Braces 101
Brushing
It's more important then ever to brush and floss regularly when you have braces, so the teeth and gums are healthy after orthodontic treatment. We recommend brushing after every meal or as soon as you are able. Patients who do not keep their teeth clean may require more frequent visits to the dentist for a professional cleaning.
Eating Habits
You cannot eat any hard, sticky, or chewy foods. These will tend to break or loosen your braces. Pears, apples, carrots and other hard foods must be cut up into small bite size pieces before eating. Chewing ice and gum are prohibited. Your braces can be easliy broken if the above is not adhered to all of the time.
Retainers
Drs. Toothman and Barra use many different types of retainers depending on the patients needs, and the doctors preference. You will be given specific instructions for your type of retainer at the time of placement. Wear as instructed. Retainers are a lifetime commitment, the amount of time will decrease as the years go by but we wont tell you to stop wearing them completely at anytime.
Clean retainers thoroughly once a day as directed. To order cleanser online follow the link to: www.smileshop.com or other brands can be purchased at your local grocery store, Wal-Mart, or pharmacy. Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care, if they are lost or broken please call the office right away as teeth can move fast. When they are not in your mouth, please have them in a case. Keep retainers away from hot dashboards in your car, pockets, soaking in hot water, washing machines, and on trays at fast food places. Pets love to chew on them! Always bring your retainers to every appointment! Retainer replacement is expensive, with proper care they will last for years. To order reatainer cleanser online follow the link to www.smileshop.com
Sore Teeth
If your teeth become sore after a visit, we generally recommend that you take an analgesic such as Actaminophen (ex. - Tylenol) or Ibuprofen (ex. 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.
Poking Wire
Push the wire away from the area using the eraser end of a pencil or a cotton swab. If the wire cannot be tucked away, cover the end of the wire with a small piece of wax, a cotton ball, or a piece of sugarless gum, until you can see us for an adjustment.
Loose Bracket
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.
Hagerstown Office
81 North Edgewood Drive
Hagerstown, MD 21740
301-791-1770 Phone
301-791-7706 Fax
974 Lincoln Way East
Chambersburg, PA 17201
717-263-5916 Phone
1-717-263-9408 Fax
