Goo
Very much like OrthoDots, Gishy Goo is a substance used to protect the mouth from any irritation caused by wires or brackets. Unlike the OrthoDots, however, this material does not come in a pre-made and pre-sized package. You can squeeze out however much you need and mix it together right there on the spot. Once you place it on the trouble area, it will harden up and stay there.
Steraligner
Steraligner is a great cleaning solution for braces and retainers. It wards off bacteria and gets rid of tartar, keeping all of your equipment looking new and feeling fresh in only a three-minute treatment.
Retainer Bright
This cleaner comes in the form of tablets. It removes bacteria and prevents bad breath. This product is especially good with clear aligners. While some substances may stain or cloud the transparency, Retainer Bright keeps things clear and spotless.
If you have any other questions or concerns about products, feel free to call us, or come in for a visit.
HOW MUCH LONGER?
This is the beginning of a fun journey and we are excited to be on the journey with you. But as exciting as it is to jump in the car and head towards a fun destination with you, sometimes we hear a little nudging on “when will we get there?” or “How much longer?”
Broken Brackets
try to avoid broken brackets at all costs. That will keep you progress going always in the right direction. If a bracket brakes in the beginning it might be a glue failure, but after that the glue is strong and should be strong for a long time. Pay attention to the foods you eat so your treatment stays on track!
Brushing & Flossing
You must keep your braces and teeth EXTRA CLEAN by having excellent and consistent brushing habits. If we have to focus on brushing then we may not be able to move forward in other ways, thus slowing down your treatment.
Rubberbands and Instructions
try to avoid broken brackets at all costs. That will keep you progress going always in the right direction. If a bracket brakes in the beginning it might be a glue failure, but after that the glue is strong and should be strong for a long time. Pay attention to the foods you eat so your treatment stays on track!
WHAT IF?
You might be wondering, “What if _(fill in the blank)_ happens when I’m at home? How do I take care of that?” Here are a few things to review to address some common questions:
WHAT IF I HAVE A “POKEY” OR MOUTH SORE FROM A ROUGH SPOT?
WAX
you can place wax or soft chewing gum (sugar-free) over the bracket or irritating spot. If you use wax it will stick best if you dry the area really well before applying.
GOOSHY GOO
We have lots of free wax to offer, but some folks just can’t stand the taste, feel, or have a tough time getting it to stick. We also offer Gooshy Goo in the office and it’s super great at keeping those pokeys at bay, and it’s easy to use too! just call and ask about it or bring it up at your next appointment.
ORTHODOTS
another alternative to wax is Orthodots. You can get them at most Walgreens or Walmart pharmacies. It tends to stick much better than wax.
WHAT IF I HAVE A BROKEN BRACKET OR LOOSE BAND/APPLIANCE?
CHECK IT
give the bracket or band a little push to make sure it’s a broken bracket and not just a broken “Ligature.” If you call will you tell us which # tooth it should be connected to?
IF IT’S IRRITATING
you can put wax on it until you are able to make it into the office. If it’s really bad you might be able to trim the wire just in front of the loose bracket so it comes out (see below on trimming a wire).
WHAT IF WIRE IS OUT OF PLACE (BENT, BROKEN, LONG, OR LOOSE)?
PLACE IT BACK IN THE TUBE
Clean tweezers or needle nose pliers can sometimes work well to hold the wire as you slide it back in the slot.
CUT THE WIRE IF YOU CAN’T GET IT IN THE TUBE
Clean nail clippers or wire cutters are great at cutting excess or pokey wires. Give us a call next day and describe where you cut the wire.
True Emergencies in orthodontics are extremely rare. In the event of traumatic injuries, car accidents, sports accidents, or severe pain that doesn’t involve teeth, go to the E.R. or call your family dentist. Any severe pain and situations not covered above may require you to contact our office.
If our office is not open you may contact us through our 24-hour emergency on-call Dr. and/or assistant. Call the office number and navigate through the message for the option to connect. Leave a message with details and we will return your call as quickly as possible.
Remeber to protect yourself with a mouthguard.
We offer mouthguards in our office. Just ask our team when you are there.
FOODS TO ENJOY ☺
Life as you know it is still life as you know it, even with braces. You might avoid a few foods but there are still a lot of other great foods to enjoy. Here are a few tips to follow:
FOODS AFTER AN ORTHO ADJUSTMENT
Right after your adjustments try for cold, soft foods and drinks. That helps relax the wire and sooths the teeth. Can you think of any cold, soft foods or drinks that you enjoy?
MEAL PLANNING
We like yummy food as much as the next person. Here are some suggested foods to eat:
BREAKFAST
Pop-tarts
Cream of Wheat
Bananas & Yogurt
Oatmeal
Omelets
DINNER
Cooked vegetables
Pastas
Soup
Mashed Potatoes
Soft cooked chicken
LUNCHES
PB & J sandwich
Egg or Tuna Sandwich
Ham and Cheese
Apple Sauce
Salad
DESSERTS
Soft chocolate chip cookies
Sweet cooked rice
Pudding
Lemon bars
Ice cream
*You’ll get better and better at planning meals ahead of time. “Stay Calm and Eat On.”
You don’t need those hard or sticky candies. Try soft, homemade brownies instead! Yum!
** Wanna see a fun video on recipes? Check us out at www.hi5ortho.com/recipes **
