Living with braces
Living with braces can be easy, as long as you commit to being careful during your orthodontic treatment.
Living with braces can be easy, as long as you commit to being careful during your orthodontic treatment.
You already know that maintaining good oral hygiene is important for everyone — but when you're having orthodontic treatment, it's even more critical. While the appliances (such as braces or clear aligners) you wear during treatment are very effective in correcting misaligned teeth, they can also trap food particles easily.
IMPORTANT: Use tooth brush with soft bristles only.
TIP: Special brushes can be used for hard-to-clean places.
A careful orthodontic patient can probably eat almost any food and do no damage to his or her braces. However, these types of food may cause trouble, as may other foods. Use common sense, or if you are in doubt, ask us about a particular food you enjoy eating.
*Always be sure to check with your doctor if you have any questions about what foods to eat.
Orthodontic treatment is relatively pain free. You may experience some discomfort at certain times throughout treatment, usually when your braces have been tightened or you have been issued with a new set of Invisalign aligners, but this can usually be treated with over-the-counter pain relief.
However, true orthodontic emergencies can occur, although they are very rare. There are only a few true orthodontic (or dental) emergencies. They include:
In any of these situations, you should seek help as soon as possible — go to an emergency room, if that's your best option. Generally, however, the place to start is with your regular dentist.
If you suffer from any of the following problems with your braces, these solutions may help you to temporarily relieve the discomfort.
If any of the above issues happen to your braces, call and book a consultation with us – even if you manage to fix the problem yourself. It's important for our specialists to check that your braces are still working as they should.