Braces 101
Your new braces
Brushing With Braces
You will notice it is harder to keep your teeth clean with orthodontic appliances. Food can easily become caught in the brackets and between your teeth. Proper brushing and flossing is vital to keeping your teeth and gums healthy, and is essential in preventing the development of stains, cavities, or gum disease.
Dr. Cusack recommends brushing when you wake up in the morning, before bed, and after every meal. In addition, use a fluoride and/or anti-bacterial mouth rinse after brushing to keep teeth strong and healthy.
Additional hygiene tools, such as electric toothbrushes and Waterpiks, may help out if you need more than a conventional tooth brush and floss.
10 rules
of hygiene during orthodontic treatment to ALWAYS remember:
Emergencies
Unlike regular dental emergencies such as a tooth ache or a chipped/broken tooth, orthodontics has very few emergencies that can’t be handled with help from a parent, spouse or friend. As long as you are not in great pain or bleeding you should be able to attend to your own “emergency” in the comfort of your own home.
If you have bleeding, swelling or are experiencing extreme discomfort please call our office as soon as possible. Dr. Cusack’s cell phone number is on our answering machine if the office is closed.
