Please share some do's and don'ts when it comes to braces and orthodontics.

Orthodontics: Orthodontics (braces) make teeth easier to clean and so you're healthier!

Don't: Don't eat hard, sticky, chewy foods with braces.

Invisalign: Invisalign is a great alternative to metal braces.

Want: Want to reduce chance of white-spots on teeth after braces? Use water pik daily.

Instructions: Instructions from your orthodontist are rules, not just guidelines. Follow them to the letter.

Keep: Keep baby teeth healthy. Early loss can result in crowding of permanent teeth.

Excellent: Excellent hygiene & avoid hard, sticky, chewy foods = shorter time in braces equals better result.

Do: Do consultation with modern (new, current and up to date) technique orthodontists.

Taking: Taking tylenol (acetaminophen) or advil helps after braces are adjusted!

Oral: Oral hygiene is especially important with braces!

Make: Make sure your orthodontist is not trying to put 12 cars (teeth) in 10 parking spaces (bone). Teeth may relapse.

Chewing: Chewing gum "work hardens" the wires reducing their effectiveness and increasing treatment time.

Look: Look in your kid's mouth, if anything looks out of place, see an orthodontist now! don't wait.

Thumb: Thumb sucking makes teeth crooked. See an orthdontist if your child is still sucking after 5 years.

If: If crowding is severe, extraction of some of the permanent teeth and braces is the best approach.

To: To prevent decay, clean the entire bracket assembly regularly and avoid sugar/acid in the diet.

Beware: Beware of soft drinks and lemonade--common beverages that include sugar and acid.

Make: Make sure to wear your retainers every night forever to keep your teeth from rebounding.

The: The first 2 days after tightening or changing invisalign trays are the worst. Use tylenol (acetaminophen) to help.

Have: Have an orthodontic evaluation at 6-7 years of age to stop developmental problems.

Oral: Oral hygiene is of paramount importance when undergoing orthodontics.

Do: Do tell your orthodontist about any pain you are having from the braces.

Occlusion: Occlusion is primarily determined by heredity. Avoid oral habits and get your wisdom teeth removed.

Once: Once you put them on, you will notice a very slight pressure. Just know they are working.

Remember: Remember that it will be so totally worth all the trouble when you are finished. What a lovely smile.

Break: Break any thumb sucking habit before the ages of 4 to 5 to help prevent flared teeth.

A: A waterpik is a wonderful tool for hygiene with braces!

Don't: Don't try to manipuate or remove bracket and wires on your own.

Follow: Follow directions from your orthodontist. Adjust your diet, and brushbrushbrush to keep them clean!

Don't: Don't chew hard candy or gum! brushbrushbrush to make sure food particles don't get stuck.

DO: Do do do - wear your invisalign aligners 24/7. Most often cause of delay is due to non-compliance.

Actually: Actually step up your hygiene routines - brush, rinse, and floss after every meal.

Myth-: Myth: with time, braces alone can fix any type of dental arch malocclusion alignment problem.

Brush: Brush your gums when wearing braces to avoid white scars on your teeth.

Limit: Limit or avoid pacifiers or thumb sucking in toddlers.

Keep: Keep teeth healthy, wear mouth guards, and no thumb sucking!

Avoiding: Avoiding foods you like is not fun but eating things you are not supposed to can break your brackets.

Over: Over retained baby teeth could cause the permenent teeth to be blocked or misaligned.

With: With braces, you are much more susceptible to cavities and gum disease, so brush and floss.

Teeth: Teeth often shape self confidence. It is expensive, but your loved ones are worth it.

Keep: Keep your teeth meticulously clean while you are going through orthodontics.

Don't: Don't allow pacifiers past a year and do everything to prevent thumb sucking !

Taking: Taking care of baby teeth so there is not any premature loss of these teeth.

Don't: Don't eat popcorn, nuts, peanut brittle, ice, lemon , corn on cob, taffy, chips, fruit chews, gum.

Breastfed: Breastfed kids can help reduce the likely need for braces later.

In: In hands of skilled orthodontic specialist, braces more than twice as effective as clear aligners.

There: There is no trick. Some just have poor teeth. Thumb sucking is 2 b stopped, is the only one i know.

Don't: Don't chew caramels and use an orthodontic pic at night when you brush for good hygeine

Don't: Don't bite apples and do maintain great dental hygeine.

Removal: Removal of wisdom teeth before they crowd the jaw can sometimes prevent the need for braces.

Do: Do clean your teeth very carefully. It is easier to get cavities if you slip up a little bit.

Get: Get Fluoride gel and brush with that after normal brushing at night. Will help reduce decay.

Twice: Twice yearly professional dental cleanings are often insufficient and 4x yearly should be standard.

Space: Space loss from decay is cause for braces. Eliminate sticky "tummies" from children's diet.

