How to Deal With Dental Devices

Steps

Braces

1. Avoid hard or chewy candies, such as Taffy or gum, and you cannot eat peanuts (for the most part) or popcorn.
2. In the beginning, within the first 2 days-week of getting your braces, stick to soft foods. Your braces will hurt unbelieveably for that period of time. Eat foods that you can easily swallow without chewing much like macaroni and cheese, applesauce, ice cream, ice freezies, shakes, and chips. Bit by bit, though, you'll have to start eating something harder. This will ease you into the braces.
3. Try to carry a travel toothbrush with you so that you can brush your teeth after every meal. Food will sometimes lodge in the braces, and won't come out until you have brushed them.
4. If you have to wear rubber bands, put them on as much as recommended by your doctor.

Retainers

1. Always remember that it keeps your teeth straight. You don't want to do the braces thing again, do you? No, I didn't think so.
2. Always keep your case on you. In your pocket, preferably.
3. Rinse off your retainer regularly to remove any debris with cool water. If you wear an essix plastic retainer washing this with warm water may alter the shape of the tray, disallowing you to wear it.
4. When you get home, or if you have a travel toothbrush, brush and rinse your retainer.

Tips

• Always floss, brush your teeth and tongue.
• One of the best toothbrushes is the Sonic care toothbrush.
• It is recommended that you use G.U.M wax on the back if a wire has come loose (braces).
• Remember to never clean an essix retainer or Invisalign with water warmer than room temperature.

Warnings

• There will be soreness from the pressure you are encountering with braces.