Caring for Your Braces
Top tips and advice from our Tennessee Orthodontists for more effective orthodontic treatment.
Living With Braces
Your guide to hygiene, eating, and maintenance while wearing braces.
Many feel orthodontics and braces will hugely impact their lifestyle, but with our modern options, this isn’t the case. Our caring orthodontists help create a treatment plan, so you can enjoy your day-to-day life (without compromise) while we straighten your smile. We’ll help you identify the right toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, and any additional products for your specific appliance.
We want your orthodontic journey to be as smooth and easy as possible! Here some top tips to help you:
Dr. Lucas and our team of Tennessee orthodontists are your partners throughout your treatment. We’re also your friends and are here to help you enjoy your passage to a beautifully aligned smile.
From time-to-time, you can expect your teeth to feel a little sore. This normally occurs just after fitting your braces – known as the “time of adjustment.” Any discomfort…Learn if braces should hurt… can be treated with Advil or Motrin. However, if this persists, please contact us…Visit our contact page….
It is not uncommon for your teeth to be more sensitive to hot or cold foods. This should not persist for a long time, so if it does, please contact one of your orthodontists’ offices.
This will vary depending on the type of treatment you are having. Although all braces are strong enough to align our teeth, they do need to be kept clean and cared for in an appropriate manner.
Oral Hygiene During Your Treatment
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We have had such a great experience with Dr. Lucas and his staff in the Belle Meade location. The waiting area is lovely, and we are seen quickly. Everyone is friendly and I love the conservative approach to orthodontic care. I would highly recommend!
Destiny S. (Belle Meade Patient)
How to Care for Your Retainer
Both removable and permanent-bonded (fixed) retainers are an effective way to stabilize your teeth and keep them in their desired position. Therefore, it is vital to wear your retainer as prescribed and also keep it in good shape. To help you with this, our team has provided some expert advice on increasing the longevity of your removable retainer.
We also have some advice when wearing a fixed retainer too. Be sure to brush and floss after meals in addition to your twice-a-day routine. We recommend using an interdental toothbrush and orthodontic floss. Our team will provide specific instructions on brushing and flossing at the time of your retainer fitting. We’ll also highlight any foods to avoid and additional care instructions.
Please note: If your bonded retainer detaches from any of your teeth, please call us ASAP so we can arrange for a speedy repair.
Invisalign® Aligner Care
Although we only recommend removing your Invisalign® aligners for eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing, there is some maintenance needed. It is imperative for you to keep your aligning trays clean and in excellent condition. The good news is it is simple and fast to do!
Here are some simple steps:
At Lucas Orthodontic Group, we suggest using the official Invisalign® Clean Systems equipped with cleaning crystals. You can learn more about this system by contacting one of our offices.