Orthodontist Serving New York, NY

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Interdental Toothbrush
A Proxabrush is an interdental (between the teeth) toothbrush that you may use to clean underneath and around your wires and braces. Use the Proxabrush gently to avoid damaging your wires. The Proxabrush will help you to clean your braces while maintaining healthy teeth and gums.

Antibacterial Mouthwash
Peroxyl, a hydrogen peroxide antiseptic mouth rinse, will reduce inflammation to your gums and cheeks. Peroxyl helps to prevent infection and decrease irritation that may develop from your braces. Rinse your mouth with two teaspoons of Peroxyl (half a capful) for one minute and then spit it out. You may use Peroxyl up to four times daily following your schedule for brushing: after meals (or after school) and before bed. Just like using peroxide for a scrape on your skin, Peroxyl helps the inside of your mouth heal. Peroxyl can be used for general irritation caused by your braces or for canker sores, cheek bites and other minor temporary injuries to the gums.

Topical Fluoride
Phos-Flur is a sodium fluoride gel that helps prevent tooth decay while you are wearing braces by killing bacteria and replacing minerals in tooth enamel that have been exposed to harmful acids. The use of Phos-Flur does not replace daily brushing and flossing but should be done following your daily schedule at bedtime. Place a small strip of Phos-Flur on a toothbrush and apply it to your teeth for one minute and spit it out. You may not eat or drink for 30 minutes after you use Phos-Flur. It is important for the active ingredient to stay on your teeth for 30 minutes, so do not wash it away by eating or drinking.

Cleaning Your Removable Appliance
Brush your removable appliance every day as a part of your regular brushing and flossing schedule. Because food particles and plaque can accumulate on your appliance just as they do on your teeth, soak the appliance daily. Dissolve a Polident, Efferdent or other denture-cleaning tablet in a glass of tap water at room temperature and soak your appliance once every day. Your appliance will taste better, and you will prevent plaque and bacterial accumulation.

Foods To Avoid
First Rule – Do not listen to your friends. Even if they say you can eat these thing DON’T!!!

Foods You Must Avoid!!

• Ice – Do not chew or suck ice – it will destroy your braces
• Meat on Bones – such as chicken legs and spare ribs. Cut all meat off the bones before you eat it.
• Hard Chips – such as Fritos and Doritos can break off brackets
• Hard Breads – pizza crust, hard bagels and rolls
• Nuts – are too hard
• Hard Candies – all hard candies are dangerous
• Sticky Candies – these will stick to and pull off brackets. They are also hard to brush off and will cause cavities.
• Chewing Gum- a big NO NO
• Popcorn & Pretzels – too hard especially kernels
• Corn on the Cob- please cut it off the cob
• Raw Vegetables & Hard Fruit – we encourage you to eat lots of fruits and veggies, however, you should cut them up first.

Please refrain from chewing pens, pencils, remote controls, iPod, fingernails, etc. in other words – keep all hard objects out of your mouth.

*Please keep your fingers and hands out of your mouth. Do Not Pull on your braces.

Recipes
During the first week of wearing your appliances, a softer diet will be easier for you. The following recipes may be helpful.

Pancakes
1 ¼ cup unbleached all purpose flour

3 tablespoons sugar

1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

¼ cup wheat germ

Wisk together in a bowl

1 ½ cups milk

Please note: You may substitute ¼ cup of milk for ¼ cup of yogurt or ¼ cup sour cream – this is a good substitute with grated apples.

3 tablespoons unsalted butter – melted

2 large eggs

½ teaspoon vanilla

Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients and gently wisk them together, if you wish, mix in one or more of the following:

1 over ripe smashed banana

¼ cup well ground nuts

1 grated apple

Spoon 1/3 cup batter onto slightly sprayed griddle. Flip when bubbles appear.

Serve with cream cheese.

Meatballs
1 lb. Ground meat (beef, pork, turkey, veal or a mixture of any of the above)

beat 1 egg; add ¼ cup wheat germ to egg

Mix into ground meat with your hands – please wash hands first –

Mix into meat

1 large grated carrot

½ small grated zucchini

1 clove crushed garlic

For extra flavor add ½ cup of your favorite barbeque sauce.

Mix all ingredients and roll into meat balls – bake on cookie sheet at 350 for 25 minutes (slightly longer if they are large meatballs).

Tomato Soup
Heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium/low heat

Chop 1 medium onion and sauté in oil 5-10 minutes

Stir in 3 lbs ripe tomatoes with juice (peel and seed them first)

Simmer 20-25 minutes

Puree in blender until smooth

Season with salt and pepper

Cream of Tomato Soup
Follow recipe for Tomato Soup and add ¼ cup heavy cream

Quick Oatmeal
1 cup instant oatmeal

1/8 cup wheat germ or flax see meal or un processed bran

1/8 cup honey

enough milk to moisten oatmeal

1 smashed banana

Mix all ingredients in microwave for 1 minute, stir, if too dry add more milk. Microwave for 30 seconds –more if necessary.

Smoothies
½ cup milk

½ cup plain or vanilla yogurt

1 smashed banana

¼ cup strawberries

Blend all ingredients in blender

You may also add:

¼ cup blueberries

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