It’s really up to you whether your orthodontic treatment is a pleasant and very rewarding experience, or a “pain in the neck” (or teeth) for both of us.

Here’s what YOU can do:

1. Take extreme care of your mouth during treatment! Appliances are very delicate (although strong enough to do their jobs).
   
   
2. Be careful of what you eat and how you eat! Hard and sticky foods can do a great deal of damage.
   
   
3. Keep your braces and teeth EXTRA CLEAN! No matter how we prepare and clean your teeth, only conscientious care at home will keep them clean.
   
   
4. If you follow instructions, everything should go on schedule. If you don’t, NOTHING will be on schedule. It may even be impossible to solve your problem.

ORTHODONTIC DIET / do’s & don’ts

Foods that cannot be cleaned off the braces may lead to discoloration and decay of your teeth. Even though our braces and wires are metal, they are fragile and easily damaged by eating the wrong foods.

An orthodontic patient who is careful can probably eat almost any food and do no damage to the braces. Many foods, however, are trouble. To be safe, ask us if you are in doubt.

Here are a few samples of foods to avoid during your treatment process.

ABSOLUTELY NO:

Sticky foods:

• gum (sugarless or not)
• caramel /caramel apples
• toffee, Now & Laters®
• Sugar Daddies/Babies®
• Tootsie Rolls®
• Starbursts®
• licorice
• gummy bears

Hard foods:

• nuts
• apples
• raw carrots (except very small pieces)
• popcorn, hard candy, corn on the cob
• Doritos®
• bagels
• pizza crusts
• hard pretzels
• jerky

EAT/DRINK LESS:

• candy
• ice cream
• cookies
• sugary foods
• cake
• pie
• pop
• sugary drinks.

And don’t chew on pens, pencils or fingernails!

important parts
OF ORTHODONTIC APPLIANCES

So that you will know what we are talking about!

This is a diagram of an orthodontic appliance, to help you understand its design and function.

DISCOMFORT & r e p a i r

You may be able to solve many braces problems temporarily by yourself until you can schedule a repair appointment with our office.

LOOSE BAND OR BRACKET:

If band or bracket is still attached to wire, leave it in place. If uncomfortable, place wax on it. If it comes out completely, wrap the brace or bracket in tissue. LOOSE WIRE: Try to place wire back in place with tweezers. If that is not possible, clip wire with fingernail clippers behind last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If there is any discomfort, place wax on it.

POKING WIRE:

Try to push sticking wire down with a spoon or eraser. If not possible, place wax on it.

LOST TIEWIRE OR ELASTIC TIE:

Notify us at your next appointment. SORENESS: Use warm salt water rinses and/or Tylenol® or Ibuprofen.

LOOSE APPLIANCE:

If appliance is sticking or poking, place wax on it.

OFFICE NUMBER:

(614) 882-1185

EMERGENCY AFTER HOURS NUMBER:

(614) 906-1186

TOOTH brushing in westerville, ohio

One of the common fears about orthodontics is that poor oral hygiene can lead to permanent damaged marks on the teeth.

WHY?

The bands or bonded brackets do make your teeth harder to clean. The brackets, tubes and wires tend to make a little shelf around the outside of the teeth. This shelf makes it harder for your toothbrush to clean the spaces between your gums and the attachments.

If you fail to get the teeth clean and to exercise your gums, then the gums swell and make it even more difficult to clean. Foods that usually slide across the teeth and gums during chewing are prevented from this normal function.

Continued neglect of these areas will result in decay.

So when and how should you clean your teeth during orthodontic treatment?

WHEN?

Within five minutes after you eat. Easy to say, but sometimes hard to do? When you’re away from home we suggest you carry a travel toothbrush with you.

HOW?

1. First, move the brush back and forth across, brushing between the wires and gums in the upper and lower arches, to loosen the food particles. When you brush the gums you will also be brushing the most difficult to reach areas of your teeth: the Danger Zone between the gums and braces.
   
   
2. Next, brush the following correct way as if you had no bands on.
   
   
3. Rinse your mouth and toothbrush. LOOK IN A MIRROR to see if you have missed any places. Check the little half-moon spaces of tooth between the brackets and gums and the space between the molar tubes and gums. If you see any areas you have missed, clean them now.
   
   
4. When you have finished, the brackets and wires should be free of all food particles and the soft white coating (called plaque). The braces should look clean and shiny, like polished chrome.
   
   

A FINAL WORD...

A water pick can be very helpful, but should only be used after thorough brushing and flossing. It is not a substitute for brushing, but does rinse out food particles that the brush and floss cannot.

Remember, we know that it’s not easy to brush now that you have braces. However, they are a natural food trap!

rewards program | RAY BUCKS

Our Ray Bucks program helps us work together while making your orthodontic experience more fun. As you will see, happiness is beautiful smiles and on-time finishes. This requires cooperation in brushing, wearing rubber bands, avoiding damage to appliances and keeping appointments. At each regularly scheduled appointment, you will have the opportunity to earn Ray Bucks.

HOW TO EARN RAY BUCKS...

• Wearing your rubber bands as directed.
• Bringing your retainers or positioner with you to your appointment.
• Wearing your Ray’s World T-shirt or other Ray Gear.
• Being a good brusher (you can earn an extra Ray Buck for being a good brusher, maximum of 2 Ray Bucks per visit).

You are responsible for keeping track of your Ray Bucks and redeeming them. If we forget to give you the Ray Bucks you have earned, ask your clinical assistant for them before you leave the office. Your prize is our way of saying Thank You for being such a great patient.

Prizes are located in the showcase in the Clinical Area.

YOU, US & YOUR DENTIST partnership

PARTNERSHIP: YOU, YOUR ORTHODONTIST AND YOUR DENTIST

Achieving healthy, beautiful smiles is a team effort that involves the orthodontist, the family dentist, the patient (and the parents, if the patient is young) and, as needed, other dental specialists.

The orthodontist provides the expertise, the treatment plan and the techniques to straighten teeth and align jaws. The family dentist helps make sure that teeth and gums stay clean and healthy.

The patient must cooperate by following the dentist’s and the orthodontist’s instructions carefully so that the teeth and jaws move in the way desired and on the prescribed schedule.

Because dental hygiene is so important, regular visits to the family dentist must continue every six months during orthodontic treatment (or more often, if recommended).

It is essential that the patient avoid food which may damage orthodontic appliances. The patient must also maintain a healthy, nutritional diet to achieve the best possible results from treatment. A good diet provides essential nutrients to bones and tissues undergoing change during orthodontic treatment.