Click here for a downloadable PDF of the braces patient education guide.

Life With Braces: A Patient Education Guide

Congratulations on taking the first step toward a healthier, more confident smile! Your cooperation throughout this journey is essential for successful treatment. This guide provides vital information on managing discomfort, maintaining oral hygiene, and understanding dietary changes while wearing braces.

Part 1: Managing Discomfort

It is normal to experience some soreness in your teeth and gums for the first few days after your braces are placed or adjusted. Your cheeks and lips may also feel irritated as they adjust to the new hardware.

• Over-the-Counter Pain Relief: Acetaminophen is recommended for pain relief. Avoid ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), as some studies suggest it may slow tooth movement.

• Saltwater Rinses: Rinse your mouth with warm salt water several times a day (1/2 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) to soothe sore spots and promote healing.

• Orthodontic Wax: Use dental wax to cover any sharp brackets or poking wires causing irritation to your soft tissues. Roll a small piece of wax into a ball, dry the irritating spot on your braces, and press the wax firmly over it.

• Cold Compress: An ice pack applied to the outside of your jaw can help reduce swelling and numb the pain.

Part 2: Oral Hygiene & Care

Maintaining excellent oral hygiene is the most important part of having braces to prevent cavities, white spots, and gum disease.

• Brushing: Brush your teeth thoroughly after every meal, or at least twice a day, using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Pay close attention to the areas above and below the brackets and along the gum line.

• Flossing: Floss daily! It is trickier with braces, but essential. Use a floss threader or a water flosser to guide the floss under the archwire and clean between teeth.

• Regular Dental Visits: Continue your routine cleanings every six months, or more often if advised by Dr. Peters.

Part 3: Dietary Adjustments (Foods to Avoid)

Certain foods can break wires or loosen brackets, leading to emergency visits and extending your treatment time. Stick to soft foods, especially in the first week. Excellent options include smoothies, yogurt, mashed potatoes, pasta, and soft scrambled eggs.

Part 4: Emergency Care

While major emergencies are rare, minor issues can occur.

• Poking Wire: Use the eraser end of a pencil to gently push the end of the wire down or under the archwire. If it still irritates, cover it with wax.

• Loose Bracket or Band: If a bracket comes loose but remains attached to the wire, cover it with wax and contact our office right away.

• Broken Wire: If a wire breaks completely, remove the piece carefully if possible, apply wax to the sharp end, and call us for an emergency appointment.

Always contact our office if you have concerns or a broken appliance.

Several naturopathic and home remedies can effectively soothe tooth and gum pain after getting braces. These solutions focus on reducing inflammation and numbing the affected areas naturally.

Herbal and Oil Applications

• Clove Oil: Cloves contain eugenol, a natural numbing agent and anti-inflammatory.

  • How to use: Dilute a drop or two of clove oil with a carrier oil (like olive or coconut oil) and apply gently to the sore area with a cotton swab. Avoid swallowing it or applying it undiluted, as it can irritate tissue.

• Peppermint Oil/Tea: Menthol in peppermint provides a cooling and mild numbing effect.

  • How to use: Apply a diluted drop of peppermint oil to the jawline, or steep a peppermint tea bag, let it cool slightly, and place the warm/cool bag directly on the sore gum or tooth.

• Turmeric Paste: Turmeric possesses strong anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties due to a compound called curcumin.

  • How to use: Mix turmeric powder with a small amount of water or coconut oil to form a paste. Apply it directly to the inflamed gums for 5–10 minutes before rinsing off.

• Aloe Vera Gel: Applying pure aloe vera gel can soothe inflammation and promote healing due to its calming properties.

Rinses and Compresses 

• Warm Saltwater Rinse: This simple remedy reduces inflammation, soothes soft tissues, and keeps the mouth clean, which aids in healing.

  • How to use: Dissolve about 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water. Swish the solution around your mouth for 30–60 seconds and then spit it out.

• Chamomile Tea Rinse/Compress: Chamomile is known for its soothing, anti-inflammatory, and calming effects.

  • How to use: Brew a cup of chamomile tea, let it cool to a comfortable temperature, and use it as a mouth rinse. You can also place the cooled tea bag directly on the affected gum for a few minutes.

• Cold Compress/Ice Pack: Applying cold reduces swelling and numbs the pain effectively.

  • How to use: Wrap an ice pack (or a bag of frozen vegetables) in a cloth and hold it against the outside of your cheek for 10–20 minutes at a time.

• Hydrogen Peroxide Rinse: When diluted, it acts as a disinfectant, helps with bleeding gums, and reduces plaque buildup.

