Dental
braces care tips |
| 1. Oral Hygiene |
| You are advised to brush your
teeth frequently while wearing braces as foods
tend to get stuck between the braces and can cause fast
decay. Besides, brushing frequently improves your oral
hygiene as well. |
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| Floss everyday. Use
floss threaders in order to floss the underwires. |
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| Use the special tooth gel
which is available at our counter during your visits at
A Line Dental. This gel helps to prevent cavities as well
as decalcification or white spots around your brackets.
This way, when your braces are removed, you will get a
perfect smile! |
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| Drink less soft drinks.
Soft drinks contain carbon dioxide and is often very acidic
which causes decalcification around your brackets. |
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| 2. Diet |
| As a general rule, avoid anything that
is hard, sticky or chewy. Some foods
to avoid include: |
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| Gummy bears |
Chewing on ice |
Hard bread crust |
| Hard pretzels |
Popcorn |
Frozen candy bars |
| Nuts |
Hard candies |
Sticky candies |
| Meat on the bone |
Celery |
Granola bars |
| Corn on the cob |
Hard pizza crust |
Crunchy chips |
| Carrots (unless in strips) |
Bubble gum/chewing gum |
Apples (unless peeled & in bite-sized pieces)
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Retainer
care tips |
| Now your braces are off and you're
enjoying your new smile, here are some tips to keep your
retainers in tip-top condition. |
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| Wear your retainers at all
night when you sleep, for 3 years, unless advised
otherwise. For the first 3 months after your braces are
off, wear your retainers at all times, except when playing
sports or eating. |
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| If you have to take them out, put
them back into the case and not on a napkin -
you don't want them accidentally thrown away! |
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| Retainers can get dirty very quickly
without regular cleaning. Brush them with cold
water each time you brush your teeth. |
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| Soak them with a denture cleansing
tablet in a cup of water once a month. You can
buy denture cleansing tablets from any supermarket or
pharmacy. Common brands are Polydent, Sterident,
Pearlie W, etc. |
| |
| Retainers are fragile
and can easily get broken if not in your mouth. Avoid
putting them in bags, back pockets, table tops etc. |
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| If you do break your retainers, don't
try to fix them yourself. Give us a call immediately
so we may make a new pair for you before your teeth begins
moving. |
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| Do not put retainers in direct
strong sunlight or in hot water. |
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| Remember: Retainers
are difficult to make and are expensive to replace. Take
care of them and keep your recall appointments with us!
With proper care, your retainers will serve you well for
a very long time. |
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