Welcome to our Life With Braces page!
Please bookmark this page so you can reference it later.
Here you will find information and Do's and Don'ts (such as "No Chips") that will come in handy during the course of your orthodontic treatment.
We also have 2 videos below which review everything we went over after you had your braces put on - including foods to avoid and how to take care of your teeth. You can watch these from the comfort of your home so please take the time to watch both of these videos.
Visit our MHO Amazon Storefront for our recommendations on oral health care products, electric toothbrushes, mouthrinses, and more the help you through your orthodontic journey with us!
Braces First Aid
You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to temporarily solve many Braces First Aid problems yourself until your next scheduled visit in our Longview office.
Especially if you live in Gilmer, Kilgore, Marshall, or even as far as Carthage, Mount Pleasant or Shreveport, there are a lot of things you can do at home to help alleviate any orthodontic issues which can help you get by until your next visit or until you are able to come into our Longview orthodontic office.
If there is a loose piece that you can remove, simply put it in a plastic bag or envelope and bring it with you to your next appointment. If your braces or other orthodontic appliances are poking you, put soft wax on the piece that's sticking out. If the wire has slid to one side, you can pull it back to the other side with needle-nosed pliers, replacing it in the tube on the back tooth.
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. Stick to a soft diet until your teeth do not hurt to chew. Irritated gums and other sore spots can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt-water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in eight ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. If the tenderness is severe, take Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain.
The lips, cheeks, and tongue may become irritated for one to two weeks as they learn a new posture and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We'll show you how!
If your appliance is poking you, please place wax on the part that is bothering you.
Loose bracket
If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it if needed for comfort. If the bracket or band can be removed easily, save it to bring to your next visit.
Loose wire
Using a pair of tweezers or needle-nosed pliers, try to put your wire back into place. It is okay to use a piece of floss to tie the wire into place: tie the floss around the bracket in place of the missing colored o-ring. If you cannot put the wire into a comfortable position, and covering the end with wax doesn't help, as a last resort use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If the end of the wire is still sharp place wax on it.
Poking wire
Using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or place wax on it so that it is no longer poking.
True emergencies at the orthodontist are quite rare, but when they do occur, we are here for you!! As a general rule, you should call or text our Longview office at 903-212-7737 if you encounter a situation you can't take care of on your own. Our scheduling coordinators will be able to get you set up for a visit to resolve the problem.
