FAQs

• • • • Chewy foods — bagels, licorice
• Crunchy foods — popcorn, chips, ice
• Sticky foods — caramel candies, chewing gum
• Hard foods — nuts, hard candies
• Foods that require biting into — corn on the cob, apples, carrots

• Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
• Breads — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts
• Grains — pasta, soft cooked rice
• Meats/poultry — soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
• Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes
• Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans
• Fruits — applesauce, bananas, fruit juice
• Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake

When you first get your braces, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender or sore. This is perfectly normal and we promise your mouth will not be sore forever!

If a wire is causing irritation to your lips or cheeks, put dental wax or a wet cotton ball over it to relieve the irritation. We can provide you with dental wax at your next visit.

We know that this can be an uncomfortable transition! To relieve the pain we recommend doing a gentle salt water gargle as needed, and switching to soft foods that won’t further inflame the area.

Applying a small amount of topical anesthetic (such as Orabase or Ora-Gel) can give quick relief to the affected area. Alternatively, you can take Tylenol or Advil to help relieve minor discomfort.

If your discomfort is more severe or persistent please get in touch with our office.

This is caused by lack of proper brushing and flossing. Better oral hygiene is needed, you have gingivitis.

If your teeth begin to feel a little loose, don’t worry; this is normal! Your braces must first loosen your teeth to move them into the right position. Once your teeth have been repositioned, they will no longer be loose.

Sometimes a space is created on purpose and sometimes it appears on its own, as a result of the braces moving your teeth into their correct position. This is totally normal and is temporary. Once your teeth have been repositioned those spaces will be gone.

The goal of any orthodontic treatment is to achieve correct alignment of your teeth and also your bite. Your bite may feel different throughout treatment, which is a normal part of the process.

The wires and bands on your braces may come loose. If this happens, please contact us as soon as possible so we can check and repair your appliance. If any piece of your appliance comes off, be sure to save it and bring it to the office with you.

You can temporarily fix the loose wire by using the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil to push the wire carefully and gently back into place. If the loose wire is causing irritation to your lips or cheeks, put wax or a wet cotton ball over it to relieve the pain.

You can temporarily fix the loose wire by using the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil to push the wire carefully and gently back into place.

If you’re unable to put the wire back in place, please get in touch with our team to come in and have the problem remedied.

If any piece of your appliance comes off, please get in touch with our office right away. Be sure to save the component and bring it to the office at your next visit.

No need to panic! As long as it’s not causing any pain you can wait until your next appointment.

Give our office a call. We will arrange a time for you to pick up more or mail them to you if you’re out of town.

Get in touch with our office, you will need to come in so we can put it back on.

You can still play sports even while undergoing orthodontic treatment! If you do play sports, it’s recommended that you wear a mouthguard to protect your teeth and your appliance. Let us know if you need help finding the right mouthguard for the best protection.

Ouch! Rinse with warm salt water if gums and lips are cut or have sores. Call our office so we can assess what needs to be fixed or replaced.

No, you cannot whiten your teeth while having orthodontic treatment done. Doing so would whiten only the area around the brackets or Invisalign attachments, and leave spots on your teeth.

Put in your previous tray and call our office for further instructions.

Call our office, we can replace it for you.

Take pictures and email them to us at orthodontics@shaw.ca. It’s possible we may need to rescan you and order new trays. Call the office for further instruction.

Call our office, we can replace it for you.

Everyone’s orthodontic needs are different. The length of treatment will depend on how many trays you have left and if any refinement is needed.

We will have given you instruction on how often to change your trays, but it’s typically every 7 days or so. If you’re unsure, give our office a call.

When you first get your Invisalign, you may notice that your teeth and mouth feel a little tender or sore. This is perfectly normal and we promise your mouth will not be sore forever!

It’s normal for your teeth to feel different or loose without the trays in. You also may notice that your bite feels different.

No, chewing any type of gum with your trays in is not advised.

Call our office, we can change the attachment for you.

If your retainer has broken into two pieces, or you have a crack in it, you can keep wearing it if it’s comfortable to do so. Get in touch with us so we can have a new one made for you. Replacement retainers are generally $150.00.

Get in touch with our office right away. Teeth can shift quickly when the glue on the back of your teeth has come loose.

Get in touch with our office right away, teeth can shift quickly! A new one can be made once we have a new impression. Replacement retainers are generally $150.00.

This is usually caused by not wearing your retainer consistently enough, allowing your teeth to shift. Call the office so we can assess the fit of your retainer and give you further instructions.

Retainers are a lifetime commitment. Teeth continue to shift as we age. Wear your retainers as instructed for as long as you want to keep your teeth straight.

No two retainers are the same, this is something that will take getting used to.

This is caused by grinding of the teeth. Call the office for further instructions. Replacement retainers are generally $150.00.

We sure can! We will then make you a new clear retainer to continue to keep your smile beautiful.

We typically see patients with braces every 6-8 weeks, depending on your treatment plan. With Invisalign it can range from 8-14 weeks because of the amount of tray remaining in your treatment.

Be sure to check your mouth and appliance immediately for damage. If you notice any loose teeth or appliance damage, please contact our office right away.

You can temporarily relieve the discomfort by applying wax or rinsing your mouth with warm salt water.

This is not an emergency, but it can be uncomfortable or embarrassing. It’s easily fixed with a piece of dental floss.

Try tying a small knot in the middle of the floss to help remove the food, or use a water pick or toothpick to gently dislodge food caught between your teeth and your braces.

In most cases new patents do not need a referral. Call our office to book an appointment.

If this happens, please contact us as soon as possible so we can make repairs. If any piece of your appliance comes off, be sure to save it and bring it to the office with you.

If you still have money left outstanding for your monthly payments and the orthodontic treatment is not complete, this amount will still need to be paid.

Payments are a monthly payment plan, not a pay per appointment or pay until the treatment is complete.

Each individual person’s orthodontic treatment is different and requires different mechanics to move teeth.

We understand life happens. Out of courtesy to other patients and staff, we would appreciate a call if you are unable to attend or need to reschedule your appointment.