Orthodontic Patients

Aims

The aims for orthodontic treatment is to improve your appearance but also quite often, improve the ease with which your teeth can be cleaned and cared for. The ensure these aims are met you need to maintain excellent dental hygiene - regularly see your hygienist, and supplement with non-alcohol fluoride mouth rinses.

Fixed Appliances

Before banding make sure you have a full dental check and clean
Always keep wax to hand to prevent cuts and ulcers from your brackets
Cut down on fizzy/sugary drinks and foodsCut down on fizzy/sugary drinks and foods
Make sure you brush and floss twice a day and use your fluoride mouthwash after every meal
Use Superfloss between your arch wires and your gums
If not using Superfluoss you have to use a floss threader with normal floss. See below or ask your hygienist for advice.

Removable Appliances

Never eat with your removable appliances.
Inman and mechanical appliances will get clogged and break at your expense.
Invisalign and other clear aligners can deform and distort - delaying your treatment completion significantly.
After eating / drinking go to the bathroom and have a quick rinse so that your appliance can go in to a clean mouth.
Whilst eating keep your appliance in a case, maintain good hand hygiene as this will be going back in to your mouth. Extra bouts of colds / flu are not what you need. This also stops waiters from walking away with your appliance with the dirty dishes

Retainers

You should always ask for fixed retainers after treatment to ensure maintenance of your treatment outcome. Ask how you should floss between the fixed retainer
Cleaning is more involved with fixed retainers, but with the guidance of your hygienist you will know how to do this properly.
Wear your night time removable (Essix) retainer every night
Have at least 2 night-time removable retainers so that you can alternate their use, or have a back up in case the first one breaks
Clean your retainers every morning with a few drops of fairy liquid (dishwashing detergent) and a soft brush.
Once a month, place the retainer in COLD water in a cup and with a teaspoon of white vinegar. This will keep it clean

Hygiene Appointments

Regular hygiene visits are a must post-orthodontic treatment because the calculus (Tartar) on teeth will stop removable retainers fitting properly.
Heavy calculus build up on fixed retainers is difficult to remove gently and is more likely to result in the retainer being damaged or dislodged
Hygiene appointments throughout and after treatment will keep oral tissues stable, minimise gum recession and the chance of circular white spot lesions which are only visible after your brackets have been removed
Ask your hygienist to do an airflow - will get rid of stains easier with less pressure on your teeth

Wishing you the best outcome in your journey!