ORAL HYGIENE

Besides having your teeth professionally cleaned, at least every 6 months, you should brush your teeth daily after main meals.

When brushing your teeth and braces you should follow the next steps:

• Use a toothbrush that as a small head and toothpaste that has a fluoride content of at least 1500ppm. The amount of toothpaste should be about the size of a pea.
• Start by brushing at a 45 degree angle at gum level and begin by brushing with gentle back and forth movements between the gums and your braces, followed by circular movements so as to stimulate and massage your gums.
• Continue by brushing your teeth from the braces to the edge of your teeth using the same technique as described previously.
• Last, but not least, brush the chewing and lingual surfaces of your teeth.
• This entire process should take, at the very least, 3 minutes.

Complement your brushing with a proxy brush between the brackets and under your wire.
Mouth wash once a day, before going to bed, with fluoride concentration of 0,5%, 10 ml during a minute. After using your mouth wash you shouldn’t eat nor drink during half an hour.
Flossing should be done once a day. To aid this procedure use a floss threader.

Emergencies in Orthodontics

Fortunately most of the orthodontic emergencies are not very painful.

Brackets can pop off as can any other elements of the appliances. In this case please contact your orthodontist.

Sometimes a wire can stick out and hurt your cheeks. If this happens your first option should be to contact your orthodontist.
In alternative a small manicure plier, previously disinfected with alcohol, can be used to cut the offending edge of the wire or you can try to bend it.
In SOS you can stick orthodontic wax on the wire until you can get an appointment.

Retainers

Maintain the result of your treatment.
At the end of your treatment it is essential that you wear the retainers as advised by your orthodontist. There are several types of retainers, although all of them have the function to keep your teeth straightened after treatment.
Remember that your teeth move throughout your entire life.

See the link below for more information:

Food

Hard and britlle foods, such as raw carrots, apples and toasts, should be cut into small bite size portions and chewed on very carefully with your back teeth.
Sticky foods, such as caramels and gums, should be avoided.
Foods that are high in sugar content should be consumed with moderation in order to avoid dental decay.
During orthodontic treatment, patients should not chew on pencils or ice cubes that can lead to braces breakage, leading to treatment delay.

If your braces have metal rings and they come off, contact your orthodontist for an appointment.

It is normal to feel discomfort after putting on your braces for the first time and after your monthly activations.
If needed, analgesics can be used for a few days.