First Aid for Braces and Retainers

• If a wire is poking you, first try to bend it with your fingernail or a pencil eraser. If you are unsuccessful, place a small piece of wax or a piece of sugarless gum over it until you can get in for an appointment. As a last resort, and if there is no orthodontist for miles around, you can cut the offending wire with a fingernail clipper or fine wire cutters.
  
• If a brace comes loose from a tooth, it usually remains connected to the main wire and is not cause for an emergency visit. Tweezers can be used to reposition the brace if it flips around the wire and becomes a source of irritation. Call our office at your earliest convenience. It may be necessary to schedule a separate visit to repair the loose brace(s), since repairs of this nature usually take additional time.
• If your teeth become sore after a visit, we generally recommend that you take an analgesic such as acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) or ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin). This, of course, is the protocol only if there are no known allergies to these medications. Rinsing with Peroxyl or a cup of warm water and teaspoon of salt can also be soothing.
• If a part of your braces or your retainer breaks, call to set up a repair visit.
• If you notice some small spaces developing between your teeth while you have braces on, don't panic! This is usually normal and expected as teeth move into different positions, particularly in the early stages of treatment. They will be closed eventually.
• If a rubber spacer falls out, call our office to set up a repair visit.
  
• If you experience any bleeding when brushing or flossing, that usually means there is a local area of infection. Continue to keep the area clean by brushing, flossing and rinsing.
• If food becomes stuck between your teeth, use dental floss or a proxy brush to dislodge the food.
  

Tips

Brushing

You will notice that it is much harder to keep your teeth clean with braces. Food compacts in the brackets and between your teeth, and can only be removed by brushing and flossing. If plaque remains on the teeth for any length of time, it will leave a permanent white scar on the surface. Brushing after meals should become part of your daily schedule.

Absolutely No:
Sticky Foods (sugarless or otherwise)	Hard Foods	To Minimize Sugar Intake:
Gum Caramels Sugar Daddies and Sugar Babies Starbursts Caramel Apples Licorice Toffee Tootsie Rolls	Jolly Ranchers Jaw Breakers Lolli-pops Nuts Bagels Apples (unless cut up) Pizza Crusts Carrots (uncooked, unless cut up) Doritos Pretzels	Eat Less: Candy Ice Cream Cake Cookies Pie Drink Less: Soda Drinks with sugar

Elastics

Attached to your braces, elastics (rubber bands) exert the proper force that creates the right amount of pressure to move teeth. In order for this force to remain constant, elastics must be worn all the time and changed once a day. Any time missed in wearing your elastics will only make your treatment take longer, so remember these things:

• You are responsible for placing the elastics on your braces between appointments. Make sure to wear them as instructed. Remove them only when brushing your teeth, gums and braces after meals. Then put your elastics back on immediately.
• Always carry a few elastics with you, so if one breaks you can replace it right away. If your supply is low, call the office and we will mail you an additional supply of elastics.
• If you forget to insert your elastics one day, don't double up the next day- just follow your regular instructions.
• Elastics become worn out. When they lose their elasticity, they don't provide the proper pressure on your teeth and jaws. It is very important to change them as directed, even when they are not broken.
• If your elastics break frequently, a wire or band loosens, or a hook breaks off - call our office immediately.

Removable Appliances

• The removable appliance is carefully designed to move or to hold your teeth. It is important that it is worn according to instructions and brought to each appointment.
• Wear your appliance at all times, even while you are asleep. It may be removed while eating, swimming, or playing vigorous sports activities. In two or three days your speech will return to normal with the appliance in place.
• Avoid flipping your appliance with your tongue. This can cause damage to your teeth or breakage of your appliance.
• Your new appliance may make your teeth sore for a day or two, especially after an adjustment. If you have a sore spot on your gums call our office so that we can adjust the appliance.
• Clean your appliance by brushing it daily with toothpaste. Denture cleaner (e.g., Efferdent, Fixodent or Polident) can also be used for a more thorough cleaning. If you are wearing a bonded wire retainer behind your front teeth, be extra careful to clean the wire and the area around it. Flossing should be done every day.
• Never wrap your appliance in a paper napkin or tissue and set it down on the table. You or someone else may throw it away. Don't put it in your pocket when playing or you may break or lose it. Whenever it is not in your mouth it should be in its plastic appliance case.
• Keep your appliance away from dogs or cats as they love to chew on them. Avoid storing them near any source of heat. Do not boil your retainer to sterilize it. If needed, bring it to the office and we will be happy to disinfect it for you.
• An additional charge will be incurred for lost or broken appliances.