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 BRUSHING
You will notice that it is a bit more difficult 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, the plaque may leave a permanent white, yellow, or brown scar on the surface (the "braces" do not discolor or stain the teeth). This scarring is known as decalcification, or demineralization. |
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Brushing after meals should become part of your daily schedule. Use a soft toothbrush with firm pressure and brush at a 45-degree angle to the tooth; brush in small circles above and below the brackets. Click here for visual instructions. Your toothbrush will wear out faster because of your appliances, so be sure to replace it whenever the bristles start to fray. A waterpik can be a useful addition but it is not as good as a brush in removing the sticky plaque that adheres to the teeth. Interplak, Sonicare, Braun Oral B Plaque Remover, Teledyne Plaque Control Automatic Toothbrush, and other mechanical toothbrushes are great, but nothing is better than the dexterity of the human hand. While we can certainly order one of these toothbrushes for you, we have found that you can find them at a lower price at Walmart, Kmart, Sam’s Club, and other discount general merchandise stores. You will receive several different types of toothbrushes, including a travel toothbrush, in the oral hygiene kit that we give at the beginning of your treatment.
ORTHODONTIC BRUSHING & FLOSSING
Flossing is important and should be done everyday. Floss threaders, widely available, are reusable. In addition, we have found that "Superfloss", by Oral B, is a very helpful, and easy-to-use, type of floss. You will receive a bag of Superfloss in the oral hygiene kit that we give you at the beginning of treatment.
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Brush after every meal.
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| 1. Use a toothbrush with a small ammount of toothpaste. |
2. Use circular, vibrating motions around the gumline for about 10 seconds on each tooth. |
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| 3. Brush every tooth slowly. |
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4. Brush the lower teeth up and the upper teeth down. Also brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth. |
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Floss nightly after brushing to remove the plaque missed by brushing.
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| 1. Carefully pull waxed floss between wire and braces. |
2. Floss carefully around the braces. |
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| 3. Floss carefully around the gum area. |
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4. Floss around each tooth. |
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Results
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Proper Oral Hygiene
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Improper Brushing and Flossing
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EATING HABITS
Please do not eat hard foods: nuts, ice, crisp taco shells, whole apples and carrots (cut them into pieces first), hard French bread crust and rolls, spareribs, corn on the cob (cut the corn off the cob before eating), and popcorn! These foods risk breaking brackets and wires. Also beware of nail biting and pen or pencil chewing habits, since these can damage your braces. Do not eat sticky foods: taffy, caramels, bubble gum, or sticky candy of any sort. Use common sense about most foods.
FOODS TO AVOID:
Gum:
Sticky Foods:
- Caramels
- Sugar Daddies
- Starbursts
- Carameled Apples
- Sugar Babies
- Licorice
- Toffee
- Tootsie Rolls
- Now & Laters
- Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms
Please use common sense with the following, and similar, "Hard" foods:
- Nuts
- Popcorn
- Bagels (you might want to heat the bagel in a microwave to soften it before eating)
- Apples (please cut them up first!)
- Corn on the Cob
- Pizza Crusts
- Carrots (uncooked)
- Doritos
- Pretzels
MINIMIZE SUGAR INTAKE
Eat Much Less
- Candy
- Ice Cream
- Cake, Cookies
- Pie
- Foods with Sugar
Drink Much Less
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