  • How to use: Mix 3% hydrogen peroxide with equal parts water and use it as a mouthwash for about 30 seconds before spitting it out and rinsing your mouth with plain water. Never swallow the mixture. 

Homeopathic Options

For those interested in homeopathy, specific remedies may be suggested, but it is best to discuss these with a healthcare provider or a homeopathic dentist: 

• Arnica Montana: Often used for pain, bruising, and general trauma, it may help after dental procedures.

• Ruta: Specifically mentioned for pain associated with braces. 

Dietary and Lifestyle Support

• Eat Soft/Cold Foods: Stick to soft foods like yogurt, smoothies, mashed potatoes, and soups. Cold items like ice cream or chilled fruit can help numb the mouth naturally.

• Gentle Gum Massage: Gently massaging your gums with a clean finger or a soft toothbrush can help increase blood flow and ease pressure.

• Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water keeps your mouth moist and washes away food particles, which is crucial for healing and comfort.

Click herefor a downloadable PDF with information about your Class II Retainer.

You've completed your orthodontic journey and achieved a beautiful new smile! The next crucial step is retention to ensure your teeth stay in their corrected positions. If your treatment involved correcting a Class II or III malocclusion, you might use a specialized clear retainer designed for this purpose.

What is a Class II Malocclusion?

In simple terms, a Class II bite occurs when your upper front teeth and jaw project further forward than your lower teeth and jaw, often resulting in a receding chin profile. This issue can affect aesthetics, chewing function, and overall oral health.

The Class II Clear Retainer: More Than Just a Holder

A standard clear retainer primarily holds teeth in their final position after braces or aligner treatment. A Class II clear retainer does this as well, but it is specifically designed to help maintain the corrected bite relationship achieved during your active treatment phase.

These specialized retainers may feature:

• Precision Wings or Occlusal Blocks: These are subtle structural additions to the clear plastic that guide your lower jaw into the correct, forward position when you bite down.

• A Full, Snug Fit: The retainer covers the entire tooth surface, providing comprehensive support to prevent individual teeth from shifting.

Key Benefits for You

Wearing your Class II or Class III clear retainer as instructed by Dr. Peters is essential for long-term success.

Wearing your retainer exactly as prescribed is the single most important step in protecting your orthodontic investment.

• Nearly Invisible: Made from clear, durable plastic, these retainers are highly discreet, allowing you to wear them confidently in social or professional settings.

• Superior Comfort: Custom-fitted digitally to the contours of your mouth, they provide a snug and comfortable fit that minimizes irritation.

• Protection Against Relapse: The specialized design actively works against the muscular memory that tries to pull your jaw into its previous Class II or III position.

• Oral Health Protection: The robust material also serves as an effective barrier against the damage caused by nighttime teeth grinding (bruxism).

In-House Digital Manufacturing

We use advanced digital scanning technology to capture a precise 3D model of your mouth. This model is used with our state-of-the-art Primeprint 3D printer and specialized dental resins to fabricate your custom retainer quickly and accurately. This allows us to provide a perfect fit and often a much faster turnaround time than off-site labs.

Click herefor a downloadable PDF with information about your Class III Retainer.

You've completed your orthodontic journey and achieved a beautiful new smile! The next crucial step is retention to ensure your teeth stay in their corrected positions. If your treatment involved correcting a Class II or III malocclusion, you might use a specialized clear retainer designed for this purpose.

What is a Class III Malocclusion?

A Class III bite occurs when the lower jaw and teeth protrude further forward than the upper jaw and teeth, often referred to as an "underbite." This condition can affect chewing efficiency, speaking patterns, and facial aesthetics. Orthodontic treatment repositions the jaws and aligns the teeth to create a harmonious and functional bite.

The Class III Clear Retainer: Stabilizing Your Bite Correction

A standard retainer holds individual teeth in place. A Class III clear retainer goes further: it is engineered to specifically stabilize the corrected relationship between your upper and lower jaws, preventing the lower jaw from shifting back into its former protruding position.

Key features of these specialized retainers may include:

• Integrated Occlusal Guidance Ramps: These subtle internal design features guide the natural closing motion of your mouth into the desired Class I (ideal) bite position, effectively stabilizing the corrected jaw alignment.

• Comprehensive Coverage: The retainer covers all surfaces of the teeth, applying uniform pressure to prevent any individual tooth movement or relapse.

Key Benefits for You

Wearing your Class II or Class III clear retainer as instructed by Dr. Peters is essential for long-term success.

