Instruction after Orthodontics/Braces Information

• Keeping your Braces and its attachments clean is very important and neglect
  can result in decay of teeth underneath.
• Brush twice a day as instructed by your dentist and as advised use special
  Orthodontic toothbrushes and mouthwash.
• Be careful of what you eat as hard and sticky food can break attachments
  causing you pain, delay in treatment time and extra cost to replace. Preserve
  broken attachments if any and we can try to reaffix them.
• To get your teeth to start moving through your jaw bone we need to apply
  force. During the initial phase please stick to soft food consistency. Contact your
  Dentist if you are very uncomfortable.
• Sometimes your treatment may demand use of removable appliances. The
  method of use and time duration to wear these Orthodontic appliances is totally
  dependent on you. If you deviate or neglect from the instructions, the
  consequences could be unfavorable.
• Visit your Orthodontist/ Dentist regularly for monthly adjustment of the
  appliances and monitor treatment progression.
• Get Fluoride application every 6 months.
• Post treatment check-ups and follow ups is required in a gap of
  3months/6months and 1 year followed by annual check-ups and follow up
  appointment for oral hygiene maintenance

Orthodontic Home Care Instructions (Post)

Eating with Braces: What can you eat? Let’s talk about what you shouldn’t eat.
For the first day or so, stick to soft foods. Avoid tough meats, hard breads, and
raw vegetables. Before long, you’ll be able to bite a cucumber again. But, for as
long as you wear braces, you’ll need to protect your braces when you eat.
Foods to Avoid:

• Ice (even if you’re careful)
• Jolly Ranchers, snickers and other hard candies.
• Gum of any kind.
• Hard chips like Doritos.
• Carrots, apples, pears, etc. should be cut into small pieces.
• Stay away from the bottom of the popcorn bag – the hard kernels are bad
  news.
• Meat should not be chewed off the bone – it should be cut off.
• Corn of the cob should be sliced off.
• Pizza crust, bagels, and French bread should be broken into bite-sized pieces.
• Pens, pencils, and fingernails should not be bitten as they will damage your
  braces.
  

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 cold water can relieve this soreness, as the wires we place are
thermal activated. If the tenderness is severe, take a painkiller that you would
normally take for headache or similar pain. 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:
This is to be expected throughout treatment. Don’t worry. It’s normal. Teeth
must loosen first so they can be moved. The teeth will again become rigidly
fixed in their new, corrected positions.
Athletics:
If you play sports, it’s important that you consult us for special precautions.
A protective mouth guard is advised for playing contact sports. In case of
any accident involving the face, check your mouth and braces immediately.
If teeth are loosened or your braces are damaged, phone our office
immediately for an appointment. In the meantime, treat your discomfort as
you would treat any general soreness.
Brushing/Flossing:
It’s more important than ever to brush and floss regularly when you have
braces, so your 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 stay current with their periodontal therapy during
orthodontic treatment.

Cleaning All Three Tooth Surfaces:
The first thing to consider when cleaning your teeth is that there are three
surfaces of each tooth that need to be brushed. When brushing the outside
surfaces of your teeth, try to make a 45 degree angle toward the gum line
between the head of your toothbrush and the tooth itself. It is especially
important to make sure the area between the brace and the gum stays clean.
Try to brush three teeth at a time. Make sure these teeth are completely free
of food and plaque before moving to the next few. Once you’re done with
the outsides of the top and bottom teeth you can move to the inside.

When brushing the inside surfaces of your teeth, try to maintain the 45 degree
angle towards the gum line as you did with the outside surfaces. Again, try to
brush three teeth at a time and make sure that they are clean before moving on.
Cleaning the chewing surfaces of your teeth is straightforward. Remember to
brush three teeth at a time prior to moving on to the next ones.

Flossing:
Flossing with braces takes a few minutes to master, but is essential while you are
wearing braces. The first step to flossing is getting the floss under the arch wire
that connects the braces together. Once the floss is under the arch wire it can be
wrapped around the tooth to one side. The floss is then pushed up toward the
gum line and then pulled down toward the wire. This
should be repeated four to five times to ensure all plaque is removed. Be careful
not to put too much pressure on the arch wire as you pull down. Then wrap the
floss around the neighboring tooth. Once booth teeth are done, the floss is pulled
out and the process repeated for the next two teeth.
What if I Have an Emergency?
If you have an emergency, such as a broken bracket, loose or poking wire, or
something else that is causing you discomfort, please call our office. We care
about our patients and their comfort during treatment with us, and will try to
correct any problem you might have as quickly as possible.
Care of Your Braces:
To successfully complete your treatment plan, you’ll need to work in partnership
with our office. Your teeth and jaws can only move toward their corrected
positions if you consistently wear the rubber bands, headgear or other appliances
as prescribed