WHY IS TREATMENTIMPORTANT?
Orthodontic treatment helps ensure proper function and create healthy, beautiful smiles. Teeth that are misaligned are harder to clean and maintain as well as can cause abnormal wearing of tooth enamel which can lead to extensive and expensive dental procedures.

WHY SEE AN ORTHODONTICSPECIALIST?
They are the dental professionals with the skills and experience to best treat orthodontic problems. Aligning teeth to function properly and look great, too, is what an orthodontic specialist does best.

WHEN SHOULD CHILDREN GET THEIR FIRST CHECK-UP?
The best time for treatment is when an orthodontic problem arises, but as a general rule, age 7 is an ideal time to get an evaluation. There is usually an optimal time in your child’s life to achieve the best results, so you won’t regret getting an early consultation from an orthodontic specialist. Early diagnosis is the key to better treatment. Delaying an orthodontic consultation can lead to extended
treatment times, cause a potential problem to get worse and limit results.

AM I TOO OLD FORORTHODONTIC TREATMENT?
Age doesn’t matter. The key factor in determining a good candidate for treatment is the health of teeth and gums.
HOW TO BRUSH?
Use fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristle toothbrush or electric toothbrush. Begin brushing with water only, so you can see what you’re doing. Look for clean and shiny braces, where you can see all the edges of the brackets clearly. Next, add toothpaste. Brush around all the parts of your braces and every surface of your teeth in small circles for at least two minutes. Brush your tongue, roof of the mouth and gums. Rinse thoroughly after brushing with water or a mouth rinse. Finish with
inspecting your braces for loose or broken brackets. Change your toothbrush or toothbrush head at the first sign of wear or at least every three months.

FOODS TO AVOID:
Avoid sugary, crunchy, sticky, chewy and hard foods such as caramels, taffy, hard candy, popcorn, pizza crusts, nuts, etc. Eating ice, chewing on pencils or pens and biting into whole apples can cause damage to your appliances. Maintain a healthy diet to provide essential nutrients to bones and tissues undergoing change during treatment. Also, avoid sugary and carbonated beverages that may create white spots around your braces.

WEAR YOUR RETAINERS AS DIRECTED.
A retainer is a key part of your orthodontic treatment, and it only does its job in your mouth. Wearing your retainer after braces is the best way to preserve your healthy smile and prevent teeth from moving back into their original positions. Wear exactly as directed by your orthodontist.

TYPES OF RETAINERS:
Some are removable and some are fixed to your teeth. They can be for upper, lower or both sets of teeth. Your orthodontist will provide the best kind specific to your needs.
CAN RETAINERS BE WORN TOO LONG?
No. Many people wear removable retainers nightly for the rest of their lives.