Getting Started with Expanders
This guide is meant to help you adjust to life with expanders and ensure the success of your treatment. Getting through the first week is a big milestone — you will likely experience some soreness and irritation from your new hardware đ This information will guide you through the process. Our team is also here to help you through your entire orthodontic journey. You got this!
- During the first 48 hours after starting treatment, we recommend taking Acetaminophen (Tylenol), if no allergy exists. If that isnât taking the edge off, you can also take Ibuprofen (Advil). Alternating between the two can provide added relief as well!
- Avoiding broken expanders is the best way to prevent delays in treatment progress. Below are recommendations to help set you up for success:
- Sugary and acidic beverages, such as sodas (including diet), sports drinks, energy drinks, and fruit juices should be avoided as much as possible. These beverages break down the bond that holds the expanders to your teeth and lead to cavities and permanent staining.
- Hard, crunchy, or sticky foods should be avoided during treatment.
- Avoid playing with any part of your expanders with your tongue, fingers, pencils, etc. It is common, especially if you have a lower expander, to want to push against it with your tongue. This WILL cause it to come loose.
- We recommend you brush your teeth and massage your gums after consuming anything other than water. If that is not possible, rinse with water to help remove any food debris.
- We recommend and will provide a mouthguard (if requested) to use during contact sports.
- We recommend turning your expanders right before bedtime and staying consistent with the provided turn calendar. If a turn is missed, please mark it on the calendar, but DO NOT make up the missed turn. We will evaluate your progress at your next appointment and prescribe additional turns as needed.
- Please bring your turn calendar with you to every appointment.
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The biggest adjustments you will experience during the first few days of treatment are:
- Sore gums around the bands that hold the expanders in place.
- Swallowing differently due to the expander on the roof of your mouth (repeatedly practicing during the first 48 hours will help you adjust much more quickly).
- Impacted speech due to the expander on the roof of your mouth (talking or reading out loud and/or singing will help you adjust much more quickly).
- You will produce more saliva than you are used to as your mouth adjusts to the expanders.
- If you have a broken expander, please contact our office so we may make arrangements to correct the issue. If you arrive for a regular appointment with something broken or loose without having called ahead, the extra time required to correct it may make it necessary to reschedule your appointment.
- One of the best ways to reach out to us if you are experiencing an orthodontic comfort concern is via text at 509-735-7591. We use a 100% HIPAA-compliant texting platform. Send us a photo of the area that is bothering you and we will evaluate the situation. We can workshop almost all concerns via texting or a phone call!
- It is crucial that you continue your routine dental visits and cleanings with your general dentist during orthodontic treatment. We do not have the equipment in our office to perform routine dental care during your adjustment appointments.
- The effort you put into your treatment directly impacts the quality of your results!
Top 5 things you can do to rock your treatment:
- Attend your regularly scheduled appointments.
- Be diligent with your oral hygiene to keep your teeth healthy and help avoid broken expanders.
- Be gentle with your expanders and be aware of foods or habits that will cause breakage, which will delay your treatment progress.
- Be consistent with your prescribed turns and follow the provided calendar (including stopping once you have completed the calendar!).
- Make sure to #smilelikeyoumeanit đ.
