Invisalign Care
Braces Care
All braces require patients to be careful about what they eat. For instance, sticky foods such as caramels and bubble gum will pull the brace away from the teeth; you should avoid these foods during treatment. Hard foods like crisp vegetables and apples can bend and loosen the appliance; you can enjoy these foods by slicing them and chewing with your back teeth so that they don’t catch on the brackets and archwires. Let your orthodontist know if you have questions about a particular food or beverage.
Cleaning your teeth and gums with braces requires a tooth brush, an interdental pick, and a floss threader.
Emergency Info
Broken Appliance
If you have a broken appliance or are experiencing intense pain, please call us as soon as possible. We will do our best to fit you into the schedule for an appointment. Even if you have a regular appointment scheduled, call immediately to notify us that you need an appliance repaired.
Surprisingly, most orthodontic problems can be remedied at home. While you await your appointment, these guidelines will help you resolve minor problems. Please know that even if you alleviate the pain caused by your broken appliance, you still need a repair appointment.
Lost Separator
If you lose a separator in the days before your braces go on, please call our office to see if it needs to be replaced.
Sore Teeth/Discomfort with Orthodontic Treatment
Right after you get your braces, and sometimes after you have an adjustment appointment, your teeth and mouth will feel sore. To alleviate the pain, you may take acetaminophen or other non-aspirin pain relievers while you adjust to your new braces. You can also gargle lukewarm saltwater, which is a mixture of one teaspoon of salt dissolved in eight ounces of water. A warm wash cloth or a heating pad may also reduce the soreness in your jaws.
Wire Irritations
Try moving the wire away from the irritated area with a cotton swab or eraser. If the wire will not move, try covering the end of it with a small piece of cotton or a small amount of wax. If the wire is painful, you can cut it with nail clippers or scissors that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol.
Loose Bracket or Band
First, call our office to see if the bracket needs to be re-fitted. If you have a situation where you must cut the wire or slide a bracket off the wire, you may use fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. Please call our office the next business day to schedule a repair appointment.
Loose Wire
Try putting the wire back in place using tweezers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. If that does not work, try putting wax over the wire where it is poking you. If you have a situation where you must cut the wire, you may use fingernail clippers that have been washed and sterilized in alcohol. Cut the wire behind the last bracket in which it is secured.
Missing “Color” Tie
At Chestnut Dental we use self-ligating brackets so the wires are attached to the brackets with built-in metal clips. The color ties we place on brackets are usually there just to add color to the braces so if they fall off the braces are still working normally. If you notice a tie has fallen off please give us a call and we will help you decide if it’s necessary to have it replaced.
