Resources for LakePointe Orthodontics Patients
Welcome to your LakePointe Orthodontic care headquarters! We've put together the resources you need to feel confident at home between visits.
Below, you’ll find easy-to-follow tips for taking care of your appliance, along with helpful advice to keep your treatment on track. If you ever have questions, our team is just a phone call away.
Emergency Resources
Most orthodontic issues aren't true emergencies and can be eased at home until we see you. Watch the quick guides below, then call us at 586-301-5974 if discomfort continues or a bracket, wire, or appliance is damaged.
Poking or Loose Wire
A wire slipping out of place can rub against your cheek. This video shows how to gently guide it back into position or cover the end with orthodontic wax for relief.
A clean spoon handle or a cotton swab works well for nudging a wire back down. Be gentle and stop if it resists.
If it's still bothering you, give us a call and we'll get you comfortable.
Using Orthodontic Wax
Orthodontic wax creates a smooth barrier between your appliance and your cheek. Dry the spot with a tissue first, then roll a small piece of wax into a ball and press it firmly over whatever is rubbing.
Wax is safe if you swallow a piece by accident. Most patients need it most in the first few weeks, then less and less as treatment goes on.
If wax isn't covering the problem or the pain is getting worse, call our St. Clair Shores office.
Broken or Loose Bracket
A bracket can come loose if it's bumped or you bite into something hard. If it's still on the wire, leave it in place and cover it with wax to stop any rubbing.
If it slides off completely, hang onto it and bring it with you.
Call us so we can schedule a quick repair. A loose bracket isn't urgent, but the sooner it's fixed the less it slows your treatment down.
Caring for Your Expander at Home
Palatal expanders help create space for your permanent teeth. Taking good care of your expander will keep it working properly and help you feel comfortable throughout your treatment at LakePointe Orthodontics.
Cleaning Your Expander
Food can easily collect around an expander, so rinse your mouth with water after every meal or snack.
You can also use a water flosser to spray away any food that gets stuck near the expander.
Regular cleaning after meals helps prevent bad breath and keeps your mouth feeling fresh.
Turning Your Expander
Dr. Brynn Jezdimir, Dr. Richard Frenchi, or Dr. William Krieg will show you exactly how to turn your expander with a special key. You'll usually turn it once a day, at the same time each day so you don't forget.
Always make sure you see the next hole clearly before you stop pushing the key toward the back of your mouth.
If you miss a turn, do not try to do two at once. Just call our St. Clair Shores office and we'll help you get back on schedule.
Brushing With an Expander
Brush around the expander carefully every morning and night. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and angle the bristles up toward the roof of your mouth to clean all sides of the appliance.
Take your time and brush gently but thoroughly. Check in the mirror to make sure no areas are missed.
Caring for Your Expander
Avoid touching or playing with the expander with your tongue or fingers. This can loosen the appliance or cause soreness.
Check your expander daily in the mirror to make sure everything looks normal. If anything looks loose or feels uncomfortable, contact our St. Clair Shores office so we can take a look.
Foods to Avoid
Sticky foods like gum, caramel, and taffy can damage the expander. You should also avoid hard foods such as ice, nuts, or hard candy.
Cut crunchy foods like apples and carrots into small pieces. Choosing softer foods like mashed potatoes or yogurt will help you protect your appliance.
Everyday Braces Care Made Simple
Braces work best when they are kept clean and protected. With good habits at home, you'll be ready to show off your new smile before you know it.
Brushing With Braces
Brush your teeth for at least two minutes after every meal. If you're at school or away from home, rinse your mouth with water after eating and brush as soon as you can.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and brush slowly along the brackets and gumline. Food can easily get stuck around brackets and wires, so be gentle but thorough.
Check your work in the mirror. Clean brackets should look shiny, with no film along the edges.
Flossing With Braces
Flossing with braces takes a little more effort, but it's important to keep your teeth healthy underneath.
