6555 Chippewa Street, Suite 200, St. Louis, MO 63109
Tel: 314-649-8999
Helpful Resources
While everyone’s orthodontic journey is unique, we’ve put together some helpful tips and resources that apply to most treatments to make your experience comfortable and successful. Use the menu below to navigate to your needed topic!
Tips for a Successful Orthodontic Treatment
1. Follow Instructions Carefully:
Following our guidelines and recommendations will help ensure your treatment progresses smoothly with minimal delay.
2. Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
Food can often get caught in appliances and braces during mealtimes. Brushing after every meal and flossing daily will help prevent cavities and gum disease.
3. Eat Ortho-Friendly Foods:
Avoid eating anything that is sticky, hard, or chewy, which can damage your braces or aligners.
4. Athletes – Protect Your Braces:
If you are active in sports that require a mouthguard, we recommend using a mouthguard that we give you to protect your braces and teeth from injury.
Tips for an Ortho-Friendly Diet:
Foods to Avoid with Braces
1. Hard, Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables:
Raw apples, carrots, corn on the cob should be cut into small pieces or off of the cob (Not avoided during treatment)
2. Chewy or Sticky Foods:
Caramel, chewing gum, taffy
3. Crunchy Foods:
Popcorn, chips, nuts, hard pretzels
4. Hard Foods:
Hard candy, ice, hard crusted bread
Emergency Care Tips for Orthodontic Treatment
As careful as our patients are, sometimes orthodontic emergencies do occur. Luckily, many of these issues can be managed at home until you can visit our office.
Here are some quick tips for handling common orthodontic problems:
When to Seek Immediate Help:
In the below situations, we ask that you contact our team immediately so we can get the issue resolved for you as quickly as possible.
1. Severe Pain or Swelling:
If you experience severe pain or significant swelling that cannot be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers.
2. Injury to Mouth or Face:
If you sustain an injury to your mouth, face, or teeth.
3. Inability to Eat or Drink:
If discomfort prevents you from eating or drinking properly.