1
Use a dry brush with a small amount of toothpaste. Place the bristles where gums and teeth meet.
2
Use a circular, vibrating motion around the gum lines, 10 seconds on each tooth.
3
Brush slowly, each arch separately, every tooth.
4
Brush the lower teeth up and the upper teeth down. Brush your tongue and the roof of your mouth too!
1
Carefully pull floss between wire and braces. *A floss threader may be helpful.
2
Floss carefully around the braces. Then, floss carefully around the gum area.
3
Floss carefully around each tooth, making a "C" shape on either side.
FOODS TO EAT/AVOID
NOTE
Unless the packaging says that it will not stick to dental work, avoid gum. Chewing gum wraps around brackets and wires and can cause damage to your orthodontic appliances and your teeth. Please ask your orthodontist if you have a question about specific food.
Be Very Careful With The Following
Hard bread rolls
Hard toast
Pizza crust
Fritos, Doritos or any corn snacks
Pretzels (hard or soft)
Hard French fries
Do Not Bite Into
Hard candy
Chewing on ice is a definite No-No
Lollipops / Candy Canes
Popsicles or other frozen foods
Large hard raw fruits and vegetables - Cut them up first
Avoid
Sunflower seeds
Candied apples
Peanut brittle
Any chewy candy
Nuts
Jerky
Taffy
Any other sticky, chewy or hard foods
Bubble gum
Caramels
Licorice
