How to look after your fixed braces
Will I have any discomfort?
Your mouth may feel strange after having your brace fitted. Your tongue and your cheeks are not going to like the newcomer for the first few days. During this period your cheeks and your tongue are going to be irritated and may cause soreness and occasionally ulcers due to the rubbing of the brace. The irritation will eventually go away as the cheeks and the tongue get used to the brace. “Perseverance” is the key important factor through this.
We will also give you some wax. Roll a pea sized amount of wax and stick it over the area that is sharp in your mouth making sure the area is completely dry first to ensure that it sticks. You can dry the area with a thick tissue or cotton wool/bud. It acts like a cushion, at least temporarily, and allows your mouth to heal over. In an emergency you can also use a bit of chewing gum if you do not have wax, however, be careful as chewing gum can break your brace. Some oral gels like Bonjela Junior Gel for under 16 years and Bonjela Adult for over 16 years can provide relief to mouth ulcers.
Your teeth get sore for a few days starting from 6 to 24 hours after fitting your braces, but most of the time the discomfort goes away with painkillers, whatever you might use for headaches for example, and sticking to soft foods during this time helps also. On average the pain lasts about 3-5 days, but may last as long as a week. The soreness comes from teeth starting to move and the amount of discomfort varies from one person to the next. Some get no pain; some get a lot of pain. It does settle down and go away eventually.
Is there pain during treatment?
Occasionally, when your brace has been adjusted, your teeth may feel tender after tightening your brace, but the soreness is a lot less than when you first got your brace.
How do I keep my brace clean?
It is more difficult to brush your teeth with fixed braces, but it is essential that you do it well. To help with this we recommend using an Orthodontic toothbrush which is made to fit around you brackets and has a tuft at the end for getting in between them. We show you how to use these when we fit your fixed braces. The normal toothbrushes may not be as effective and electric toothbrushes may cause damage to your brace. You can buy theses special toothbrushes from the reception. Just as with your normal toothbrush they need to be changed once every 3 months.
With fixed braces you need to brush longer, more thoroughly and more frequently. If you do not you risk causing damage to your teeth. You need to brush after each meal. We also recommend using a mouthwash morning and night 30 minutes after brushing. Many people have their lunch out of home; so if this is you we recommend getting an extra toothbrush to for when you’re out and about. It is also handy to carry a small bottle of mouthwash with you as there may not be facilities for cleaning your teeth so you can have a rinse with the mouthwash instead. Better to do this rather than nothing.
What about my diet?
The fixed braces are ‘glued’ on to your teeth. The glue is deliberately designed not to be too strong so the braces can be removed without causing any damage to your teeth. The downside is that your brace can come away from your teeth if you eat anything hard. When the brace breaks off any tooth, your brace may not function as it should do. This will increase your treatment time; meaning you wear your braces for longer than you need to.
Eating anything hard or chewy can damage your brace. Use your common sense! The usual suspects are biting into apple or a raw carrot. Also crusty bread and pizza crust should be avoided. Chewing toffee, sweets and gums of any kind are absolute no no! The other foods that can break your braces are lollipops, ice-lollies and popcorn. If you fancy an apple or carrot, cut them into thin slices before eating.
Acidic juices can dissolve the enamel of your teeth. With fixed brace on, these juices damage the enamel a lot quicker as the brace acts as a reservoir to keep the juice in contact with the enamel. Acidic drinks include fizzy juices, diluted squash, most fruit juices and flavoured water. If you do drink any of those, best to have it with a meal and you can use a straw. It is a good idea to rinse your mouth after these drinks to minimise risk of damage. The best drinks are plain water and milk.
What about if I break my brace?
If your brace breaks or something comes off, contact the practice and we will make you an appointment to have it fixed if it can’t wait until you next appointment. There is no guarantee that you will be seen on that day but we will do our best to make sure you are seen as soon as possible, you may have to come along and sit and wait. If your brace becomes jaggy due to the breakage, use some wax as we have described above. We will advise you best how to proceed. There is an emergency telephone number on the answer phone for out of working hour’s emergencies. This number is only for emergencies where the patient is in severe pain that cannot be managed or if they have suffered trauma. For breakages leave a message or call us the next morning during open hours.
You can call the emergency number up to 8pm weekdays and 6pm weekends. If you cannot get hold of the emergency orthodontist, you need to contact your own general dentist or NHS 24.
What about appointments?
Your braces need to be adjusted once every 4-12 weeks. You need to arrange your next appointment every time you see your orthodontist. Your brace is adjusted to do a certain amount of movement to your teeth over a certain period of time. If you miss your appointment, you will delay your treatment as nothing is happening or the movement can exceed its required amount which can be detrimental. It is important you keep your appointments. Missed appointments may incur a charge and if this happens regularly we may we may have no option but to discontinue your treatment, close your case and discharge you.
Do I still need to see my dentist when I am having treatment with my orthodontist?
Yes, your orthodontist is only responsible for your brace treatment and your general dental health still needs to be checked by your general dentist on a regular basis.
How long do I need to wear my braces?
Orthodontic treatment time varies from patient to patient, depending on the individual treatment needs, patient age/growth and patient attendance/cooperation. Breakages and poor attendance prolong your treatment.
I play a woodwind/brass instrument. Is the brace going to affect it?
Generally speaking, the answer is no. With enough practice you should be able to play as normal, however, initially it might be difficult getting a good lip seal. If you feel discomfort to your lips and cheeks because of the brace try to break down your practice time to shorter periods of time. You can also ask for “Bracemate” from reception, which can be worn over the braces and can reduce the discomfort in some cases.
What number do I need to call for emergencies or to discuss appointments?
The telephone number you need to call is: 01896 759331