Adult
Interdental Toothbrush
A Proxabrush is an interdental (between the teeth) toothbrush that you may use to clean underneath and around your wires and braces. Use the brush gently to avoid damaging your wires. The Proxabrush will help you to clean your braces while maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Our team helps educate patients on how to properly use this tool to ensure that all braces and appliances are being properly cleaned until removal.
Antibacterial Mouthwash
Antibacterial mouth wash, a hydrogen peroxide antiseptic mouth rinse, will reduce inflammation to your gums and cheeks. Antibacterial mouth wash helps to prevent infection and decrease irritation that may develop from your braces. Rinse your mouth with two teaspoons of antibacterial mouth wash (half a capful) for one minute and then spit it out.
You may use antibacterial mouth wash up to four times daily following your schedule for brushing: after meals (or after school) and before bed. Just like using peroxide for a scrape on your skin, an antibacterial mouth wash helps the inside of your mouth heal. It can be used for general irritation caused by your braces or for canker sores, cheek bites, and other minor temporary injuries to the gums.
Cleaning Your Removable Appliance
Brush your removable orthodontic appliance every day as a part of your regular brushing and flossing schedule. Since food particles and plaque can accumulate on an appliance just as they do on your teeth, it is important to soak the appliance daily. Dissolve a Polident, Efferdent, or other denture-cleaning tablets in a glass of tap water at room temperature and soak your appliance once every day. Your appliance will taste better and you will prevent plaque and bacterial accumulation.
In most situations, common sense will tell you what to avoid. Hard foods, sticky foods, and foods high in sugar must be avoided. Hard foods can break or damage wires and brackets. Sticky foods can get caught between brackets and wires. Minimize sugary foods; they cause tooth decay and related problems. Nail biting, pencil, and pen chewing and chewing on foreign objects should be avoided. If your child is due for their annual exam, contact our Davie, Plantation, or Tamarac office to schedule an appointment.
Eating With Braces
- Gum (sugar-free or regular)
- Licorice
- Sugar Daddies
- Toffee
- Tootsie Rolls
- Caramels
- Starburst
- Popcorn
- Ice
- Nuts
- Hard Taco Shells
- French bread crust/rolls
- Corn on the cob
- Apples and carrots (unless cut into small pieces)
- Bagels
- Chips
- Jolly Ranchers
- Cake
- Ice Cream
- Cookies
- Pie
- Candy
- Soda
- Gatorade
- Kool-Aid
- Drinks with sugar
- Candy
Emergency Orthodontic Care
If you or your little one need assistance with a broken appliance, pain, or inflammation, contact our office to schedule an emergency appointment as soon as possible.
Get Started
Contact our office to schedule an appointment. We look forward to speaking with you!