TEAMWORK :

Orthodontic treatment is an ongoing process, and most of this happens when you are not in the surgery! Teamwork between you, your orthodontist and the staff is essential.

         What can you do help?

• Follow the dietary advice
• Broken brackets? This can lead to longer treatment time.
• Do as your orthodontist instructs. At various stages you may be asked to wear rubber bands. If you do not wear them as instructed they do not work. This leads to longer treatment time.
• It is vital that you attend all of your appointments, please be on time. If not properly supervised braces can adversely move your teeth which can result in, yes you guessed it - longer treatment time.
(Should you need to cancel, 48 hours notice is required. Fees are levied for late cancellations and failed appointments.)

DENTAL HEALTH :

• Clean your teeth after every meal using a regular toothbrush and an inter-dental brush or TePe brushes.
• Use Oral B Superfloss. Your regular floss is not suitable whilst wearing braces.
• Use a fluoride mouthwash, for example, Colgate Fluoriguard.
• Continue to see your dentist for regular check-ups.
• See your dental hygienist on a regular 3-6 month basis.

STARTING YOUR ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT :

Your braces may cause some discomfort for the first few days after they are placed and after some of the subsequent adjustments. A softer diet for the first few days, such as: pasta, rice, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs etc. will be easier to manage.

There are no emergencies with Orthodontic treatment.

           What to do in case of :

• Sore teeth : Whatever pain relief medication you would usually take.
• Brackets that are scratching/poking : Use the dental wax provided. This is free from reception.
• Broken bracket : Brackets do not break if you follow the dietary advice. However, should this happen, please call the practice. If the bracket is hurting you one of the dentists will see you to make you comfortable, if it is not hurting it can be left as it is. The bracket will only be replaced at your next orthodontic appointment.

SPEECH PROBLEMS :

If the option you have chosen is the Incognito, lingual brace, your speech could be affected for the first couple of weeks. Speak slightly slower, but the more you speak the quicker you will retrain your tongue to accept this "invasion of the braces" and normal speech will be resumed!

DIETARY ADVICE :

• Eat a softer diet, what can be squashed between your fingers can be eaten!
• Absolutely no nuts, toffees, chewing gum.
• Avoid hard and sticky sweet foods.
• Hard fruit - apples etc. slice rather than bite into the whole fruit.
• Raw carrots - can be eaten if grated.
• Be careful with hard breads such as ciabata rolls, French bread, pizza crusts, corners of toast etc.
• Avoid sparkling and acidic drinks.

Curries, red wine etc can stain the white elastics sometimes used with the white ceramic braces. We have found that using whitening toothpaste does help to minimize this. We can sometimes use an alternative to the white elastics - please speak to Dr Hirani if your staple diet includes curries on a regular basis.

We hope this information helps you adjust to life with braces.

It is the first step towards your ultimate goal of a healthy, stable and beautiful smile that will last for the rest of your life.

If there are any questions you may have during the course of your treatment the staff here will be happy to chat to you.