HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCES (BRACKETS)

1.     Do not play with the wires or any other appliance, not with your finger, tongue or any other object.

2.   You must not eat:

a)    Sticky candy

b)    Hard Bread

c)    Hard Tacos (Flautas)

d)    Ice

e)    Corn on the cob

f)    Tostadas

g)    Mueganos

h)    Hard Cover Peanuts

     3. The following fruits or vegetable can be eaten only chopped or sliced:

a)  Raw Celery

b)  Carrots

c)  Apples

4.   Do not chew or bite chicken bones, ribs or eat olives with bone.  IF YOU ABUSE YOUR APPLIANCES AND DISTORT OR BREAK THEM YOU WILL HAVE AN EXTRA CHARGE TO FIX THEM.

5.   Brush your teeth and gums and appliances after each meal, use a mirror and do it carefully to verify how you are cleaning them.

6.   Do not chew sticky candy or gum; try not to drink too much pop or very sweet beverages.

7.   In case or irritation to your lips and cheeks, use orthodontic wax over the bracket and/or the wire where it is hurting you.  This will relieve the irritation.

8.   If any of your appliances becomes loose or it is hurting you, call the office immediately to get an emergency appointment.

9.   If you feel discomfort or pain from the treatment itself, take a pain killer.  Every time we make an adjustment, you may experience some discomfort, this is expected and it is normal.

10.                      Remember that dirty teeth bring along caries and gum swelling as well as a smelly mouth.  Brushing your teeth is one of YOUR responsibilities.

Orthodontic treatment is an investment that either you or your parents make, besides improving your health and bringing a better function to your mouth.  If you follow faithfully these advices, we will get wonderful results.

 Foods to Avoid

 Common Sense is the best way to establish which foods should be avoided.  Hard and sticky foods, foods with a lot of sugar in them should be avoided for the most part. 

Hard foods make break the appliances, bend the wires and dislodge the brackets.  Sticky foods may get under the wires between the brackets.  Sugary foods produce caries.  Do not bite your nails; don’t chew on pencils and pens or other objects.

Some examples of sticky foods to avoid are:  Gum, sticky candy and all candy in general.

Some examples of hard foods to avoid are:  Ice, nuts, hard bread, corn on the cob, whole raw apples, whole raw carrots, popcorn, means, biting on lollypops.

Minimize the intake of sugar in cakes, ice-cream, cookies or candy.

You can have only once a day:  pop, sweet beverages, and after having it, brush your teeth immediately.