Post-Operative Home Care Instructions for FASTBRACES

Klement Family Dental Care feels that your oral hygiene is a top priority during your orthodontic treatment.

Please read the instructions in your home care kit. Included in your home care kit is a special toothbrush, used to clean between, under and around the wires, the brackets and your gums to loosen any food particles. You should floss daily. Rinse your mouth thoroughly after you brush, and also rinse your toothbrush. Klement Family Dental Care recommends using a water oral hygiene device that helps remove food particles.

The brackets and wires on your teeth make it harder for you to clean them. Trapped food particles and plaque are a breeding ground for cavity causing bacteria. If gum disease develops, it causes swelling of the gums, which makes proper cleaning even more difficult. It is very important to get the food particles out of your mouth, after each meal, because they can stain tooth enamel.

Always use the proper techniques that Klement Family Dental Care has shown you for brushing and flossing. While wearing your braces, be sure to schedule regular cleanings at least every 3 months to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Food to AVOID while wearing your braces:

Becoming familiar with your braces usually means making a few adjustments to your eating habits. Some foods damage your braces or cause problems for your teeth. The following list of foods should either be avoided OR you must prepare these foods differently than you have in the past and use caution while eating them.

  • Apples: do not bite into a whole apple, cut the apple into small pieces
  • Bubble Gum: Check with Klement Family Dental Care
  • Candy: no caramel, taffy, gummy bears, etc
  • Carrots: cut carrots into thinly sliced pieces
  • Corn on the Cob: remove the corn kernels from the cob before eating
  • Sticky Foods: Avoid, they can bend wires or pull brackets off
  • Sugary Foods: If you must indulge, brush your teeth ASAP or rinse your mouth with water
  • No Corn Chips or Pretzels
  • No Ice
  • No Nuts, Popcorn
  • No Pizza Crust or Crusty Breads

During Treatment, if a bracket or wire becomes loose, please call the office as soon as possible so it can be cemented or replaced.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the office.