Wearing your retainer exactly as prescribed is the single most important step in protecting your orthodontic investment.

• Nearly Invisible: Made from clear, durable plastic, these retainers are highly discreet, allowing you to wear them confidently in social or professional settings.

• Superior Comfort: Custom-fitted digitally to the contours of your mouth, they provide a snug and comfortable fit that minimizes irritation.

• Protection Against Relapse: The specialized design actively works against the muscular memory that tries to pull your jaw into its previous Class II or III position.

• Oral Health Protection: The robust material also serves as an effective barrier against the damage caused by nighttime teeth grinding (bruxism).

In-House Digital Manufacturing

We use advanced digital scanning technology to capture a precise 3D model of your mouth. This model is used with our state-of-the-art Primeprint 3D printer and specialized dental resins to fabricate your custom retainer quickly and accurately. This allows us to provide a perfect fit and often a much faster turnaround time than off-site labs.

Click here for a downloadable PDF with Invisalign aligner instructions.

Welcome to your first step toward a straighter smile! The success of your Invisalign treatment depends heavily on how consistently you wear and care for your aligners.

How to Wear and Remove Your Aligners

• Wear Time is Everything: You must wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours per day. Only remove them for eating, drinking anything other than plain water, brushing, and flossing.

• Insertion: Gently push each aligner over your teeth. You may be given Invisalign Chewies (small soft plastic cylinders) to bite on gently for a few minutes after putting them in. This helps seat the aligner completely and snugly against your teeth, improving fit and tracking.

• Removal: Use your fingertips to gently pry the aligners off, usually starting from the inside (tongue side) of your back molars and moving forward.

• Storage: Always store your aligners in their protective case when not in your mouth. Never wrap them in a napkin, as this often leads to them being accidentally thrown away.

Schedule and Timeline

• Change Frequency: You will typically switch to a new set of aligners every 1 to 2 weeks, as instructed by your doctor. Follow the schedule precisely.

• Tracking: Keep track of the date you switch aligners. Most patients set a recurring reminder on their phone.

• Appointments: Keep all scheduled check-up appointments (usually every 6-10 weeks). We need to monitor your progress and provide your next sets of aligners.

Oral Hygiene and Cleaning

• Before Eating: Remove aligners before eating or drinking anything other than cool water.

• After Eating/Drinking: Brush and floss your teeth thoroughly before putting your aligners back in. Trapped food particles and sugars can cause cavities and discoloration.

• Cleaning Aligners: Clean your aligners daily using a soft toothbrush and plain water or a mild, clear antibacterial soap.

• Avoid:

  • Hot Water: Never rinse your aligners with hot water; the plastic can warp and ruin the fit.

  • Harsh Cleaners: Avoid using mouthwash, denture cleaner, or abrasive toothpaste on the aligners, as these can scratch, dull, or damage the plastic.

  • Staining Drinks: Only drink plain water while wearing the aligners to prevent staining.

Soreness and Adjustments

• Initial Discomfort: It is normal to feel some tightness or minor discomfort for the first few days after starting a new tray. This means the aligners are working!

• Filing Rough Edges: If an aligner edge feels sharp or uncomfortable, you can carefully use a clean, fine-grit nail file to smooth the edge slightly.

• Attachments (Buttons): You may have tooth-colored "buttons" (attachments) bonded to some teeth. These are essential anchors that help the aligners move your teeth effectively. Be careful when removing aligners not to pop off these attachments.

• If an Attachment Comes Off: Please call our office immediately so we can schedule a time to reattach it.

Questions?

We are partners in creating your new smile! If you have any questions or concerns during your treatment, please call or text us at 951-685-3355.

Click here for a downloadable PDF with Myobrace activity instructions.

Breathing Exercises 

• Breathing Awareness: Practicing slow, light breathing exclusively through the nose.

• Paces: Controlled breathing while counting out paces (part of Myobrace Group 2 activities).

• Nose Opening: Exercises designed to improve nasal airflow and capacity. 

Tongue Exercises

• Correct Tongue Resting Position: Placing the tip of the tongue on the "spot" (the roof of the mouth a few millimeters behind the front teeth) and holding it there.

• Tongue Clicks: Making continuous clicking sounds with the tongue on the roof of the mouth.

• "Candy on the Spot": Using a small candy or a Myospot (seaweed sticker) placed on the palate to encourage the tongue to stay in the correct resting position.

• Tongue Suction Hold and Stretch: Creating suction to hold the entire tongue against the palate and then stretching it.

• Skinny/Fat Tongue: Alternating between making the tongue long and thin ("skinny") and short and wide ("fat"). 

