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aao

info

.org

YOUR ROLE

BETWEEN VISITS

is a team effort

between your

orthodontist, your

Orthodontic treatment

dentist and

American Association of Orthodontists401 North Lindbergh Boulevard

St. Louis, MO 63141-7816

314.993.1700 | info@aaortho.org

you.

WHAT IS MY ROLE? You are a partner in the process. Keep appointments, maintain good brushing andcontinue to see your primary dentist every 3-6 months during treatment. Follow allcare instructions regarding your appliances and the wearing of removableappliances or rubber bands. In many cases full-time wear of removeables willshorten overall treatment time significantly.

WHEN TO BRUSH AND FLOSS?Brush after every meal or snack. If you can't brush, make sure to at least rinse yourmouth with water. Floss at least once a day. Make sure your teeth arethoroughly clean before bed.

HOW TO BRUSH?Use fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristle toothbrush or electric toothbrush. Beginbrushing with water only, so you can see what you're doing. Look for clean and shinybraces, where you can see all the edges of the brackets clearly. Next, addtoothpaste. Brush around all the parts of your braces and every surface of your teethin small circles for at least two minutes. Brush your tongue, roof of the mouth andgums. Rinse thoroughly after brushing with water or a mouth rinse. Finish withinspecting your braces for loose or broken brackets. Change your toothbrush ortoothbrush head at the first sign of wear or at least every three months.

HOW TO FLOSS? Slide dental floss up and down the sides of each tooth to remove plaque betweenthe teeth. Floss threader, pre-threaded floss and small interproximal brushes areavailable to help you get under your wires more easily. Ask your orthodontist for anytips on toothbrushing and flossing.

DO YOUR PART, KEEP TEETH CLEANInterproximal brush – slip this toolunder your archwire to help removeplaque and food particles.Fluoride toothpaste or rinse – usewith your interproximal brush forbest results. Electric toothbrush - brush for a fulltwo minutes.

HYGIENE HELPERS:

RISKS OF POOR ORAL HEALTH?Plaque and food can accumulatearound your braces and lead topermanent white marks(decalcification), cavities, gumdisease, periodontitis or advancedperiodontitis (where the gums start topull away, forming gaps or pocketsbetween teeth or teeth begin to fallout). 

FOODS TO AVOID:Avoid sugary, crunchy, sticky, chewyand hard foods such as caramels,taffy, hard candy, popcorn, pizzacrusts, nuts, etc. Eating ice, chewingon pencils or pens and biting intowhole apples can cause damage toyour appliances. Maintain a healthydiet to provide essential nutrients tobones and tissues undergoing changeduring treatment. Also, avoid sugaryand carbonated beverages that maycreate white spots around yourbraces.

Orthodontists receive an additional two-to-three years of specialized educationbeyond dental school to learn the properway to align teeth and correct bites. Onlythose who successfully complete thisformal education may call themselvesorthodontists, and only orthodontists canbe members of the American Associationof Orthodontists. Learn more: aaoinfo.org.

archwire

rubber band hooks

ligature

brackets