Lithgow Ortho

Congratulations! Now that you have braces, it is essential for you to know how to properly take care of braces throughout your orthodontic journey.

Brushing Your Teeth With Braces
When you have braces it’s very important to brush and floss after every meal in order to keep your teeth and gums healthy throughout your treatment. If you need help choosing the right toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss, please ask us and we can help you choose the right products for your teeth and your appliance.

Take Care of Your Appliances
Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take care of all your appliances. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear the rubber bands, headgear, retainer, or other appliances prescribed by your doctor.

Foods to avoid with braces
You may want to avoid or take caution when eating the following foods, as they can cause wires and brackets to come loose from teeth.

• Chewy foods – licorice, lollies, caramel, gum
• Hard foods – nuts, popcorn, ice
• Foods that require biting into – apples, corn on the cob, carrots

Loose Wires and Bands
The wires and bands on your braces may come loose. If this happens, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can check and repair your appliance. If any piece of your appliance comes off, be sure to save it and bring it to the office with you.

If the loose wire is causing irritation to your lips or cheeks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over the broken wire to relieve the pain.

Soreness From Braces and Appliances
When you first get your braces, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender or sore. This is perfectly normal for patients who have just gotten their braces put on, your mouth will not be sore forever! To relieve the pain, we recommend dissolving one teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Swish and gargle this solution in your mouth for just a couple of minutes (do not swallow the salt water).

If the pain is more severe and does not go away after rinsing, you can also try taking a pain reliever. It is also not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become used to the braces. We will give you orthodontic wax to put over the braces to lessen the tenderness. If you need more, please let us know.

Loose Teeth
If your teeth begin feeling a little loose, don’t worry, this is normal. Your braces must first loosen your teeth in order to move them into the right position. Once your teeth have been repositioned, they will no longer feel loose.

Playing Sport with Braces
We have great news for athletes! You can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment. If you do play sports, it’s recommended that you wear a mouthguard in order to protect your teeth and your appliance. Let Dr Derek know if you need help finding the right mouthguard for the best protection.

In case of a sports emergency, be sure to immediately check your mouth and your appliance for any damage that may have occurred. If you notice any loose teeth, or if your appliance has been damaged, please contact our office right away. You can temporarily relieve the discomfort with wax or by rinsing your mouth with warm salt water.