Advices to the patient during the orthodontic treatment

This section is very important to you, if you have already become the orthodontic patient or are close to it. The fixation of the bracket system will not only change the shape of your smile for a while, but will possibly make you change you food style and habits.

The orthodontia distinction from the most of dental professions is that not only the dentist works to achieve the result, but also the patient. His contribution to the smile that follows the treatment is very important. The American orthodontist R. Alexander said that he was a great orthodontist only in collaboration with a great patient. Just the opposite, a good result was not to be attained with a bad patient. All the local orthodontists will agree with these words, because the collaboration of the dentist and the patient is very important! For this reason, it is important to memorize all of the recommendations described in this article and follow them strictly. Of course, the orthodontist will give you other pieces of advice as well during the treatment. Only most common recommendations for the treatment with the bracket system are given in the article below.

Recommendation 1

While being treated with the help of the bracket system, the patient must pay special attention to oral hygiene. It is essential to brush your teeth in the mirror after every meal for at least 10 minutes, using a toothbrush (some manual, electric, ultrasonic ones), together with dental floss and interdental brush. The ways of tooth brushing and oral hygiene will be minutely considered in a separate article.

Recommendation 2

This recommendation as well as the most part of the others will be devoted to the peculiarities of nutrition while being treated with the bracket system. At the time of treatment, the patient should abandon the use of the products to be gnawed such as nuts, seeds, popcorn, and the like, since this can lead to the damage of the system.

Recommendation 3

Solid kinds of food that require biting should not be consumed. Instead, the patient should cut them into small pieces. To do this, it is recommended to wear a small folding knife during the treatment. It is necessary to cut hard vegetables and fruit such as carrots, apples, pears, etc. This will also include hard meat.

Recommendation 4

It is necessary to refuse the use of viscous products: halva, toffee etc. But the biggest loss for many people is the need to refuse chewing gum, as it is extremely difficult later to clean it from the orthodontic devices. In connection with this, the recommendation is not only to follow the above-mentioned, but also to enjoy chewing gum fully before fixing the brackets:)

Recommendation 5

This recommendation is connected with the law of physics about the volume change of different bodies at different temperature changes. The recommendation is related to denial to consume very hot or cold foods, especially at their quick combination (or example, the coffee with ice-cream). When the temperature is increasing it leads to a phenomenon that the metal braces are expanding much faster than the tooth enamel that can lead to their unsticking. Also, the abrupt temperature change of the oral cavity can alter the properties of the orthodontic arch.

Recommendation 6

Being treated with the aesthetic brackets (but not lingual), especially with plastic ones, it is important to limit the consumption of dyeing beverages and foods. Coffee, strong black tea, blueberry jam, etc. can lead to the staining of the transparent braces and fixing material.

Also, it is necessary to abandon “Coke”, “Fanta”, ”Sprite”, and this-type beverages as they increase the risk of tooth decay, especially when being treated with non-removable orthodontic appliances.

Recommendation 7

After fixing the braces, tooth pain and discomfort are possible during the first couple of weeks. Some patients, especially the ones with severe congestion, may feel pain right at the stage of the installation of separators, before the fixation of orthodontic rings. All these symptoms are normal and pass pretty quickly.

Also, The elements of the bracket system may hurt to the mucous membrane. To avoid this, it is necessary to use at first a special plastic wax, given by the dentist. If the injuries trouble much or do not heal for a long time, it is necessary to apply anti-inflammatory, tanning or healing medicines (for example, Solcoseryl).

Recommendation 8

In case of the unsticking of the bracket, buccal tube or the de-cementing of the orthodontic rings, it is necessary to save them and immediately make an appointment with the dentist. The necessity to preserve the unstuck elements is connected with the point, that the dentist might not have the ones. This could lead to the delay of the repeated fixation for the time necessary to order the lost item.

Recommendation 9

The most common, but the most important recommendation is to visit in due time and with the established regularity your orthodontist. And of course, do not forget about the recommendations outlined above.

Conclusion

Concluding these recommendations, I would like to remind you again about the importance of cooperation between the orthodontist and patient. It is necessary to help your doctor to get the great results expressed in your charming smile.