Swallowing Exercises

• Correct Swallow: Swallowing while ensuring only the tongue and throat muscles move, with no movement in the facial muscles (lips together, teeth biting gently together).

• Water Seal: Holding water in the mouth using a proper tongue seal against the palate and swallowing correctly. 

Lip and Cheek Exercises

• Lip Training: Tightly curling the lips around the teeth to improve lip strength and competency.

• Lip Pops: Making popping sounds with the lips (similar to a kiss sound).

• Pufferfish Stretch: Puffing out the cheeks with air and moving the air from side to side to strengthen cheek muscles. 

These activities are essential for the success of the Myobrace system and should be performed twice daily, under the guidance of a trained Myobrace practitioner. For specific video demonstrations and guidance, you can refer to the resources provided by Dr. Peters on your official MRC Activities website. 

Common Exercises

A myofunctional therapist will create a personalized treatment plan, which often includes a series of simple exercises to be practiced at home. Examples include: 

• Tongue pushes: Pushing the tip of the tongue against the spot on the roof of the mouth behind the front teeth and holding for several seconds.

• Tongue clicks: Making a loud clicking sound with the tongue against the palate repeatedly.

• Lip exercises: Holding a small object like a spoon handle between the lips (not teeth) to build strength, or simply pursing the lips tightly.

• Vowel sounds: Repeating "A, E, I, O, U" out loud to engage and strengthen throat and mouth muscles.

• Breathing exercises: Practicing deep, intentional nasal breathing.

Click here for a downloadable PDF with information about sleep-disordered breathing.

Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is a spectrum of conditions ranging from simple snoring to a serious medical condition called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), where breathing pauses or becomes shallow during sleep. These disorders can significantly impact quality of life and long-term health, increasing the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

Dentists play a crucial role in identifying SDB and collaborating with physicians to provide effective treatment options.

Common Signs and Symptoms

Recognizing the signs of SDB is the first step toward treatment. Symptoms often vary between adults and children:

• Loud and Frequent Snoring: Often the most common and easily identifiable symptom.

• Choking or Gasping for Air During Sleep: Observed by a bed partner, this indicates a complete or partial airway blockage.

• Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and Fatigue: Waking up tired even after a full night's sleep.

• Morning Headaches or Dry Mouth: Caused by breathing through the mouth all night.

• Difficulty Concentrating, Memory Impairment, and Irritability: Resulting from fragmented sleep.

• Teeth Grinding (Bruxism): A common correlation with SDB.

• Pediatric Symptoms: In children, SDB may manifest as ADD/ADHD symptoms, bedwetting, mouth breathing, and stunted growth.

Dental Options for Treatment

For mild to moderate OSA, or for patients who cannot tolerate the standard continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, dental treatments offer effective alternatives.

1. Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT)

Custom-made oral appliances are a primary dental solution for SDB. These devices resemble mouthguards and are tailored to a patient's specific bite and anatomy.

• Mandibular Advancement Devices (MADs): The most common type, these devices gently hold the lower jaw in a slightly forward position. This prevents throat tissues from collapsing and keeps the airway open during sleep.

• Tongue-Retaining Appliances: In cases where the tongue is the primary obstruction, this device holds the tongue in a forward, safe position to prevent it from blocking the airway.

• Orthodontic Solutions: Treatments like palate expansion (especially in children) or clear aligners (e.g., Invisalign) can correct underlying jaw and teeth positions to create more space for the tongue and improve airflow.

2. Myofunctional Therapy

This involves retraining the muscles of the face and tongue to promote proper breathing and airway function. It often works best when combined with other therapies, such as oral appliances.

3. Laser Therapy (NightLase® and Similar)

Laser therapy is a non-surgical, non-invasive option gaining popularity for treating snoring and, in some cases, mild to moderate sleep apnea.

• How it works: A specialized dental laser is used to gently heat and tighten the soft tissues in the soft palate, uvula, and surrounding areas of the throat. This stimulates collagen production, which stiffens the tissue and reduces the vibrations that cause

• snoring, opening the airway.

• Benefits: The procedure is painless, requires no anesthesia or downtime, and sessions are quick (15–30 minutes). Results can last up to a year and the therapy can be repeated.

• Limitations: While highly effective for reducing snoring, current research suggests that laser therapy alone is not an effective treatment for severe OSA, though it may be part of a combination treatment plan in certain cases.

If you suspect you or your family members, including children have SDB, schedule a consultation today. We can evaluate your condition and recommend a tailored treatment plan, to help you achieve a better night's sleep and improve your overall health.