About Caring for Teeth With Braces or Retainers
Learn about the disease, illness and/or condition Caring for Teeth With Braces or Retainers including: symptoms, causes, treatments, contraindications and conditions at ClusterMed.info.
Caring for Teeth With Braces or Retainers
Caring for Teeth With Braces or Retainers |
---|
Caring for Teeth With Braces or Retainers InformationCaring for RetainersEvery time you brush your teeth, brush your retainer as well. Once a day or at least once a week, disinfect your retainer by soaking it in a denture cleanser, such as Efferdent or Polident or other brand name solutions. Add the cleanser to a cup full of warm -- but never hot -- water. Thoroughly rinse the retainer with plain water before placing it back in your mouth. Foods to Avoid While Wearing BracesMost of the foods you like can still be eaten if you cut them into small pieces that can be easily chewed. There are certain foods, however, that can break or loosen your braces and should be avoided, such as:
Other ProblemsBecause braces brush up against the inside surface of your mouth, you may be more prone to developing canker sores. If a canker sore develops, your orthodontist or dentist may prescribe a corticosteroid ointment or a prescription or nonprescription pain-reliever solution to reduce the pain and irritation and help heal the sore. Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Department of Dentistry. Reviewed by Jay H. Rosoff, DDS, on March 1, 2007 Edited by Charlotte E. Grayson, MD, on May 1, 2005. Portions of this page © The Cleveland Clinic 2000-2005 Playing Sports While Wearing BracesYou can continue to participate in any sport you choose. When playing sports where there is a possibility of getting hit in the mouth, a specially designed mouthguard will need to be worn. The mouthguard, made of durable plastic, is designed to fit comfortably over your braces and will protect the soft tissues inside your mouth. Special Brushing & Flossing InstructionsTo floss your teeth, feed the short end of the floss through the space between the main arch wire and the upper portion of the tooth closest to the gum. Use a gentle sawing motion to work the floss on each side of the two teeth the floss is between. Be careful not to pull with too much force around the arch wire. Begin brushing your teeth by using a regular soft toothbrush. Brush down from the top and then up from the bottom on each tooth with braces. Next, brush your teeth with a proxabrush or "Christmas tree" brush. This brush is specially designed for cleaning between two braces. Insert the brush down from the top and then up from the bottom between two braces. Use several strokes in each direction before moving on to the next space between two braces. Repeat the procedure until all teeth have been cleaned. What to Do if a Bracket or Wire BreaksBroken braces, loose bands or protruding wires can cause problems but rarely require emergency treatment. However, do call your orthodontist to set up an office visit to fix the problem. If you suffer a more severe mouth or facial injury, seek immediate help. Here's some tips to get you through some of the more common problems until you are able to see your orthodontist:
|
More Diseases
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
Diseases & Illnesses Definitions Of The Day
- Resection, Liver (Liver Resection) ‐ Can a portion of the remaining normal liver grow back?, What are the results (survival and recurrence) of liver resection? …
- Constipation Foods to Eat for Relief (Top Foods For Constipation Relief) ‐
- Ingrown Hair ‐ Are ingrown hairs the same as razor bumps or pseudofolliculitis? …
- Physiologic Jaundice (Newborn Jaundice (Neonatal Jaundice)) ‐ Breast milk jaundice, Breastfeeding jaundice, Can jaundice in newborns be prevented? …
- Green Stools (Stool Color Changes) ‐
- Lymphapheresis (Hemapheresis) ‐ How is apheresis performed?, What are contraindications to apheresis? …
- Taste Disorders ‐ Are taste disorders serious?, Can taste disorders be treated? …
- Ear Cracking Sounds (Eustachian Tube Problems) ‐ Eustachian tube definition and facts, How do changes in altitude or air travel affect Eustachian tube dysfunction or blockage? …
- Coats' Disease ‐ Can Coats' disease be prevented?, How do health care professionals determine the staging of Coats' disease? …
- ESDR (Renal Artery Stenosis) ‐ How common is renal artery stenosis?, How is renal artery stenosis diagnosed? …