A floss threader lets you guide the floss behind your wire so you can clean between each pair of teeth. Specialized orthodontic floss with a stiff end does the same job without a separate tool.
Floss once a day. It's what prevents cavities and white spots from showing up when your braces come off.
Foods to Avoid
Some foods can break brackets or bend wires, which means extra trips to our office. Avoid hard foods like nuts, hard pretzels, and ice. Sticky foods like gum, caramel, and taffy can pull brackets right off your teeth. Chewy foods like bagels and licorice can also cause problems.
You can still enjoy many of your favorite foods with a few simple adjustments. Cut corn off the cob before eating, and slice apples, carrots, and other crunchy fruits and vegetables into small pieces.
Wearing Your Elastics
Rubber bands, or elastics, provide the muscle that moves your teeth into their final positions. Your braces do the aligning; the elastics correct your bite.
Dr. Jezdimir, Dr. Frenchi, or Dr. Krieg will show you exactly which setup you wear. Find yours below. Wear them all day and all night except when eating and brushing, and change to fresh bands at least once a day, since old elastics stretch out and stop pulling.
Keep spares with you. If you run out, stop by our St. Clair Shores office or give us a call.
Class II Elastics (Overjet)
Class II elastics are used when your upper teeth sit ahead of your lower teeth. The band runs from a hook near your upper front teeth back to a hook on your lower molar.
The video shows exactly where each end attaches. Check it any time you're not sure you've got it right.
Consistency matters more than anything else here. Wearing them only part of the time can add months to your treatment.
Class III Elastics
Class III elastics do the opposite job. They run from a hook near your lower front teeth back to a hook on your upper molar, bringing your bite forward.
The same rules apply: all day and all night except for meals and brushing, with fresh bands daily.
Watch the video to see the hook-up pattern before you start.
Asymmetric Elastics
Sometimes one side of your bite needs more correction than the other. If that's you, you'll wear a different configuration on the left than on the right.
Pay close attention to which side gets which band. Wearing them reversed can move your bite the wrong direction.
If you can't remember your setup, watch the video or call our St. Clair Shores office rather than guessing.
Taking Care of Clear Aligners
Clear aligners are designed to fit seamlessly into daily life. A few simple routines can help keep aligners clean and effective.
Wearing Your Aligners
Wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours every day. Take them out only for eating, drinking anything other than water, and brushing your teeth. The more consistently you wear them, the faster your treatment will progress.
Switch to your next set on schedule, usually every one to two weeks. When you start a new set, bite down on a chewie for a few minutes to seat the tray fully. A tray that isn't fully seated won't move your teeth the way it's meant to.
If an aligner cracks or doesn't fit properly, contact our office in St. Clair Shores before moving on to the next one.
Cleaning Your Aligners
Clean your aligners every time you brush your teeth. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently brush them inside and out, then rinse thoroughly with cool water. You can also use clear, gentle soap or a cleaning solution recommended by LakePointe Orthodontics.
Never use toothpaste on your aligners, because it scratches the plastic. Avoid hot water, as it can warp the aligners and affect their fit.
Eating & Drinking
Remove aligners before eating or drinking anything other than water. This helps prevent damage, discoloration, and odors.
When you're not wearing them, store them in their case. Don't wrap them in a napkin or leave them sitting out where they can get lost or damaged.
Elastics & Clear Aligners
Sometimes you need to wear elastics with clear aligners to correct your bite. Your aligners will have small cutouts where you attach the rubber bands.
Wear them exactly as directed, usually 24 hours a day except when eating and cleaning your aligners. See Wearing Your Elastics for your specific setup.
Brushing Your Teeth
Brush and floss before putting your aligners back in. Food particles and bacteria can get trapped underneath, leading to cavities and bad breath. Clean teeth also mean clean aligners.
If you're eating away from home and can't brush right away, rinse thoroughly with water. Consider carrying a travel toothbrush.
