Orthodontics & You

If braces are for me, how will it change my life? Will I be able to eat everything I was able to eat before? How do I keep them clean? Can I participate in sports?

Most things that are worth doing require some effort. If you want to get in shape you have to exercise. If you want good grades you have to study. Braces are no different, if you want straight teeth you have to make some changes in your life to obtain the best results.

General Soreness:

Braces do take some time to get used to.

When they are first placed, there will be many edges and angles that will take time to adjust to. We will show you how to minimize this discomfort.

The teeth will become sore for a few days after the braces are placed and after each adjustment. Generally, the best medicine is Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). If you can't take Ibuprofen, then Tylenol works well. This soreness should last only three to seven days.

Eating:

Depending on what you are used to eating, braces can have a change on your life.

Dark Cola drinks are especially bad for braces. Dark colas, diet or regular, have phosphoric acid in them. This acid can cause white scars on the teeth that are visible after the braces are removed. We ask that you limit your soft drinks to diet clear sodas (Sprite, 7Up). Mountain Dew and Surge are also poor choices due to the high sugar content.

Hard crunchy foods should also be avoided. Hard foods can break the braces off of the teeth. If a brace becomes loose during treatment, the treatment time may be much longer than anticipated.

Brushing:

It does take more time to clean your teeth with braces.

To have the best result it is very important to brush after every meal. Plaque and food left on the teeth not only looks bad hanging from your braces, it too can cause white scars on the teeth. Flossing is also very important, yes you can floss with braces on the teeth, we'll show you how.

We will also prescribe a high fluoride toothpaste to protect your teeth. We will also periodically apply a fluoride coating to help protect the teeth.

Athletics:

If you are a participant in athletic activities, wearing a mouth guard is important. Wearing a mouth guard is especially important with braces on the teeth. We will give you the appropriate type of mouth guard for your athletic activity. Do not buy the regular mouthguard at the sporting goods store. These type of mouth guards do not allow the teeth to move. Orthodontics should not affect any athletic activity.

Musical Instruments:

Although it can take some time to get used to playing a musical instrument with braces, they can all be played with practice. It would be best not to have your braces put on close to an important recital.

Appointments:

Orthodontics treatment does take a number of appointments. Generally, appointments are spaced every six to eight weeks. However, sometimes appointments are two to three weeks apart and sometimes eight to ten weeks apart.  Longer appointments are usually scheduled during the day, with short appointments usually scheduled for the after school and work hours.  Missing appointments, or being late, can delay and greatly extend the treatment time well beyond the estimated time. Our office is open from Monday to Thursday from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm. We are closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Cooperation:

Success and length of treatment depend greatly upon the cooperation between you, the doctors, and the staff. Wearing elastics and appliances as you have been directed, avoiding foods that can be damaging, and keeping appointments is important to finishing your treatment in the shortest time with the best results.

Smile and be proud of your appliances. After all, it shows the world that you take very good care of yourself.