Do You Always Follow The Rules?
When patients are ready to start their orthodontic care journey, we are very specific with instructions on how to properly clean your teeth, what foods you should and should not eat, as well as how to properly wear any hardware you might have to add and remove from your mouth. Following our directions not only keeps your mouth safe from harm, but it also allows your teeth to move properly so you can finish your orthodontic journey on schedule. Continue reading to learn about the consequences of not following your orthodontic care instructions.
Why Follow Care Instructions
Our team is very specific with your instructions on how to properly care for your braces, clear aligners, or other orthodontic hardware. While we know you might have to miss out on some of your favorite foods or make some adjustments to your favorite activities to play safely, we would hate for a patient to experience a complication that leads to their hardware becoming damaged or their mouth becoming injured. We also consider your future oral health when we make certain suggestions on how to care for your teeth.
You may be surprised to learn that the way you care for your teeth when you are wearing braces can impact your oral health as you age. For example, if you continue to eat chewy and sticky foods while wearing braces, it can cause lasting damage to your teeth. It may be hard to notice, but the chewy food can linger between your teeth and even around the brackets of your braces. Over time, this will cause decay and problems that will last for many years. Our teenage patients who do not follow our care instructions will need a number of dental treatments as adults such as fillings and dental crowns.
If you experience an emergency with your orthodontic hardware, be sure to contact our office located in Southfield, MI to schedule an appointment. We want to get you into the office as soon as possible to remedy the situation. We can also walk you through steps to keep you comfortable until your appointment. Be sure to follow our directions and be safe!
