Please contact our office as soon as possible in case of an emergency. We will be more than happy to accommodate you with an emergency appointment that day or at your earliest convenience. If the emergency occurs after office hours or on a weekend, our answering service will instruct you on how to proceed with contacting one of our team members.
Please contact our office as soon as possible in case of an emergency. We will be more than happy to accommodate you with an emergency appointment that day or at your earliest convenience. If the emergency occurs after office hours or on a weekend, our answering service will instruct you on how to proceed with contacting one of our team members.
As always, we’re here to help if you have any questions along the way! Please don’t hesitate to give our team a call with any questions or concerns.
Having braces should not cause any major changes in your day-to-day activities. You can still dine out, play instruments & have fun pictures taken. With proper care and maintenance, you can promote your oral health while on your way to a more beautiful smile.
If you play a wind instrument, several companies make mouth guards and lip protectors, although you may not need them. For certain sports, it is a good idea to wear a mouthguard. Ask us about recommendations based on your specific needs when you come in for your next appointment.
Try to avoid foods that are particularly hard, chewy, crunchy, or sticky. These types of foods can loosen, bend or even break your brackets or appliances.
Try to choose softer foods, and cut your foods into smaller pieces before eating rather than trying to bite through them. Chop whole fruits such as apples and pears into bite-sized pieces before eating, and please avoid chewing on gum and ice.
After eating, always check your braces for any loose or broken appliances. If you find any problems, please give our office a call so that we can make any needed adjustments.
Carefully follow all instructions you are given regarding dental care. Specific steps may vary depending on the type of braces you have. Be sure to brush thoroughly after any meal or snack. It is important to keep your teeth and braces as clean as possible to avoid potential problems. Also, rinse with water or mouthwash after brushing. It’s a good idea to carry a travel toothbrush when you will be away from home. Before going to bed, be sure to brush thoroughly and floss carefully. It may take a little extra time, but this is an important step in maintaining oral hygiene on your way to a better smile and healthier teeth.
Use a soft rounded bristle toothbrush that is in good condition. Toothbrushes will wear out faster and need to be replaced more often when wearing braces, so be sure to keep some spare toothbrushes on hand. When brushing you should also brush your tongue and rinse thoroughly when done.
Flossing is an important part of good oral hygiene. With braces it may take a little more time and practice, and a floss threader may be necessary to get the floss under the archwire. Make sure you clean along and under the gum lines with floss each night before going to bed. After you have properly brushed and flossed, your braces should look clean and shiny, making it easy to see the edge of the braces.
Please wear your appliance at all times, even when sleeping, or as instructed by your doctor. Doing so can help you reduce treatment time and will also ensure the best possible results from your orthodontic treatment.
Try to choose softer foods, and cut your foods into smaller pieces before eating rather than trying to bite through them. Chop whole fruits such as apples and pears into bite-sized pieces before eating, and please avoid chewing on gum and ice.
Be sure to bring your appliance to every orthodontic appointment.
Clean your removable appliance both morning and night to remove dental plaque. You can clean the appliance with a toothbrush and toothpaste.
Please place your appliance in the case when not being worn.
If you have pets, do not place the appliance anywhere they can reach it. Pets are attracted to saliva and will enjoy chewing on your appliance!
Please do not place your appliance on a napkin or tissue, it may be accidentally thrown away! You may remove your appliance while participating in physical activities, but be sure to wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth, gums and lips.
During orthodontic treatment, your orthodontist may use elastics to assist your braces in making adjustments to your teeth and bite. They are typically attached to brackets on the upper and lower teeth and use tension to create changes in the teeth and bite.
You should always wear your elastics as directed. You may remove them when eating and brushing, but you should always replace them with new ones afterward. Only wearing elastics occasionally will prolong treatment and cause any tenderness to persist.
You may experience some soreness when first wearing elastics, but it should subside after a few days. Over-the-counter medications like Ibuprofen should help, but if the tenderness continues for more than a week, give us a call.
If an elastic breaks, please replace both the broken one and the adjacent rubber band to ensure the same force is applied on each side. You should always carry an extra pack of elastics with you in case one breaks. If you think you may run out before your next appointment, please stop by our office for more elastics, or give us a call and we can mail some to you.
Dental wax can be very helpful with any areas that are irritating your mouth or gums. It’s an excellent solution if you need temporary relief from a mouth appliance that could be irritating.
This can be especially helpful at night when sleeping when your mouth gets drier than normal. There are a number of options for dental wax, which can be found at most stores — in person or online.
Dental wax is an excellent solution if you need a comfortable, temporary fix to cover a protruding piece of a mouth appliance, such as braces. Also known as orthodontic wax or tooth wax, it can provide a temporary cover of sharp surfaces inside your mouth and help protect your mouth’s soft tissues.
Keep these materials on hand to help with most common orthodontic maintenance & minor emergencies.
After eating, always check your braces for any loose or broken appliances. If you find any problems, please give our office a call so that we can make any needed adjustments.
It’s always smart to think before you munch with braces! Check out our lists below on what to enjoy and what not to eat when having braces.
Foods you may NOT eat…
Anything that is hard, sticky or chewy. Trust us, you don’t want your brackets breaking!
Common Emergencies Home Care Food Facts common-emergencies Common Emergencies Please contact our office as soon as possible in case of an emergency. We will be more than happy to accommodate you with an emergency appointment that day or at your earliest convenience. If the emergency occurs after office hours or on a weekend, our answering […]
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