Caring for Your Carriere Appliance
The Carriere appliance helps to fix your bite before you get your braces or aligners. Proper care and consistent wear will help this phase of treatment go quickly and smoothly.
Brushing & Flossing With a Carriere Appliance
Brush carefully around your appliance at least twice a day. The metal bar and attachments can trap food, so take extra time brushing in these areas.
Use a soft toothbrush and angle the bristles all around the appliance. Pay attention to the gum line where the appliance is attached to your teeth. Keeping this area clean prevents irritation and keeps your gums from getting puffy.
Flossing is still important even with the Carriere in place. You may need a floss threader or a water flosser to get around the appliance.
General Care for Your Carriere Appliance
Be gentle with your Carriere appliance. Avoid touching or pushing on it with your fingers or tongue. This can loosen it or cause soreness.
If you notice any part of it feels loose, call our St. Clair Shores office right away. The sooner we fix any issues, the less it will slow down your treatment.
Elastics & Your Carriere Appliance
The appliance only works if you wear your elastics exactly how Dr. Jezdimir, Dr. Frenchi, or Dr. Krieg showed you. Change your elastics at least once a day, or twice a day if directed. Old elastics lose their strength and won't work as well.
Always carry extra elastics with you so you can replace them if they break. If your mouth feels sore when you first start wearing elastics, that's normal and will improve in a few days.
Rinsing your mouth with a saltwater rinse can help ease discomfort.
Eating & Foods to Avoid
Remove your elastics before every meal or snack, then put fresh ones in when you're done eating. Avoid hard, sticky, or chewy foods that could damage the appliance or pull it loose. That includes foods like popcorn, hard candy, caramel, fruit chews, and gum.
Stick with softer foods and cut crunchy foods into smaller pieces. Eating carefully will protect your appliance and help you avoid emergency visits to fix broken parts.
Retainer Care
Retainers hold your new smile in place after treatment. Teeth naturally drift back toward where they started, so wearing your retainer exactly as directed is what protects the results you just spent months earning.
Cleaning Your Retainer
Rinse your retainer with cool water every time you take it out. Once a day, brush it gently with a soft toothbrush to keep buildup and odor from settling in.
Skip the toothpaste. It scratches the plastic and leaves tiny grooves where bacteria collect. Skip hot water too, since heat warps the fit, and a warped retainer doesn't hold your teeth.
A clear, gentle soap works well when it needs a deeper clean.
Wearing Your Retainer
Dr. Jezdimir, Dr. Frenchi, or Dr. Krieg will tell you exactly how many hours a day to wear your retainer. Most patients start out full time, then move to nights only.
Follow that schedule closely. Teeth can shift in just a few days, and if your retainer starts feeling tight, that's your sign you've missed wear time.
If it ever feels painful or won't seat all the way, stop and call our St. Clair Shores office instead of forcing it.
Keeping Your Retainer Safe
Always put your retainer in its case when it's not in your mouth. Napkins and pockets are how most retainers end up in the trash.
Keep it away from pets. Dogs are drawn to the smell and will destroy a retainer in seconds.
Store it somewhere cool. A hot car, a sunny windowsill, or a warm bag can warp it permanently.
If Your Retainer Breaks or Goes Missing
Call our St. Clair Shores office right away. The longer you go without it, the more your teeth move, and the harder it gets to make a replacement fit.
Don't try to glue a cracked retainer back together. Bring it in and we'll sort out a repair or start a replacement.
If you still have an older retainer that fits, wear it until we can see you.
Getting Your Separators
Before certain appliances go on, we place small rubber separators between your back teeth. They gently open up just enough space for the bands to fit.
What to Expect With Separators
Separators feel like something is stuck between your teeth for the first day or two. That's normal, and the pressure fades as the space opens up.
Stick to softer foods while they're in, and skip floss in those spots so you don't pull a separator out early. Sticky foods are the most common reason one goes missing.
If a separator falls out before your next appointment, call our St. Clair Shores office so we can decide whether it needs replacing.