Our office will always offer additional orthodontic care if needed. This can be anything from a checkup, to a consultation, or even emergency situations. Just give us a call and we will provide you with the orthodontic care you need! Some of the orthodontic services we provide are listed below.
What are the different parts of your braces?
Braces are composed of a variety of different parts that all work together to straighten your teeth! It’s important to know the names of all the parts, that way appointments can be easier for both you and for us! When talking about your braces as a whole, the term they will be referred to is appliance. Below is an alphabetical list of the different parts of your appliance.
- Archwire: The archwire is the star of your appliance! It is one of the main components that help align your teeth into the straighter formation we have planned for you. This wire is bent and replaced each visit. These bends will slowly and carefully move your teeth. The archwire is typically made of stainless steel, but it can also be made of titanium.
- Band: The band is made of a thin piece of metal (stainless steel) that is fitted to your back teeth to act as an anchor for your appliance to hang on to. These are cemented (a special type of dental glue) into your teeth to make sure they don’t move!
- Brackets: Brackets are the small metal parts that are cemented to the front side of your teeth! These are usually the part of the appliance that most people think of when they hear the word “braces”. Each bracket has a small door in it that will open and close when lining up your archwire. Brackets can be metal or ceramic. The ceramic brackets typically match your natural tooth colour better.
- Elastic Bands: Elastic bands are used to help create a gentle push or force to get your teeth to move in one direction. Elastic bands are often attached to one lower molar and one upper tooth. Which teeth depends on the needs of your journey. The brackets that will connect to your elastics will have a small hook to hold onto the band.
- Elastic Ties: Elastic ties are the part that gives your braces a colour! These are wrapped around individual brackets to help hold the archwire in place. They are small rubber bands.
- Springs: Springs are exactly what they sound like! They are small springs that are fitted in your mouth, usually connected to brackets and around the archwire. Springs work to open or close gaps in between your teeth.
How to Keep Up with Your Oral Hygiene
Brushing Your Teeth
Brushing your teeth while having braces is super important! It’s easy for food and other debris to get caught in between wires, elastics, and brackets. When it comes to choosing your toothbrush, a soft bristle brush is best to use. Using toothpaste and moving your toothbrush in small circles is encouraged to make sure the bristles are able to poke into every possible nook and cranny. Don’t forget to brush the inside of your teeth as well as the chewing surfaces and tongue! Bacteria growth can appear anywhere and maintaining cleanliness through brushing is the first step in preventing any issues. If your gums bleed while using a soft bristle toothbrush, that’s usually an indication that you need to work on your brushing habits. For people who have braces, it may be better to have a longer dedicated toothbrushing time, as well as using additional brushing products such as a proxabrush. A proxabrush is a mini toothbrush that can be used to brush closer around brackets and under wires.
How To Floss Your Teeth
Flossing is something that everyone forgets but it is an essential part of maintaining the health of your mouth! Flossing is never a step that should be skipped. When you have braces, flossing your teeth is even more important to keep in mind. Brackets and wires can make the flossing process difficult, so make sure you set aside more time each day. By flossing your teeth, you are preventing hard to reach cavities that can form in between your teeth.
We have some tips for you to think about when flossing your teeth with braces! This will make the whole process easier. Try using a type of floss that is easy to poke between your teeth. Some types of floss have an end that is more stiff and allows for easy gliding. Some people find it easier to start at the base of the tooth, near your gum, and work towards the open edge. Using a floss such as this is also beneficial to use between your brackets. It will be easy to slip through the wire and be adjusted for cleaning. If you want to be shown how, just ask your orthodontist, dentist, or hygienist!
Other Oral Hygiene Tools
If you brush and floss your teeth regularly, you may not need to use additional oral hygiene tools. But it never hurts to make sure your teeth are sparkly clean! Some individuals will use other items such as mouthwash, a water flosser, or toothpicks.
Common Problems That May Appear
Aching or Tender Teeth
After visiting for an adjustment, it is completely normal for your teeth to feel a little sore after. This is because a new archwire or other part was moved or installed. This is a good sign, it means that your teeth are moving as they should be! This dull ache will go away in 2 to 4 days. To help the pain, you can take some over the counter painkillers, use a saltwater rinse, and eat soft foods.
Cuts on Cheeks or Lips
Minor wounds on your lips or cheeks are also normal. The skin on the inside of your mouth is soft and easy to cut. But, keep in mind that the inside of your mouth is also a location that heals quickly! Over time, your lips and cheeks will become less sensitive and able to protect itself from the brackets or wires that it may be rubbing against. Be sure to visit your orthodontist if there are any cuts that are extremely painful. There are methods we can give you to help you feel better, such as a small piece of wax to place on top of the offending part of the appliance, antiseptic mouthwash to promote faster healing, or a topical anesthetic, such as Orabase or Orajel, to help provide numbing and immediate relief to the area.
Bands or Brackets That Are Loose
Even though brackets and bands are cemented into your teeth, it is still possible for them to break. This can be caused by a variety of reasons. Broken brackets are not always seen as an emergency so it may take a day or two to get into an appointment. The most important brackets that would be considered an emergency if they were to break or become loose are the front four on the upper or lower teeth, or if it is a bracket that is holding an elastic band. If there are any irritating parts of a broken bracket or band, place some of the wax you were given in your braces kit on the spot until it is time for your appointment.
