Patient Info

When you begin treatment, our orthodontic care team will spend extra time with you, giving you care instructions and tips to stay on track and complete your treatment on schedule. Below are some reminders about foods to avoid, home care and more.

Experiencing discomfort? Some problems can be temporarily relieved with these simple instructions. Or, feel free to call us anytime.

Foods to Avoid

You can minimize the breakage of your orthodontic appliances by avoiding the following types of foods:

Gum and Candy
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Candies such as caramels, taffy, and gum can get caught in your braces and are extremely hard to clean out of your braces.
Hard Foods
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Bagels, pizza crust, nuts and ice can break off a bracket which may result in longer treatment times! Also avoid foods you have to bite into like an apple, carrots, corn on the cob, ribs or chicken wings.
Sugary Foods
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Avoid foods that are high in sugar content. Cake, cookies, ice cream and sugary drinks like soda, sports drinks and sweet tea should be enjoyed only once per day.

Home Care

It is important to maintain excellent oral hygiene while you have braces. Taking the extra time to clean your teeth will help prevent decalcification and white spots. Be sure to brush using toothpaste with fluoride after every meal or snack for at least two minutes. Also, don’t forget to floss! You will find that floss threaders make the job much easier. It is also important to keep your regular visits with your general dentist for exams and cleanings.

Cooperation

During your orthodontic treatment, Dr. Metz may ask you to wear rubber bands or other types of appliances to help achieve the desired result. Your cooperation is key to a successful result. Excessive breakage of wires or brackets may lengthen the treatment time. Your treatment is just the beginning of a lifetime with a beautiful smile; learn now to take care of it!

In Case of Emergency

Orthodontic emergencies rarely occur, however if you are experiencing sharp pain or severe discomfort from a poking wire or a broken appliance, please call our office and we will be happy to assist you. Some problems can be solved at home or can be temporarily relieved with the simple instructions below.

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