Vitamin: Vitamin k2 during pregnancy helps fetal bone formation and healthy jaw structure.

Additional: Additional adjuncts to your oral hygiene during braces w/ daily use of a water pik & Fluoride rinse.

There: There are other treatments available besides invisalign for moving teeth with clear retainers.

Your: Your teeth won't get attached if you kiss someone else who has braces.

Do: Do floss or use a water pik twice a day.

Learn: Learn how to manage emergencies . Use soft toothbrushes with meals & bedtime.Don't forget to floss.

Don't: Don't eat chewy foods . May damage braces.Do brush/ floss w each meals to remove all food particles.

The: Myths: the tighter the braces the better it is. Braces have to feel tight for them to work.

In: In addition to great brushing and special brushes for the bracket areas, use a water pik daily !

Pain,: Pain, bleeding, or swelling? Don't wait. Do get it checked.

After: After active orthodontic treatment, wear your retainers as directed or risk relapse. Could be 4ever!

Get: Get your child's first orthodontic evaluation by age 7, but it is never to late to start treatment!

Don't: Don't suck your thumb when your permanent teeth come in.

Don't: Don't consider invisalign if you can't be 99% compliant. The key to success is to wear the aligners!

Get: Get a comprehensive exam and all cavities fixed before orthodontic treatment.

Do: Do go to a "top 1% elite provider" if you are lucky enough to have one in your city, even if dentist.

Shop: Shop around. The cost is high, so look to save money by negotiating the price.

Offer: Offer a reward to your child who sucks their thumb or finger after about age 5.

Brushing: Brushing and flossing regularly when with is the key to healthygums after successful ortho treament.

Dont: Dont get lazy and stop wearing your retainers once treatment completed!

Thumb: Thumb sucking and tongue thrusting habits should be stopped soon as parents notice!

Orthodontic: Orthodontic treatment earlier is always better than later.

Regular: Regular flouride rinses at home can prevent decay around brackets and between teeth.

Bring: Bring a toothbrush with you wherever you go, and keep them clean.

Mouth: Mouth breathing, persistently large tonsils, and allergies can affect proper jaw development.

Mouth: Mouth breathing, allergies, and persistently large tonsils can affect proper jaw development.

Immaculate: Immaculate hygiene since crowded and rotated teeth are more susceptible to periodontal problems.

parents: Parents even though they are eventually lost, take good care of your kid's baby teeth.

Ignore: Brush and floss baby teeth to prevent their early loss maintains space for adult teeth.

Ignore: Do use a Fluoride mouthwash after night time brushing. Don't eat sticky foods.

Ignore: Make sure to actually clean the teeth around the brackets, not just the braces.

Ignore: Try to keep your teeth as clean as possible while you've got braces so you won't regret it later!

Make: Make sure kids see there dentist regulary for cavity check up cleaning when getting ortho treatment.

Ignore: Make sure you properly brush and floss to avoid potential white/opaque spotting on teeth when off.

Ignore: Avoid sticky, chewy foods that could cause your brackets to come off. Brush ; floss properly.

Wear: Wear your retainer for as long as you are supposed to-- you will be so glad you did!

Ignore: Early orthodontics intervention for a young child can reduce the treatment or eliminate later need.

Ignore: Keep your braces very clean with an electric toothbrush. Stay away from hard, sticky foods.

Ignore: If your child snores, grinds his teeth-have your dr check for sleep apnea-may need thier tonsils out.

Ignore: There are many new tools that can make it easier to clean your braces. Ask your hygienist.

Ignore: Have your child visit an orthodontist at age 7. Do not wait until baby teeth are out to go!

Ignore: Keep your teeth and your braces clean! it is hard work but worth it.

Ignore: Unlike cavities you may not be able to prevent this one! regular checkups and monitoring are key.

Ignore: Braces will make your homecare more difficult so you must step it up during your treatment!

Ignore: Do not eat sticky foods, or neglect cleaning daily. Do report problems promptly, wear retainers!

Ignore: Follow your doctor's directions. He actually knows what will help your treatment progress quickly.

Braces and ortho: Keep the braces and your teeth meticulously clean to avoid decay and decalcification. Brush and floss after every meal. Avoid surgery sticky foods. See your dentist regularly for exams and cleanings.

Ignore: Consider more frequent cleanings while wearing braces. Brush and floss frequently.

Ignore: Do keep teeth clean. Don't eat particularly hard or sticky foods. Do wear elastics when instructed.

Mothguards: Imperative in all contact sports and sports in general.

Ignore: Keep 'em clean. Keep appts. Wear elastics, headgear, biteplates etc. watch diet. No gum, hard-sticky.

Ignore: Brushing your teeth more often with braces prevents decay and helps teeth move faster and easier.

Ignore: It is important to stay away from hard crunchy food and brush the teeth after meals. An rinse often.