Loose or Pokey Wires
Like brackets and bands, sometimes wires can become loose or broken due to a variety of reasons. If possible, see if you can use a q-tip or a clean pencil eraser to push the wire back in if it is poking your gums or cheek. A wax ball is also always a good idea to put where the wire has broken. This will protect your gums and cheek while allowing for time to heal.
Issues With Your Orthodontic Palette Expander
If you have an orthodontic palette expander and it has broken, been damaged, or is loose, please contact us right away! Below is a video that we have prepared showing you what to do in an emergency. The best option is to follow these instructions and call us as soon as possible so we can book you in for an emergency appointment.
An Elastic Band That is Missing or Loose
If you have elastic bands or ties with your braces and you notice that one is missing or loose, don’t worry! This is usually a fix that can be attended to at your next appointment!
Accidents to Your Mouth
If you are involved in any sort of accident, minor or large, that includes an injury or hit to the mouth, please call the office immediately so we can book an appointment and perform an examination! We want to make sure that you and your teeth are safe and healthy. If necessary, we can work on a healing plan to properly ensure that the rest of your treatment will go well.
How to Care For Retainers & Removable Parts
Typically, before or after your braces treatment, you will be given removable tools such as retainers. It’s important to keep care of these parts too. In the case of retainers, there are specific methods that should be used when completing the maintenance of your tools. Retainers should be cleaned daily, just like your teeth. But instead of using your toothbrush and toothpaste, your retainer should be cleaned with a toothbrush and gentle antibacterial hand soap. Toothpaste can be too abrasive and cause damage to your retainer. Also be sure to use cool water when cleaning. Hot water can cause distortions to your retainer. It’s important to make sure it holds up the shape it started with as it is shaped specifically to match your mouth. If absolutely needed, a denture cleaner can be used, but make sure you use a clear tablet rather than a blue as the blue can stain clear retainers.
How to Complete Maintenance
It is very important to stay on top of maintenance and oral hygiene during the course of your treatment. Not taking proper care of your oral hygiene when going through a braces treatment can lead to lasting issues that can easily be prevented. This can cause problems such as cavities, discolouration, and even gum disease. If you ever have any concerns about your oral hygiene or other questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at the office so we can help you as much as possible! Below are some tips we have on proper oral maintenance.
- Make sure you brush your teeth after every meal!
The less time there is for food to sit and decay in your mouth, the better! Not only will this help things like bad breath, it will greatly benefit the health of your teeth. Braces can easily trap food particles which then start to break down and can cause bacteria growth, and in turn, will eat away at your teeth or cause staining. Make sure you are using a soft bristled toothbrush in circular motions around the bracket. Don’t forget to brush the chewing surfaces and inside of your teeth! - Make sure you use threadable floss or a floss threader.
When you have braces, we understand that it can be even more difficult to floss; however, that does not mean you can skip one of the most important parts of oral hygiene! There are special forms of floss made specifically for braces, people with crowded teeth, or people who have other appliances present in their mouth. One of these is threadable floss. This piece of floss has a stiff end that can be easily maneuvered between teeth. Typically, people like to begin their flossing through the part of their teeth that is closest to the gum line. Another option is to purchase a floss threader which looks similar to a sewing needle. There is a hole on one end where the soft floss can be threaded through and then pushed between teeth. If you are curious about these flossing methods, call us and we will be happy to explain and show you the proper flossing process! - Make sure you use a proxabrush.
A proxabrush is sometimes also called a christmas tree brush (because they look like christmas trees)! These brushes are specially designed to fit between gaps in teeth similar to floss, and remove debris, food particles, or plaque buildup. Proxabrushes are excellent for people with braces as there are always large gaps between wires, brackets, and various sides of your teeth. Using these will help prevent any bacteria or other buildups that can occur from lasting food, debris, or plaque left in between your teeth and appliance.
Foods You Should Avoid
Unfortunately, there are many food items that can cause harm to your appliance during the course of your treatment. But thankfully braces only last a year or two, so you’ll be able to eat your favourite foods again soon! Below is a list of some foods that are too hard or too sticky to safely eat while wearing braces.
Hard Foods
Hard foods should be avoided during your treatment because crunching down on them can cause strain on your brackets, wire, or elastics. This leads to an increased risk of them breaking off. Some of these foods include:
- Apples
- Carrots
- Corn on the cob
- Hard candy like Jolly Ranchers
- Nuts
- Chips
- Popcorn
- Ice
- Crusty bread products like croutons
Sticky Foods
Sticky foods should be avoided because they can wrap around the wire or bracket and become too difficult to properly clean. This can lead to decay and bacteria growth. Additionally, some sticky foods can get caught in your appliance and cause a suction that can pull off and break various parts of your appliance. Some examples of sticky foods include:
- Gum
- Taffy
- Caramel
- Tootsie Rolls
- Sugar Daddies
- Starburst
- Skittles
- Licorice