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.
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.
4. BRUSH THE GUMS! *THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMONLY MISSED SPOTS SO BE VERY CAREFUL TO BRUSH YOUR GUMS WELL! Plague love to hide here!
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”
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!
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.
Let’s keep those teeth health and avoid Decalcification (White spots or “scars”). Onset of this can be very rapid and once it can be seen it’s TOO LATE!
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:
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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?”
As orthodontists we can make a pretty good “guesstimate” at the beginning, but we can’t predict exactly how long treatment will take because there are a lot of variable along the way that are unique to you. However, there are a few things that are within YOUR CONTROL. If you are good at these things your treatment will go much faster!
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!
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.
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!
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:
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.
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:
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?
We like yummy food as much as the next person. Here are some suggested foods to eat:
Pop-tarts
Cream of Wheat
Bananas & Yogurt
Oatmeal
Omelets
Cooked vegetables
Pastas
Soup
Mashed Potatoes
Soft cooked chicken
PB & J sandwich
Egg or Tuna Sandwich
Ham and Cheese
Apple Sauce
Salad
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 **
