Wearing your upper removable appliance
You will need to wear this removable appliance (also known as a removable brace) FULL TIME. Which means you must wear it during mealtimes and when sleeping – only remove it when you are cleaning your teeth or when cleaning the appliance or if you play sports for which a mouth guard is worn such as hockey or rugby or martial arts. Always use your fingers to insert and remove the appliance. Avoid clicking it in with your teeth or playing with it using your tongue as this can cause it to get loose or break.
Speech
You may find that you speak with a lisp – this is perfectly normal. Practise speaking or reading out loud whilst wearing it. The more you wear it, the more you will get used to it and your speech will improve. With your full commitment, it usually takes around 5-7 days to get fully used to your appliance.
Diet
Start by having soft foods such as mash potato, soups, pasta, steamed veg etc whilst getting used to the appliance. Avoid hard, sticky or chewy foods as it could damage the appliance. Foods such as apples and carrots must be chopped into small bite-size pieces before eating. Try to avoid fizzy drinks or fruit juices high in sugar or acid as they can cause wear on the tooth surface. Save them for special occasions only. Choose healthier alternatives such as milk or water instead.
Cleaning your upper removable appliance
You must remove the appliance after each meal to clean it. Use a manual or electric toothbrush to brush all of its surfaces. Be gentle around the wires and especially the springs as they are fragile. Then, rinse under cold running water. You must ensure there are no food particles left on the appliance before inserting it back into your mouth. You may also want to use ‘Retainer Brite’. This is a dissolvable cleaning tablet – you drop it into a tumbler/ beaker/cup of cold water and soak the appliance in the solution for about 10-15 mins. It is recommended you use Retainer Brite 2-3 times weekly to keep the appliance fresh and clean.
Storing your upper removable appliance
When the appliance is not in your mouth, you MUST store it in a lidded box to keep it safe and protect it from breakages. Avoid wrapping in tissue or putting away in pockets as you’re more likely to lose the appliance. Pets, especially dogs, love to chew on this. Always store it in a box. This is very important. If the appliance breaks, this will cause delays to your treatment. There is a cost for replacing appliances. You can buy a removable starter pack as well as a combined starter pack at reception – this includes a lidded box as well as the cleaning tablets. Please ask your Orthodontist if you need to purchase a combined pack.
Problems with your upper removable appliance
If the appliance is too loose or too tight or causing pain in the cheeks or gums or the palate, please do let us know – we can adjust it to make it more comfortable for you. Your teeth may feel a bit sore or ache for a few days- this is normal, you may take some simple pain killers to ease this. If you lose or damage the appliance, you must contact the practice as soon as possible.