Taking Care of Your Braces
Interdental Toothbrush
A Proxybrush is an interdental (between the teeth) toothbrush that you may use to clean underneath and around your wires and braces. Use the Proxybrush gently to avoid damaging your wires. The Proxybrush will help you to clean your braces while maintaining healthy teeth and gums.
Antibacterial Mouthwash
Peroxyl, a hydrogen peroxide antiseptic mouth rinse, will reduce inflammation to your gums and cheeks. Peroxyl helps to prevent infection and decrease irritation that may develop from your braces. Rinse your mouth with two teaspoons of Peroxyl (half a capful) for one minute and then spit it out. You may use Peroxyl 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, Peroxyl helps the inside of your mouth heal. Peroxyl can be used for general irritation caused by your braces or for canker sores, cheek bites and other minor temporary injuries to the gums.
Topical Fluoride
Phos-Flur is a sodium fluoride gel or rinse that helps prevent tooth decay while you are wearing braces by killing bacteria and replacing minerals in tooth enamel that have been exposed to harmful acids. The use of Phos-Flur does not replace daily brushing and flossing but should be done following your daily schedule at bedtime. You may not eat or drink for 30 minutes after you use Phos-Flur. It is important for the active ingredient to stay on your teeth for 30 minutes, so do not wash it away by eating or drinking.
Cleaning Your Removable Appliance
Brush your removable appliance every day as a part of your regular brushing and flossing schedule. Because food particles and plaque can accumulate on your appliance just as they do on your teeth, soak the appliance daily. Dissolve a Polident, Efferdent or other denture-cleaning tablet 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.
Broken Appliance Policy
Broken brackets and loose bands can be problems that occur during orthodontic treatment. We understand that accidents happen. For example a bracket may become loose due to trauma to your mouth while playing sports, or maybe you loosen a band when you ate something hard or sticky.
Our policy allows up to three loose metal bands or brackets without additional costs to your treatment. However, each subsequent loose or broken band and/or bracket will incur a repair fee of $75 per band or bracket. The replacement cost for ceramics brackets is also $75, but will be charged after one breakage.
Excessive broken brackets and loose bands will delay your treatment and may result in unnecessary additional treatment costs. If you have a broken appliance, please inform our office when it happens so we can try our best to schedule your repair promptly and ensure timely completion of your treatment.
Please be kind to your braces. We are happy to provide you with additional copies of the “No-No Food List” and we are always available to answer any questions you have about habits that might be detrimental to healthy, on-time treatment.
Please visit our Emergency Info page to learn about what to do in the event of an orthodontic emergency.