OFFICE LOCATIONS 7501 Fort Hamilton Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11228 Phone: 718.833.0672 Fax: 718.833.6639 60 Cromwell Avenue Staten Island, NY 10314 Phone: 718.987.2320 Fax: 718.667.8589 Created by Ortho Sesame

EATING WITH BRACES What can you eat? Let's talk about what you shouldn't eat! If you've been wanting to drop a few pounds, the first week wearing braces is just your chance! For the first day or so, stick to soft foods. Avoid tough meats, hard breads, and raw vegetables. Before long, you'll be able to bite a cucumber again. But you'll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as along as you're wearing braces. ORTHODONTIC DIET CHART Absolutely NO Gum - sugarless or otherwise Caramels Caramel Apples Toffee Licorice Gummy Bears Now & Laters Starbursts Sugar Daddies Sugar Babies Tootsie Rolls Apples or Carrots (unless cooked or cut into small pieces) Nuts Popcorn Hard Candy Corn on the Cob Bagels Pizza Crusts Jerky Hard Pretzels Ice Doritos EAT MUCH LESS Candy Ice Cream Cookies Cake Pie Foods with sugar DRINK MUCH LESS Soda Pop Drinks with sugar AVOID CHEWING ON PENS, PENCILS, AND FINGERNAILS GENERAL SORENESS When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. This can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoon of salt in 8 ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. If the tenderness is severe, take aspirin or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain. The lips, cheeks and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We'll show you how! LOOSENING OF TEETH This is to be expected throughout treatment. Don't worry! It's normal. Teeth must loosen first so they can be moved. The teeth will again become rigidly fixed in their new-corrected-positions. CARE OF APPLIANCES To successfully complete the treatment plan, the patient must work together with the orthodontist. The teeth and jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if the patient consistently wears the rubber bands, headgear or other appliances as prescribed. Damaged appliances lenghten the treament time. BRUSHING AND FLOSSING WITH BRACES It is more important than ever to brush and floss regularly when you have Braces, so the teeth and gums are healthy after orthodontic treatment. Patients who do not keep their teeth clean may require more frequent visits to the dentist for a professional cleaning. Adults who have a history of gum disease should also see a periodontist during orthodontic treatment. Brush 4 times a day; morning, noon, dinner, bedtime Brush under, above, behind and around ALL surfaces of the teeth AND braces Brush inside and outside of both top and bottom gums Rinse mouth thoroughly after brushing USE A SOFT TOOTHBRUSH! BRUSH SLOWLY! TAKE YOUR TIME! SEE YOUR GENERAL DENTIST REGULARLY WHILE YOU WEAR BRACES. RETAINER CARE AND INSTRUCTIONS Wear your retainers full time, until the doctor instructs otherwise Take your retainers out when eating…and always put retainers in their case! (Most appliances are lost in school lunch rooms or restaurants.) Clean retainers thoroughly once a day with a toothbrush and toothpaste. Use warm but not hot water. Brushing retainers removes the plaque, and eliminated odors. Efferdent or other orthodontic appliance cleaners can be used, but do not take the place of brushing. When retainers are not in your mouth they should ALWAYS be in a retainer case. Pets love to chew on them! Initially, you may find it difficult to speak. Practice speaking, reading, or singing out loud to get used to them faster. Retainers are breakable, so treat them with care. If retainers are lost or broken call us immediately. If you have any questions or concerns about your retainers, or your retainers need adjusting, call us. Do not try to adjust them yourself. Always bring your retainers to your appointments. Retainer replacement is expensive…with proper care they will last for years! Remove retainers when swimming. Keep retainers away from hot water, hot car dashboards, pockets, the washing machine, and napkins. Athletics If you play sports, it's important that you consult us for special precautions. A protective mouthguard is advised for playing contact sports. In case of any accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances damaged, phone at once for an appointment. In the meantime, treat your discomfort as you would treat any general soreness. Loose Wire or Band Don't be alarmed if a wire or band comes loose. This happens occasionally. If wire protrudes and is irritating, use a blunt instrument (back of spoon or the eraser end of a pencil) and carefully, gently push the irritating wire under the archwire. Simply get it out of the way. If irritation to the lips or mouth continues, place wax or wet cotton on the wire to reduce the annoyance. Call our office as soon as possible for an appointment to check and repair the appliances. If any piece comes off, save it and bring it with you to the office.