CURRENT PATIENTS

We are so happy to have you as one of our valued patients! Always striving to make your orthodontic experience as seamless as possible, we’re standing by ready to answer any questions or concerns. In a hurry? Check out our list of resources below to help you get started.

GENERAL BRACES CARE

Now that you have your braces, how do you take care of them? It is important for you to know how to properly maintain your braces throughout your entire orthodontic treatment.

Brushing & Flossing

When you have braces, it is very important to brush and floss after every meal in order to keep your teeth and gums healthy throughout treatment. We also recommend that you visit your dentist every 3-4 months for regular cleanings. If you need help choosing the right toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss, please ask us and we can help you choose the right products for your teeth and appliance.

1. Both manual and electric toothbrushes are effective at cleaning your teeth if you use the proper technique and brush long enough. Overall, an electric toothbrush may make brushing easier, resulting in better plaque removal. Brush your teeth for two minutes daily after every meal with a soft bristled toothbrush and fluoride-containing toothpaste.

2. Brush the inside and outside surfaces of your teeth using small, gentle, circular motions while positioning the head of the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gum line. Pay close attention to the areas around your brackets. Brush the teeth’s chewing surfaces and the inside surface of the front teeth using short, gentle, back-and-forth motions.

1. The best way to floss your teeth with braces is with the use of floss threaders. Wrap the ends of the floss around your pointer fingers of both hands, leaving a few inches of floss between them. Gently slide the floss between each set of teeth using a back and forth motion. Floss the sides of each tooth beneath the gum line to remove plaque and food particles. Repeat this process until you’ve flossed all of your teeth.

2. We highly recommend the use of a water flosser in addition to flossing.

Patients

EMERGENCY CARE

True orthodontic emergencies are rare, but when they occur, we are here to help you. As a general rule, you should call our office when you experience severe pain or have a painful appliance problem that you are unable take care of yourself.
We’ll be able to schedule an appointment in a timely manner to resolve the problem.

You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to solve many problems yourself temporarily until you can get to our office.
If there is a loose piece that you can remove, put it in a plastic bag or envelope and bring it with you to your next appointment.

After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you still call our office to schedule a time to repair the problem.
Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in disruptions to your treatment plan.

SORENESS

When you first get your braces, you may notice that your teeth feel a little tender or sore. This is perfectly normal.
To help relieve any discomfort, we recommend taking a pain reliever that you would typically take for a headache (ie. Advil or Tylenol). It is also not uncommon for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to become irritated for the first 1-2 weeks until they toughen up and become used to the braces.

In your oral hygiene kit, we provided you with some wax that you can place over some of your braces to lessen the discomfort. Before placing wax on a particular bracket, please do your best to make sure the bracket is dry to help the wax stick better. We also recommend rinsing with a glass of warm water with a teaspoon of salt for a few minutes to further help.

LOOSE WIRE

If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it if needed for comfort.
If the bracket can be removed easily, place it in an envelope and bring it with you to your next appointment.

LOOSE/POKING WIRE

You can temporarily fix the loose wire by using a pencil eraser to push the poking wire down or place wax on it so that it is no longer poking.  If you cannot put the wire into a comfortable position, use a fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened.  If the end of the wire is still sharp, place wax on it.

APPLIANCE CARE

Damaged appliances can increase the length of your treatment process, so be sure to take care of all your appliances. Your teeth and jaw can only move into their correct positions if you consistently wear your rubber bands, retainer, or other appliances prescribed by your doctor.

Invisalign Orthodontic Treatment in Vaughan, Woodbridge, Toronto, and Scarborough
Emergency Orthodontic Care in Toronto and Scarborough and Vaughan

Loose Appliance

If your appliance is poking you, place wax on the offending part.

Loose Bracket

If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it if needed for comfort. If the bracket can be removed easily, place it in an envelope and bring it with you to your next appointment.

General Soreness

When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth, and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. Stick to a soft diet until your teeth do not hurt from chewing. Irritated gums and other sore spots can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt-water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in eight ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously.. Placing Orabase (available over the counter at your local pharmacy) on the affected area may also help relieve discomfort. If the tenderness is severe, take Tylenol or Advil, or whatever you normally take for headaches or similar pain.

The lips, cheeks, and tongue may become irritated for one to two weeks as they become accustomed to the surface of your braces. You can place wax on your braces to help alleviate this discomfort.