Download Do`s and Don`ts

Orthodontic Information Sheets: DO’S AND DONT’S
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. All information regarding treatment, care, appointments, etc, is explained in detail. These
instructions are for your benefit. Treatment will go much smoother for you and our staff if these instructions are followed.
One of the most important responsibilities of any orthodontic patient is proper care and cleaning of the appliances or braces.
Proper cleaning means much more than just brushing the braces. It is important to understand that consistently poor hygiene
may result in extended time in braces, expensive restorative dentistry, gum disease that may require gum surgery, or tooth
loss. These written instructions are meant to outline for you or your child a program of home care, which will insure a healthy
mouth throughout the course of orthodontic treatment, and hopefully establish oral health habits that will last a lifetime.
First we would like to give you a short course in the cause of dental disease. You’ve undoubtedly heard of PLAQUE. Plaque
is a sticky substance produced by the bacteria which normally resides in the mouth, and which attaches itself to the teeth and
gums. It forms continuously, and eventually builds into thick, cheesy-looking accumulations around the gum line of the teeth.
Bacteria live in plaque. When we ingest sugar of any kind, the sugar diffuses into de plaque and is transformed into acid by
the bacteria. The acid then attacks the teeth, destroying the enamel and causing decay, and attacks the gum tissue causing
gum disease. It is bad enough that most of the processed foods we eat these days contain large amounts of sugar, but for
those individuals who eat candy, drink highly concentrated sugar drinks, such as soft drinks, and who chew sugared gum
several times a day, the disease process is accelerated. It is discouraging for me as an orthodontist to work very hard to
achieve a beautiful, straight set of teeth, only to remove the braces and find white marks around the areas where the braces
were attached to the teeth. These are scars in the enamel left by plaque accumulations around the brackets. Another insult to
the mouth is loss of teeth from gum disease. The good news is that most dental disease can be prevented. CLEAN TEETH
DO NOT DECAY, AND HEALTHY GUMS DO NOT BLEED. _____
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With this in mind, we want you to understand and support our program for wonderful, healthy smiles.
It involves a commitment to be persistent about cleaning, but we think you will agree the results are worth the effort.
You can also watch the following video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtSi2lcfynE
1.
We want to start the straightening process with clean, healthy teeth. Be sure to work very hard on cleaning teeth and
gums before coming to your next appointment. Remember, bleeding gums are sure signs that plaque accumulations are
not being removed_____
2.
Brush your teeth with a soft bristled TOOTHBRUSH three times a day. Replace your toothbrush every 3 months. Brush
your teeth for a full 2 minutes. Use a clock with a second hand, listen to a song on the radio, or use an egg timer to help
track the 2 minutes. Check in the mirror after brushing to make sure your teeth are white and your braces shiny. A travel
brush carried in the purse or placed in a locker is great for brushing after lunch when at school or work. ____
3.
At least once per day (before sleep) FLOSS your teeth using either “floss threaders” or “super floss”. The “proxy brush”
given to you is also very useful. These hygiene helpers are given to you the day you get your braces, you can also find
them at a pharmacy. _____
4.
Finally, we want all orthodontic patients to use FLUORIDE mouth rinse on their teeth once a day (ideally before sleep).
After your 2-minute brushing, floss and then use it according to manufacturer. Spit it out, DO NOT SWALLOW. Wait at
least 30 minutes before eating or drinking. Fluoride hardens the enamel, making it more resistant to decay. ____
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There you have it, a plan for a lifetime of super smiles! Remember, cleaning your mouth is YOUR responsibility.
And while you need to maintain regular six month visits with your dentist, unless instructed different by him or your
orthodontist, YOU hold the key to your smile. _____
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We are always open to comments or questions regarding oral hygiene procedures in our office. Please don’t hesitate to ask if
you are unsure of anything.
Signature:_______________________________________
Date:________________
If patient is a minor:
Please, carefully check your child’s teeth morning and night. Be sure that the teeth look clean and are free of food debris and
plaque. If the teeth are not clean, please send your child to brush again or take over and brush and floss the child’s teeth
yourself.
I understand the importance of good oral hygiene and I will assist my child as needed.
