- Reference Number: HEY1219/2021
- Departments: Oral Surgery, Dentistry and Max Fax
- Last Updated: 7 May 2021
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- It is likely to be sore and your teeth may feel tender for about three to five days after fitting your appliance. If necessary, pain relief medication which you would normally take for a headache may help.
- The brace can sometimes rub against your lips and cheeks which may cause an ulcer. We will give you some silicone wax to take home with you and show you how to use this. If your brace is causing you pain and digging into your lips and cheeks causing them to bleed please contact the department on (01482) 468317 for an emergency appointment.
- After you have had your appliance fitted it is best to have soft foods that are easy to chew and swallow. Once the discomfort has settled, meals can be eaten as normal however you must avoid sticky hard foods such as hard-boiled sweets and chewing gum as these types of foods can damage the brace. We recommend you cut hard foods such as carrots, pizza crust with a knife and fork rather than biting straight into them as this may also cause the brace to break. Avoid drinking sugary and fizzy drinks.
- It is essential that you keep both your teeth and your brace clean throughout your treatment. By not doing this you may suffer from decay and white or brown marking on your teeth known as de-calcification. We will demonstrate to you how to brush and clean around your brace.
- We recommend brushing three times per day with a fluoride toothpaste (morning, evening and one other time). Interdental brushes will need to be used after every meal to remove any food / debris. A fluoride mouthwash can also be used once a day at a separate time to brushing.
- If your appliance becomes loose or breaks please contact the department on (01482) 468317 at your earliest convenience. A broken brace means it is not working and this may prolong your treatment.
- If you break your brace repeatedly or do not keep your oral health up to standard your brace treatment may be stopped.
- Appointments to adjust your brace will be every 6 – 8 weeks over a period of approx. 18 – 24 months. If you are unable to attend an appointment please contact the department as soon as possible to re-arrange.
- It is very important you maintain your routine dental check – ups throughout the duration of your orthodontic treatment.
