We want to ensure that your treatment progresses as quickly and as painlessly as possible. That’s our goal. When treatment begins, we will partner with you and/or your child to make sure this happens. Please take these tips to heart so your smile will be beautiful AND healthy. If you ever have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask Dr. Underwood or his staff.

What Can I Eat?
You can eat most anything, but we want our patients to choose their foods carefully during treatment. Treatment progresses on schedule when we can avoid damage to braces.

Please watch out for foods that are too sticky (caramels, taffy, or bubble gum), too hard (nuts, granola, hard candy), or too chewy (bagels or licorice). Apples and carrots are great snacks – we just ask that you cut them into bite-sized pieces. Please rest assured that we will talk to you or your child about picking the best foods to eat during treatment.

How Can I Brush With Braces?

We will show you or your child how to brush effectively with braces. It can certainly seem challenging at first. Early commitment to good hygiene that progresses through treatment will not only keep our treatment plan on track but will aid in providing a great end result. We ask that our patients attempt to brush after every meal – this is just good dental hygiene practice.

Can I Floss?

Of course and we want you to. We have a special threader that we will give to you after you get your braces on that will help you out. We will show you how the threader works in our office. Flossing and brushing together will keep small pieces of food out of your braces and teeth.

What If I'm Sore?

We will do everything possible to keep your soreness at a minimum. Your teeth are moving so you will experience some soreness. Headache medicine taken at regular intervals can help alleviate soreness. As your mouth adjusts to braces, some areas like your tongue, cheeks and lips might become irritated. We will provide you with some wax for you to apply to these trouble areas at home.

What If A Bracket Or Wire Breaks Or Becomes Loose At Home?

Don’t worry – we can fix it! At this point, we just ask that you do what you need to at home to make you or your child comfortable. Dr. Underwood recommends clipping a loose wire with nail clippers and removing the wire and brackets as needed. Please call our office fairly quickly so we can get you in to make repairs. Also, let us know prior to your regularly scheduled appointment if you have any loose wires or brackets. This helps us to stay on schedule.

How Long Do I Wear My Retainer?

Dr. Underwood runs into former patients all the time and he always asks, “Are you still wearing your retainer?” He believes that you should wear your retainer indefinitely. This protects your investment in your lifetime smile.

Shawn Underwood DDS, MS | Underwood Orthodontics | 18425 Champion Forest Dr. #250 | Spring, TX 77379 | Call Today (281) 655-5400

Can I Floss? Of course and we want you to. We have a special threader that we will give to you after you get your braces on that will help you out. We will show you how the threader works in our office. Flossing and brushing together will keep small pieces of food out of your braces and teeth.

How Long Do I Wear My Retainer? Dr. Underwood runs into former patients all the time and he always asks, “Are you still wearing your retainer?” He believes that you should wear your retainer indefinitely. This protects your investment in your lifetime smile.

Can I Floss?

Of course and we want you to. We have a special threader that we will give to you after you get your braces on that will help you out. We will show you how the threader works in our office. Flossing and brushing together will keep small pieces of food out of your braces and teeth.

How Long Do I Wear My Retainer?

Dr. Underwood runs into former patients all the time and he always asks, “Are you still wearing your retainer?” He believes that you should wear your retainer indefinitely. This protects your investment in your lifetime smile.