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Brush Your Teeth properly!

Now that your braces are on, you must be sure to brush your teeth and gums better than ever before.

Extra care must be taken in the area between the gums and the brackets. We call this area the danger zone. Food and plaque that collects around the appliances can cause:

stains
cavities
puffy gums
unpleasant odors

It is vital that your teeth be kept extremely clean.

A New Technique to Learn

Brush after every meal: don't rush your brush! To brush your teeth properly, you must:

brush under, above, behind, around ALL surfaces of every tooth and bracket
remember to brush the inside and the outside of both top and bottom gums
rinse your mouth very thoroughly after you have finished brushing, and
be sure to check after rinsing and if your teeth and brackets are not clean and shining ... BRUSH AGAIN!!

Helpful Devices

Floss each night at bedtime. We recommend the helpful devices which are all available at your pharmacy:

A good, soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
Electric toothbrushes: especially the InterPlak device; or the Oral-B plaque removal system.
Super Floss or Floss Threaders.
Proxa-brush.
Oral irrigation devices: such as the Water-Pik device.
Orthodontic wax for mouth irritations.
Fluoride-containing mouthrinse (daily formula: .05% Fluoride).

There will be some discomfort after each visit, which will last from 24-72 hours. Tylenol, or Ibuprofen (ie: Advil) should be comforting if necessary.

The NO-NO List

Common sense will tell you what you should and shouldn't eat, but the following list includes things that should never be eaten while your braces are on:

Hard, brittle foods, such as:
- ice
- peanuts
- sunflower seeds
- pizza crust
- popcorn
- taco chips
- hard candy
Soft sticky foods:
- chewing gum (even the "non-stick" kind!)
- caramels and toffee
- acidic foods such as Cola and pop
- lemons, limes

Whole fruits and vegetables such as apples and carrots should be sliced and eaten carefully. Hard, crusty breads should be broken up and eaten in small pieces. Corn should be sliced off the cob before eating.

Keep pencils, pens, and fingernails out of your mouth!

Treat your appliances as you would anything else of such high value: with care and respect! You will be rewarded with the best possible result in the shortest period of time!