Signature:______________________________________
Date:_________________
IF SOMETHING BREAKS: Sometimes brackets do not break off immediately after they are loosened. Sometimes that hard
candy, bread or pizza crust weakens the glue but not enough for it to come off. The next thing you know the bracket pops off
while you are sitting in class or eating mashies. The important thing is that you call us ASAP to let us know. Loose and/or
broken means the same thing, a repair must be made. Call our office and let us know when something breaks and if you are
in pain. We will evaluate your situation and make you an appointment accordingly. If you are not in any pain the repair CAN
WAIT until our office has available appointment time. If you are in pain, we will make an appointment to alleviate the pain and
make you comfortable by removing the brace and/or clipping a wire. However, the repair WILL NOT be done at that time. A
repair appointment will have to be made if it cannot wait until your next regularly scheduled appointment. Repairs CAN NOT
be scheduled during prime office hours. We do understand that accidents happen and something might break, however, if
you are constantly breaking your braces there will be a charge for repairs (You will be informed of charges before they
occur). We recommend that the patient pay for his/her repairs. If you call our office and we are closed, please leave us a
message. We will return your call when the office reopens. DO NOT call the emergency number to report broken appliances.
This number is strictly for emergencies; such as pain, hit in the mouth, etc. alleviate _____
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MATERIALS USED: Please be aware that our office uses ONLY the highest quality materials. When appliances break it is
usually due to an accident and/or carelessness on the part of the patient. ____
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WHAT CAN DELAY TREATMENT: Broken appliances, broken appointments, not been seen every 4-6 weeks, not wearing
rubber bands, poor oral hygiene, and mother nature (growth and development). ____
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MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS & BRACES: You can play an instrument while undergoing orthodontic treatment. If you played a
mouth instrument prior to your braces it will now feel different and you may need to position your lips differently. _____
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CAMP & BRACES: Many of out patients leave during the summer for camp. We will supply you with plenty of wax and
rubber bands (if needed). We prefer to see you right before you leave and as soon as you return. Most camps have an
orthodontist nearby for emergencies_____
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MOUTH GUARDS: we encourage that the patient wears a mouth guard if involved in sports to avoid accidents if hit in the
mouth. _____
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PAYMENTS:
Payments are due EVERY MONTH until your balance is paid. It does not matter if the patient is seen or not. The monthly
payment plan is set up for your convenience. _____
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Parent/legal guardian initials: __________________________
Date:____________
FOOD TO AVOID: Following is the food list with some specific items listed. We ask that you stay away from foods that are
sticky and chewy and/or hard and crunchy. Please use common sense to determine what you can or cannot eat, as it is not
possible for us to list every single item to avoid by name. Foods that are sticky and chewy tend to pull and tug on the metal in
your mouth. Hard and crunchy foods can loosen up a brace or break a wire immediately. Loose braces or broken wires are
NOT AN EMERGENCY and do not require immediate attention, unless you are in pain. Loose braces not only slow up
treatment but also cause us to use valuable office time to make repairs. Please be careful!! _____
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FOODS TO AVOID DURING ORTHODONTIC TREAMENT
DO NOT EAT STICKY AND/OR
CHEWY FOODS:
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GUM of any kind
Caramels
Jelly Beans
Licorice
Milk Duds
Now and Laters
Sugar Daddy’s,
Mama’s & Babies
Tootsie Rolls
Gum Drops
Bagels (too
doughy)
Taffy
Soft pretzels (too
doughy)
Snickers
Milky Ways
Baby Ruths
Butterfingers
Almond Joys
Twix
Anything else that
falls under this
category
DO NOT EAT HARD AND/OR CRUNCHY FOODS:
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Chips
Cookies (unless very soft)
Hard candy (Lifesavers, Lollipops, Jaw Breakers, etc)
Ice cubes, even if you are careful
Peanut brittle
Pizza crust (the hard outer edge)
Hard toast and/or toasted English muffins
Hard Fruit (Apples, pears, peaches- unless sliced or cooked)
Hard vegetables (Carrots, celery, broccoli, etc- unless shaved/grated or cooked)
Popsicles (too much like hard ice)
Hard Ice Cream Bars.
