CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING YOUR NEW BRACES!

Thank you for choosing The Smilist Dental for your orthodontic needs. Our goal is to personally work with you to provide you with a beautiful, straight smile. Please review the important information included below to make sure your treatment progresses properly.

PAIN & DISCOMFORT

General soreness in the mouth is common after first applying braces on your teeth. If you feel tenderness or pain in your mouth, take Advil or Tylenol as directed on the bottle to relieve the pain. The soreness should end by the third or fourth day. Eat soft foods for the first few days to ease any discomfort. If you still experience severe soreness or pain after a few days, please contact us immediately.

BRUSHING & FLOSSING PROCEDURES

1. Use a dry brush with a small amount of toothpaste. Place bristles where gums and teeth meet.
2. Use circular, vibrating motions around the gum lines, 10 seconds on each tooth.
3. Brush slowly, each arch separately, every tooth.
4. Brush the lower teeth up and upper teeth down. Brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth too.
5. Carefully pull unwaxed floss between wire and braces. A floss threader may be helpful.
6. Floss carefully around the braces, gum area, and each tooth

HYGIENE

It is very important that thorough hygiene is followed throughout your treatment. Brush and floss your teeth daily to avoid tooth staining and tooth decay. Failure to do so may result in permanent decalcification (white and brown spots and marks).

FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS

While all effort is made to have appointments scheduled after school hours and work hours, there are times where a longer appointment is necessary and will need to be made during school or work hours. Keeping all appointments is very important in order to keep treatment time on schedule. Regular cleaning and dental check-ups should also be maintained with your general dentist.

HABITS TO AVOID

Avoid biting anything other than food such as pens, pencils, and fingernails. Additionally, do not open anything using your teeth such as water bottles, hairpins, and nuts with shells as they may damage both your teeth and braces.

FOODS

While we do not want to interfere with your nutritional intake, there are certain foods that can damage your braces and prolong your treatment time. It would be best to avoid or limit eating the following foods:

• Hard foods – ice, nuts, bagels, popcorn, hard candies, frozen goods, etc.
• Chewy and sticky foods – caramel, Twizzlers, Skittles, Starburst, Milky Ways, chewing gum, etc.
• Sugary foods – cookies, cake, ice cream, sweet drinks, sodas, etc.

It is important to use your best judgment while choosing what to eat. Take care of your braces by always brushing and flossing your teeth immediately after eating.

SPORTS & PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

It is important that you use a mouth guard for contact sports. In case of an accident involving the face, check your mouth and braces immediately. If teeth are loosened or braces are damaged, make an appointment immediately.

LOOSENING OF TEETH

Loosening of your teeth is to be expected throughout your treatment. Your teeth must first loosen so that they can move into their new fixed positions.

LOOSE WIRES OR BANDS

If a wire protrudes and is irritating, use a blunt instrument (back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil) and carefully, gently push the loose wire out of the way. If irritation to the lips or mouth continues, place wax on the adjacent bracket. If any piece comes off, save it and bring it with you to the office. Call our office as soon as possible for an appointment.

EMERGENCY APPOINTMENTS

Emergency appointments may be made when there is severe pain, a loose band, broken wire or something sticking out that you can’t fix yourself. We’re here to help you throughout the process.

CONTINUING COOPERATION

Successful treatment depends upon cooperation between you and the doctor. It’s very important that you keep your teeth, gums, and braces clean at all times. By properly maintaining your braces as directed, avoid or limit certain foods, and handle emergencies promptly you avoid delaying your treatment and become one day closer to your new smile.

CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN ON GETTING YOUR NEW BRACES!