"SURVIVAL KIT"

Each patient having braces placed will be given a "Survival Kit" that an orthodontic assistant will review with them.  The "Survival Kit" includes the following items:

Illustrated Instructions for

"Your Guide to Orthodontic Brushing and Flossing Techniques"

"Getting Familiar with your Braces"

"Eating Habits and Orthodontics"

On a soft bristled toothbrush, apply toothpaste of your choice.

In a small circular motion, brush your teeth back to front all around the brackets (not just the tips of your teeth.)

You can angle your toothbrush up and down to get between the wire and braces.

Also don’t forget about your gums. Gums are very important too! Where the pink meets the white, also brush in small circular motions. This will keep the gums pink, pointed, and most importantly healthy!

Using a floss threader ( if helpful) take a piece of floss, pull it through the loop and tie in a knot

       

Aim the pointed part of the floss threader up under the wire, pull through until you reach the floss.

In a rocking, back and forth motion, pull the floss up between the two teeth. Then into the gums so you’re almost forming a letter ‘c’ around one tooth. Then do so to the tooth beside that one.

                                                               

                                                               Teeth with "white" scar marks.

                                          One of our orthodontic assistants will go over brushing techniques with you.

                                                                     Clean teeth move faster!!!

**We recommend using a soft bristle toothbrush.  Any brand is fine.  Electric toothbrushes can also be used.  The important thing is that you use your toothbrush the proper way to insure that you are getting your teeth and the braces clean.  Toothbrush bristles will wear out much faster when you have braces, so don't forget to replace it once the bristles start to "flare out"!!!

 

Adult Oral Home Care Instructions (for our adult patients)

Our adult patients must maintain a very strict regiment of excellent oral hygiene.  The soft tissue supporting structures of adult teeth are much more susceptible to disease and damage during orthodontic tooth movement than a child's dentition.  Subsequently, the following suggestions are made for our adult patients:

1.  Take time to cleanse your braces at least 2 times per day.

2.  Alter your routine 6 month tooth cleaning appointment with your family dentist to a 3 month schedule.

3.  Brush all surfaces of your teeth twice.  The first time you can use toothpaste.  For the second time, dip the head of   the toothbrush in Listerine mouthwash.  A multi tufted soft toothbrush should be used.  The new mechanical toothbrushes    (Sonicare, Interplak, Braun) are excellent for adults.  Please consider investing in one.

4.  If you wish additional cleansing of the teeth, utilize a Water Pik irrigating device with 1 shot of Listerine in the solution.  Adding 1 squirt of antimicrobial soap (Dial, Softsoap, etc.) to the solution will help cleanse the teeth.  Nearby retail locations that have Water Pik in stock are CVS, Kmart, Target and Walgreen's.

5.  Please let your general dentist or us know of any areas of your gum tissue that bleed.

Following the above suggestions will help maintain your gum tissue in a healthy state during orthodontic care.  Even with good home care, it frequently becomes necessary to have gum tissue treatment by your dentist or periodontist

Pull floss and threader out and repeat around the next set of teeth and so on.

 

                                                                    

                                  Getting familiar with your braces!

Archwire- Removable wires that fit into the slots of the braces and move your teeth into position. Archwires are made from stainless steel, although many of the new high tech wires are made from a material that has "memory". When the archwire is distorted from its natural shape ∩, the "memory" in the wire restores itself and allows the wire to return to that natural state, of course moving your teeth with it!

Self Ligating bracket (sl)- The actual bracket holds the wire in place. There is a trap door on the bracket that can be easily opened and closed for wire changes. The doors are spring-loaded which keeps constant gentle pressure on the wire. It is the archwires that move teeth.

                                                                     

Hooks- Some brackets have hooks built into them for elastic wear. Hooks can also be attached to the archwire. (Elastics help to correct how the upper and lower teeth bite together. Everyone at some point during treatment will wear elastics.)

Elastic Ligature- Placed on the four front teeth. Strictly for show of color if desired by patients. Some elastic ligatures are connected like a "chain", these will help to slide teeth together to close space.

Bite Blocks- are small mounds of blue or tooth colored cement. They are usually placed on the back bottom teeth or on the back side of your top front teeth. Bite blocks are used to open a bite temporarily while teeth are moving. This way, the top teeth aren’t biting off the bottom braces. It gives your teeth a place to rest.

 

Emergency? Keep comfortable using wax.

Please contact our office (623-8003) if you have any problems or concerns regarding your braces. We will schedule an appointment for you to be seen as soon as possible.

                                                                    Loose Bracket Wax Broken Archwire

                                                   

Soreness of teeth is to be expected for a few days, even up to a week is not unusual. Tylenol, Advil or any other pain medicine used for your discomfort is helpful. Peroxyl or warm salt-water rinses will help the inside of your lips and cheeks become used to the braces. Also, use wax as necessary. Give your mouth some time and your lips and cheeks will soon adjust to your new braces.

 

*Cut hard fruits/veggies into small pieces and thin slices

                                                                *Hard candy must be sucked on, never chewed



 

Breads

Pizza, sandwiches, cal zones, bagels, burgers, hot dogs

*Crusty and harder breads need to be cut or torn into small pieces and always chewed with back teeth

Pocket Mirror

Orthodontic Wax

Place a small ball of wax over a bracket or wire that is sharp.

Therabite Wafer

Gentle pressure will feel good to your sore teeth.

Peroxyl

Rinse used if you develop cankers (warm salt water rinses work well in the prevention of cankers).

Orabase

Ointment used to help cankers heal.

Orthodontic Emergency Kit

Chapstick

*If you are in need of any of these supplies, please ask one of our assistants on your next visit.

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Email:drmehan@drmehan.com