Hard and/or thick Buns or Rolls
POPCORN
Corn chips, crisp tacos. (Soft shells are okay)
Ice Cream Cones
Nuts of any kind
Nerds
Corn on the Cob (Remove corn from cob)
Meat on the bone (Ribs, pork chops, steak, chicken- remove meat from bones first)
Chewable vitamins
Fruit Chews, gummy bears, etc
Hard French bread. (unless taken in small pieces, carefully)
Lemons (pure lemon juice can hurt your tooth enamel).
DO NOT play with your braces. Keep your fingers out of your mouth
DO NOT chew on pen tops or pencils
26. Anything else that falls under this category
PLEASE USE COMMON SENSE - BRACES ARE BREAKABLE- BE RESPONSIBLE
Parent/legal guardian initials: __________________________
Date:____________
But Dr. I thought you told me…..
How long will my teeth be sore?
Expect the teeth to be somewhat tender the first few days after your braces are adjusted. You can take what you would take
for a headache to alleviate the discomfort. The sooner you start chewing, the faster you will adjust. ______
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Will the inside of my lips be sore forever?
Expect from time to time, that your cheeks and lips become irritated. You will eventually build-up a callous. If an ulcer forms,
use the wax that we gave you and place it over the braces that seem to be causing the problem. The wax will stay in place
even while eating if you make sure that the area is dry before putting the wax in place. Pull off a small piece, roll it up in a
little ball, stick it over the braces and mold it around the braces. ______
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Do I still have cleanings and check ups?
YES, YES, YES. This is very important. We usually do not recommend removing the wires for a cleaning unless the treating
dentist will requests it. What we can do is coordinate your cleaning appointments with an orthodontic visit so we can remove
your wires for the cleaning and checkups. ______
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Why did I get this space between my front teeth?
Sometimes things look worse before they will look better. The teeth will move in different directions as the teeth are
straightening out. You may see a space between your front teeth that was never there before or teeth that seemed perfectly
straight before the braces were placed may not seem as straight. Please be patient and things will start to improve. That
space will close and those teeth will line up, I promise. In order to straighten the worst of the teeth, the straighter teeth may
be pulled out of alignment but eventually they all work together to give you that great smile we are all working towards.
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I was only eating mashed potatoes when the braces broke off
Sometimes brackets do not break off immediately after they are loosened. Sometimes that hard candy, bread or pizza crust,
weakens the glue but not enough for it to come off. The next thing you know the bracket pops off while you are sitting in class
or eating mashies. The important thing is that you call us ASAP to let us know (not on the weekends, ha, ha). The brace does
not necessarily have to be replaced right away but we want to know about it, even if you leave a message on the recorder. IF
YOU WAIT UNTIL THE DAY OF YOUR APPOINTMENT TO TELL US THAT YOU HAVE A BRACE OFF, WE MAY NOT BE
ABLE TO FIX IT. IF WE KNOW AHEAD OF TIME, WE CAN MAKE ARRAGEMENTS. ____
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My teeth are loose, Are they going to fall out or this is OK?
Yes, it is all right, so do not worry about them falling out, unless it is a baby tooth of course, that is natural. If they get too
loose we will let you know, but this is rare. Most people notice this after they have been hit with an elbow, basketball or some
form of trauma to the mouth. (No horse playing with braces, please!) _____
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How much longer will my braces be on?
Remember, the time we told you is a rough estimate. It could take a little longer or it may not take as long. If you do not wear
the elastics, plan on adding time. If you like to chew gum, Plan on adding time. Missed some appointments? Plan on adding
time. If you continuously break braces, Plan on adding time. If you go away for summer? Plan on adding time. Even if all
goes smoothly, it could take a while longer. No two people have teeth that move the same way and we do not want to rush
the final result. Asking each visit, “How much longer?” will not help you get your braces off any earlier. But, no one can blame
your for trying!. Downside to asking at every visit is that your orthodontist could lose his mind, which could add time. (Just
kidding, or not….?) _____
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How would you like to get your braces off as soon as possible? Together we can make this happen, and quickly, too!!! We’ll
do our job if you do yours!!!
Patient name: ______________________________
Parent/legal guardian signature: __________________________
Date:____________