An increasing number of adults are looking for a better smile. Due to advances in technology, there are now faster, more discreet treatments available. A good smile is important for self-confidence, in both your personal and professional lives, so we offer treatments suitable for all ages.
At Whitetree, we work together with you and your dentist in order to achieve your ideal smile, using specialist orthodontic treatment in combination with other treatments to optimise the placement of bridges, crowns, veneers or implants.
There are as many possible treatment plans as there are people, and at Whitetree we focus on long-lasting, proven treatments. Specialists are trained to assess the evidence and scientific basis behind different treatment types. You will notice that our specialist centre offers a number of different brace types and we have the expertise to help you choose the best option for you.
If you want to find out more about the treatments we offer, and how orthodontics can help your smile, please click on the links below for more information.
Looking after your fixed brace
You will need: a toothbrush (travel toothbrush for daytime use), interdental brushes, wax, fluoride mouthwash. These can be purchased from reception.
To ensure that your treatment progresses as quickly as possible and that your teeth remain undamaged throughout your treatment please follow these instructions:
Keep your gums and teeth clean:
Please brush your teeth at least 3 times a day after every meal. You will need to use your normal manual or electric toothbrush to brush the tips of your teeth, across the brace and between your teeth and gums, including the gum margin. You must also use an interdental brush behind the wire between each bracket.
The use of disclosing tablets once or twice a week is a good idea to check your brushing is up to scratch.
Please use fluoride mouthwash with a concentration of 0.05% fluoride (225ppm) last thing at night after brushing – rinse for 1 minute then spit out. This helps to strengthen your teeth to avoid ugly marks developing.
Don’t break your brace:
Avoid chewy and crunchy foods e.g. chewing gum, toffee, crusty bread, pizza crusts etc – use your common sense. Cut up hard foods such as apples and raw carrots. Don’t pick at your brace with your fingers and don’t bite pens. If your brace breaks contact us straight away– if your brace remains broken your treatment could take longer.
Keep your teeth healthy – decalcification marks are permanent:
Do not eat sticky or chewy sweets or sweets that take a long time to suck e.g. mints, boiled sweets etc. Chocolate will be fine on occasion (1-2 times per week as a treat). Avoid fizzy drinks of any type including diet drinks and fizzy or flavoured water. The best things to drink with braces are plain water, plain milk or squash diluted as much as possible. Fruit juice will also damage your teeth so have no more than 1 glass a day and drink it through a straw to prevent it swilling around your teeth.
Use a gumshield if you play contact sports: either off-the-peg or custom-made (we supply both).
What to expect:
Your teeth will start to ache a few hours after having the brace fitted and the next day tends to be the most uncomfortable. The aching will then start to subside and after a week, it should be a lot more comfortable. Use ibuprofen (as long as you don’t have asthma) or paracetamol if necessary. Use brace wax to help prevent rubbing of the insides of your cheeks and lips. Have a really soft diet for the first few days as your teeth will be tender.