Braces Instructions
Congratulations on getting your new braces!
Taking Care of Your Braces
With your help and cooperation, we will be able to make your orthodontic treatment an enjoyable and rewarding experience. The success of treatment depends on your cooperation in keeping appointments, maintaining good oral hygiene, avoiding loose or broken appliances, and following our orthodontist’s instructions carefully.
The Length of Orthodontic Treatment
The length of orthodontic treatment depends on a number of issues, including the severity of the problem, the patient’s growth and the level of patient cooperation. The actual treatment time is usually close to the estimated treatment time, but treatment may be lengthened if, for example, unanticipated growth occurs, if there are habits affecting the dentofacial structures, if periodontal or other dental problems occur, or if your cooperation is not adequate.
An Essential: Oral Hygiene
Excellent oral hygiene is essential during orthodontic treatment as are regular visits to your family dentist every 3-4 month for check-ups and cleanings. Inadequate or improper hygiene could result in cavities around your braces, discolored teeth, periodontal disease and/or decalcification (white spots around braces). The same problems can occur without orthodontic treatment, but the risk is greater while you are wearing braces or other appliances. While you have your braces on, you should brush after every meal and floss at least once a day. Use a floss threader to get the floss around the braces.
Watch the video above to learn more about oral hygiene during braces treatment!
Foods to Avoid with Braces
Braces are attached to your teeth with a special adhesive and may become loose as a result of eating hard and sticky foods. To avoid delay in treatment time be careful with your braces!
Please take a moment to review the list below for the common foods that conflict with braces. Call us if you think you have a loose or broken bracket or band. If we are unaware that something is broken we might not have time to fix the problem at your regular appointment.
- Ice
- Nuts
- Beef jerky
- Hard or sticky candy
- Pizza crust, hard breads, bagels
- Corn chips
- Crisp taco shells
- Carrots
- Whole apples
- Caramel
- Taffy
- Popcorn
- Foreign objects such as fingernails, pens, etc.
- Soft drinks
Use common sense when deciding which foods are okay to eat with braces. If you notice a loose bracket or band please let us know prior to your appointment!
This information contained on this website is for the purposes of learning more about the different treatment options.