Brooklin Braces

Although you may take extreme care of your braces, they can cause soreness to your mouth.  During the first month after placing your braces it is normal for your teeth to ache and for your jaw to be a little bit sore for the first few days.

Other common issues may be broken brackets, loose wires and bands which may cause temporary soreness around your lips and gums.  The following guide can help determining what is wrong and what you can do at home to help.

1) Loose Orthodontic bracket.  A loose orthodontic bracket occurs when a metal brace is broken and slides from side to side on the wire.   Apply a small amount of orthodontic wax to the bracket temporarily. This will help with any discomfort temporarily until you can come to your next appointment

2) Loose Bands: A loose band will stay in place until your next appointment although it will be a bit wiggly if you put force on it.  If brought to your Orthodontists attention they can fix it at your next appointment

3)  Poking wires: You can sometimes use the end of the eraser of a pencil to help put the wire into a more comfortable place, or if you are unable to move it you can apply some wax until your next appointment

Foods to Avoid

Some foods can also help or hurt you while you’re wearing braces. Remember to cut your food into small pieces that can be easily chewed. Some foods such as apples, pizza crust, hard candy bubble gum ice cubes should be avoided.

And always remember to brush and floss thoroughly when you are cleaning your appliances!

What should you do to keep your braces clean during treatment?

If you are undergoing orthodontic treatment at our Whitby Orthodontist office you may have a few questions about brushing and flossing during orthodontic treatment.  First, your durham orthodontist Dr. John Nikolovski says that increasing your brushing frequency can help with keeping your teeth and gums very healthy during treament.

Another good tip is to try your best to floss daily to remove any trapped food particles that may be stuck in between your teeth and gums.  With braces flossing is very important.  What Dr. John Nikolovski of Durham Orthodontics recommends is brushing at least once per day to ensure proper oral health care.  Your Brooklin Ontario Orthodontist always recommends to brush above and below your orthodontic archwire to ensure all plaque removal.

Proper brushing technique includes brushing both above and below your orthodontic braces and archwires.  The image below shows how you can accomplish this.  Make certain to brush both your front and back teeth to try to remove all plaque around your brackets

Another handy tool recommended by Ajax Orthodontist Dr. John Nikolovski is a proxy brush to get into those hard to reach areas under your orthodontic wire and around your metal or clear ceramic brackets.  We include a proxy brush with every oral hygiene kit after placing your braces on.

Finally, we always regular dental check ups and cleanings with your dental provider when undergoing treatment.