Patient Information

HOME CARE

Home Care

It is more difficult to keep your teeth clean with braces. Food can accumulate around the braces and between your teeth. You must remove all food debris and plaque by careful brushing and flossing. If plaque remains on the teeth for any length of time, it may leave a permanent white scar on the enamel surface.

Brushing after meals should become part of your daily routine. Use a soft toothbrush with firm pressure and brush at a 45-degree angle to the tooth; brush in small circles above and below the brackets. Click here for visual instructions. Your toothbrush will wear out faster because of your appliances, so be sure to replace it whenever the bristles start to fray. Sonicare™ and Braun™ electric toothbrushes are great. Flossing is important and should be done every day; the floss threaders are reusable.

A WaterPik™ is helpful, but it cannot remove the sticky plaque that adheres to the teeth. If you have a WaterPik we recommend you mix 1 or 2 capfuls of Listerine Fresh Mint™ mouthwash with _ tank of water, rinse carefully and spit out all of the mouthwash/water; don’t swallow it.

Orthodontic Brushing and Flossing

Brush after every meal.

1. Use a toothbrush with a small amount of toothpaste.
   
2. Use circular, vibrating motions around the gum line for about 10 seconds on each tooth.
   
3. Brush every tooth slowly.
   
4. Brush the lower teeth up and the upper teeth down. Also brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth.
   

Floss nightly after brushing to remove the plaque missed by brushing.

1. Carefully pull waxed floss between wire and braces.
   
2. Floss carefully around the braces.
   
3. Floss carefully around the gum area.
   
4. Floss around each tooth.
   

Results

Proper Oral Hygiene

Improper Brushing and Flossing

Eating Habits

Use common sense: cut whole apples and uncooked carrots into pieces first, cut corn on the cob off before eating, avoid hard French bread crust and rolls, spareribs. If you are careless, eating these foods can damage your braces. Also beware of nail biting and pen or pencil chewing habits, since these can damage your braces. Do not eat sticky foods: taffy, caramels, bubble gum, or sticky candy of any sort. A small piece of Freedent™ gum occasionally is acceptable.

Absolutely No:

Sticky Foods:

• Caramels
  
• Sugar Daddies
  
• Starbursts
  
• Sugar Babies
  
• Licorice
  
• Toffee
  
• Tootsie Rolls
  
• Now & Laters
  

Hard Foods:

• Un-popped popcorn hulls
  
• Chewing ice
  
• Chewing hard candies
  
• Jawbreakers
  

Minimize Sugar Intake:

Eat Much Less

• Candy
  
• Ice Cream
  
• Cake, Cookies
  
• Pie
  
• Foods with Sugar
  
• Drink Much Less
  

Pop

• Drinks with Sugar
  

Sports and Braces

ALWAYS wear a mouth guard when playing any sports (especially football, baseball, softball, soccer, and basketball). Please let us know if you play sports, we will be happy to provide you with a complimentary sports guard.

Braces

Check your braces daily for anything loose or bent. If a bracket or band comes loose or you break a wire, please call our office so that we can arrange an appointment long enough to repair it. Try to explain what has happened by using the diagram provided. Be as specific as possible with the receptionist. If you lose your rubber bands, call us so we can mail you some more or drop by the office and pick some up.

Sore Teeth

After braces are placed it is normal for the teeth to be sore for about 2 or 3 days. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen will help relieve this discomfort. PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE TAKING ANY MEDICATION, PARTICULARLY IF YOU HAVE ANY HISTORY OF ALLERGIC REACTIONS. Some irritation of the cheeks and tongue is normal, but if you feel anything sharp, or any sores are developing, please call our office at 520-742-1232.

Elastics

Most orthodontic patients are required to wear elastics at certain times during their treatment. Elastics are attached to your braces to create the forces required to move your teeth into their correct positions. In order for this force to remain constant, elastics must be worn all the time and changed every day. Any time missed in wearing your elastics will only make your treatment take longer, so remember these things:

1. You are responsible for placing the elastics on your braces between appointments. Make sure to wear them as instructed. Remove them only when brushing your teeth, gums and braces after meals. Then put them back on immediately.
   
2. Always carry a few elastics with you, so if one breaks, you can replace it right away. If your supply is low, call the office and we will mail you an additional supply of elastics.
   
3. If you forget to insert your elastics one day, don't double up the next day — just follow your regular instructions.
   
4. Elastics become worn out. When they lose their elasticity, they don't provide the proper pressure on your teeth and jaws. It is very important to change them as directed, even when they are not broken.
   

