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.
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.
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.
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. Make sure to turn the expander 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.
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 to make eating safer and easier. 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 & Flossing 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.
Even though flossing with braces can be tricky, it is important to keep your teeth healthy. Using a floss threader or specialized orthodontic floss once a day helps prevent cavities during treatment.
Elastics Essentials
Rubber bands, or elastics, provide the “muscle” needed to move your teeth into the right spots. You should wear them exactly as instructed by Dr. Jezdimir, Dr. Frenchi, or Dr. Krieg, usually all day and all night except for when you eat or brush.
Consistency is key with elastics. If you forget to wear them or only wear them sometimes, your treatment at LakePointe Orthodontics will take longer. Keep extra elastics with you so you’re never without them.
If you run out of bands, stop by our office in St. Clair Shores or give us a call so we can get you more.
Using Orthodontic Wax
Orthodontic wax is your best friend when braces feel irritating. If a bracket or wire is rubbing against your cheek or lip, first dry the area with a tissue. Then take a small piece of wax, roll it into a ball, and press it firmly over the part that is bothering you.
You can eat with wax on, but most people prefer to remove it during meals. Just peel it off, eat, brush your teeth, then apply fresh wax if needed. Wax is safe to swallow if it comes off accidentally.
Wax is especially helpful during the first few weeks as your mouth adjusts. Most LakePointe Orthodontics patients need wax less often as treatment progresses.
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, however. You can cut foods like corn on the cob off the cob before eating. You can still enjoy apples, carrots, and other crunchy fruits and vegetables by cutting them into small pieces.
Troubleshooting Broken Wires
If a wire breaks or pokes out, don't panic. You can use a clean spoon or cotton swab to gently push the wire back into place. If that doesn't work, cover the sharp end with orthodontic wax to protect your mouth.
If a wire is causing serious pain or you can’t cover it with wax, call our St. Clair Shores office right away. We’ll get you in as soon as possible to fix the problem.
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 of aligners on schedule, usually every one to two weeks. Your aligners should fit snugly but shouldn’t cause severe pain. Some pressure is normal, especially with a new set.
If an aligner cracks or doesn't fit properly, contact our office in St. Clair Shores before moving on to the next one.
Eating & Drinking
Remove aligners before eating or drinking anything other than water. This helps prevent damage, discoloration, and odors.
When you're not wearing your aligners, store them in their case to keep them safe and clean. 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 your elastics exactly as directed by Dr. Jezdimir, Dr. Frenchi, or Dr. Krieg, usually 24 hours a day except when eating and cleaning your aligners. Change the elastics regularly to keep the right amount of pressure on your teeth.
Keep your elastics in their original bag so you remember the size and strength you need. If you run low, call our St. Clair Shores office for more. Consistently wearing your elastics is just as important as wearing your aligners, so make them part of your daily routine.
Cleaning Your Aligners
Clean your aligners every time you brush your teeth. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently brush the aligners inside and out, then rinse them thoroughly with cool water. You can also use clear, gentle soap or a cleaning solution recommended by LakePointe Orthodontics professionals.
Never use toothpaste on your aligners because it can scratch the plastic. Avoid hot water, as it can warp the aligners and affect their fit.
Brushing Your Teeth
Brush and floss your teeth before putting your aligners back in your mouth. Food particles and bacteria can get trapped under your aligners, 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 your mouth out thoroughly with water. Consider carrying a travel toothbrush and toothpaste so you can brush on the go.
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 to use a floss threader or a water flosser to get around the appliance. Keeping everything clean will prevent white spots on your teeth and keep your gums healthy.
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.
General Care for Your Carriere Appliance
Be gentle with your Carriere appliance. Avoid touching or pushing on the appliance 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.
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.