Life With Braces

Living life with braces can be a bit challenging, but don’t worry; you will be back to eating Snickers bars in no time. But before that, you need to take special care of what’s good and what’s not good for your braces.

Brushing and Flossing your Teeth

Brushing and flossing teeth is crucial to your oral health even when you don’t have orthodontic issues. But when you have braces, these habits become even more important.

You may find it difficult to access some areas of your mouth with a toothbrush and floss because of the braces. Plaque collects around your braces and without meticulous cleaning, it can lead to gum disease, dental caries, and tooth stains. The wires and brackets on your device can trap food debris and plaque so you need to pay very special attention while cleaning your teeth. If not, you may suffer from permanent enamel damage.

• Before you start brushing your teeth, take out the elastics if you are wearing them as instructed.
• Brush your braces first by holding your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle and cleaning around the wires and brackets. Also, brush all the way down each wire.
• Once all the nooks and crannies of your braces are clean, you should start brushing your teeth individually. Do this by keeping the brush at an angle at the gum line and moving it in a circular motion.  Clean the outer and inner tooth surfaces, each for at least 10 seconds.
• Flossing is a must to keep your gum and teeth healthy. You can also use floss threaders that are specially designed for people with braces.

Emergency Care

It is not very common for patients to suffer from an emergency related to braces, but if you do experience one, Prestige Orthodontics is here for you.

Common Problems of Braces

Loose or Missing Ties: If the small elastic ties that hold the wire bracket come loose, then it will be replaced with a new one at your next appointment. At home, you can put back the loose ties with the help of tweezers or remove a tie by snapping it with a sharp pair of sewing scissors. But it can be risky to attempt that yourself, and we would advise you to come see us instead.

Tooth Comfort: Most patients experience discomfort when they first get fitted with braces. This is a common complain and the pain will subside within a few days. However, during uncomfortable days, eat soft food and swish your mouth with salt water to reduce the pain.

Lip and Cheek Irritation: You may experience lip and cheek irritation when your new braces rub against the soft tissue of your mouth. To manage this, take a pea-sized ball of orthodontic wax and press it to your brackets and wires to create a soft and smooth barrier between your mouth and the device. You should notice improved comfort immediately.

Poking Wire: If a wire has moved out of position and is poking into your cheek, use a pencil stub, a spoon, a toothbrush or a cotton swab to push it back into place against the tooth. You can also place some wax on the exposed sharp end of the wire to cover up the tip. Clean nail clippers can also be used to snap the piece of wire and remove it. If you cannot fix the wire yourself, call us so that we can schedule you an appointment to fix the issue.

Loose Brackets or Bands: If one of your brackets come loose and is sliding on the archwire, contact Prestige Orthodontics so that we can determine the next step. In some cases, the bracket can be repaired at your next appointment. In other cases, however, immediate repair is necessary. If this is the case with you, we will schedule you an urgent appointment.

Swallowed Brackets: If a bracket or a small fragment of your device comes loose and you swallow it, it usually passes out of your body without issue. However, if you experience coughing or breathing difficulties, the appliance may have lodged in your airways. If you can see it and safely remove it without damaging your throat, do so. However, if it cannot be removed safely and easily, call us immediately and we will schedule you an urgent appointment to correct the issue.

During the time you are wearing your braces, you will need to schedule appointments with Prestige Orthodontics regularly. It is normal to feel some discomfort and pain after each adjustment but that should lessen after a couple of days. If the pain increases, however, you should bring it to our attention immediately.