If your elastics break frequently, a wire or band loosens, or a hook breaks off — call our office promptly. Don't wait until your next appointment. These problems need to be corrected as soon as possible!

Removable Appliances

1. Your removable appliance has been carefully designed for your individual situation. It is important that it is worn according to instructions and brought to each appointment.
   
2. Wear your appliance at all times, even while you are asleep. It may be removed while eating, swimming, or playing vigorous sports activities. In two or three days your speech will return to normal with the appliance in place. Avoid flipping the appliance with your tongue. This can cause damage to your teeth or breakage of your appliance.
   
3. Your new appliance may make your teeth sore for a day or two, especially after an adjustment. If you have a sore spot on your gums call our office so that we can adjust the appliance.
   
4. Clean your appliance by brushing it daily with toothpaste. Denture cleaner can also be used for a more thorough cleaning. Flossing should be done every day.
   
5. Never wrap your appliance in a paper napkin or tissue and set it down on the table. You or someone else may throw it away. Don't put it in your pocket when playing or you may break or lose it. Whenever it is not in your mouth it should be in its plastic appliance case.
   
6. Keep your appliance away from dogs or cats, as they love to chew on them. Avoid storing them near any source of heat. Do not boil your retainer to sterilize it! If needed, bring it to the office and we will be happy to disinfect it for you.
   

An additional charge will be incurred for lost or broken appliances.

First Aid

Loose or Poking Wires

If a wire causes irritation, push the wire away from the area using the eraser end of a pencil or a Q-Tip. If the wire cannot be tucked away, cover the end of the wire with a small piece of wax, a cotton ball, or a piece of sugarless gum until you can see us for an adjustment.

If the main wire has come out of the tube on your back tooth, attempt to reinsert the wire with a pair of needle-nosed pliers or tweezers. If the wire is not sticking you, place a piece of wax over the area. As a last resort, if you cannot come into our office, the wire can be cut with a small wire cutter or toenail clipper close to the back of the last brace.

Loose Brackets or Bands

If a bracket becomes loose, it usually remains connected to the main wire by a little colored rubber ring. Eyebrow tweezers can be used to reposition the brace if it flips around the wire and becomes a source of irritation. Call our office and inform us the problem.

If a piece of your braces breaks, save the piece and call our office to schedule a repair visit.

Herbst Appliances

If the rod and tube that connect the upper and lower parts of the appliance come apart, you can simply open wide and re-attach them.

If a screw comes loose, reattach the parts using the small hex wrench enclosed in your home care package. Call our office to schedule an appointment to check the re-assembly.

If one of the stainless steel crowns comes loose call our office at 520-742-1232 to schedule an appointment for repair.

Occasionally, swelling of one of the cheeks occurs a day or two after the Herbst is placed. Please call our office promptly if this occurs.

Lost Separators

In case a rubber spacer falls out, take two pieces of dental floss and insert them through the spacer. Pull on both pieces of floss to stretch the spacer, and then slide the spacer back and forth between the two teeth where it belongs. Once the bottom half of the spacer slips under the tight spot between the teeth, release and remove the floss and the spacer will fit back properly.

If You Swallow Something

Remain calm if you swallow a piece of your appliance. It will usually go into the stomach and pass out of the body in a bowel movement. However, if difficulty breathing is experienced, you should seek immediate medical attention. X-rays will be taken to determine the location of the swallowed piece.

If a retainer cracks, remove the retainer from your mouth and bring all the pieces to our office for professional repair.

Sore Teeth or Sore Gums

Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen if your teeth are sore after a monthly visit. PLEASE CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN BEFORE TAKING ANY MEDICATION, PARTICULARLY IF YOU HAVE ANY HISTORY OF ALLERGIC REACTIONS.

Rinsing your mouth with a cup of warm water and teaspoon of salt can also be soothing. If you teeth get sore suddenly in the middle of the month, give us a call because it is unusual for the teeth to get sore several weeks after your last office visit.

If food becomes stuck between your teeth, use dental floss or a proxy brush to dislodge the food.

If you cut your gums, tongue or the inside of your cheek, apply finger pressure to the bleeding site for several minutes. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, call your family dentist.

Minor irritations and canker sores will heal much more quickly if you apply Zylactin™ according the manufacturers directions. You can purchase it over the counter at most pharmacies and grocery stores.