For people wearing braces

Braces are an orthodontic device fixed into the mouth, which consists of braces attached to the teeth. The arch wire is attached to the braces using ligatures and guides the teeth to their correct positions.

At the beginning of treatment, immediately after braces are fixed, teeth are typically tender and sensitive, and they may even ache. This discomfort usually lasts for a period of two to seven days. Subsequently, teeth may feel sensitive for a shorter period after monthly adjustments or tightening of the archwire.

At first, braces feel uncomfortable against the cheek and lip mucosa. Soft dental wax can be used as an aid to cover the protruding parts of the braces system. As you get used to the device, wax is usually no longer needed.

In order to prevent the braces from coming off the teeth, it is important to avoid tough and hard foods such as caramel, toffees, chewing gum, etc. Care should also be taken when chewing hard vegetables. If the ring or braces have come off the tooth and it is poking, cover it with protective wax and contact your orthodontist.

Oral hygiene during treatment with braces

During treatment with braces, food residue accumulates on the braces, under the arch, between the teeth, at the edges of the gums and elsewhere, easily forming soft plaque. Therefore, brush your teeth thoroughly for 3–4 minutes at least twice a day, and additionally after each meal. Special toothbrushes and interdental brushes can be used, available for purchase at the Tallinn Dental Clinic’s information desk or pharmacies. In addition to regular brushing, it is recommended to use mouthwash.

Reminders

Visit your orthodontist regularly. If you are unable to come to the doctor’s appointment for some reason, be sure to make a new appointment over the phone. Good cooperation between the patient and the orthodontist ensures the correct and proper use of braces, which results in effective bite treatment.

Please remember that leaving a fixed orthodontic device in the mouth for an uncontrolled period of time is not safe for a child’s growing jaw. If braces are forgotten in the mouth for a long time without visiting a dentist, it can cause harm instead of benefit.

You can find more advice for the patient on the website of the Estonian Orthodontic Society.