Maintaining your Braces During COVID-19

Maintaining your Braces During COVID-19

By admin April 30th
Due to health and safety concerns arising from the current COVID-19 situation, we’ve had to interrupt our normal cadence in seeing patients. Non-emergency health services have been temporarily closed in many states across the country, and we were no exception.

On Monday, May 11, we’ll begin seeing regular appointments in-person again and we’re so excited to see everyone. We’ve met with many of you virtually during this time, and will continue to offer virtual appointments for those who cannot come to the office. In the meantime, here are some steps you can take to ensure your progress remains on track during COVID-19.
- Your Cleaning Habits are Essential
  
  It is doubly important that all patients give extra attention and care to regularly cleaning their appliances. Consider brushing after eating as often as you normally would, or at the very least be extra thorough with your normal routine. This will help to prevent gum irritation and disease, which may slow your treatment, as well as protect from stains and cavities. It will also help protect your appliances while you’re unable to meet with your orthodontist.
- Protection from Damage and Treating Yourself if Necessary
  
  A broken bracket, wire or any damage that generally requires a special visit to the office to repair may not be available, and therefore may not be treatable because you can’t get an appointment in person during sheltering orders.
  
  To protect yourself from any appliance damage, make sure to be mindful of foods you eat. Avoid foods that are chewy foods like gummy candies, bagels, or licorice, crunchy foods like popcorn, and foods which you have to bite hard into to eat like apples and raw vegetables. Also avoid damage from external sources, such as chewing on foreign objects or ice.
  
  If you do find yourself with a broken bracket or wire, try and minimize discomfort as much as possible on your own. Apply wax to blunt the edge of poking wires, or to help keep a broken or floating bracket in place.
  
  In worst case scenarios, poking wires may be clipped with a pair of nail clippers to minimize contact with the inside of the mouth. General discomfort or soreness can be treated normally with Tylenol or Ibuprofen pills.
- Follow all Regular Treatment Instructions
  
  Patients who have other appliances or treatment methods such as elastics or the motion device in combination with braces should follow all treatment instructions as directed by Dr. Paquette. In these uncertain times, maintaining your personal health and safety is our top priority. While we may not be able to be there for you in-person, we at Paquette Orthodontics wish you only the best as we all work together to get through these times.
Have any questions or concerns about your continuing orthodontic treatment? Please contact us or schedule a virtual appointment, we are more than happy to help with any inquiries.
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