How to accompany the client starting to wear orthodontics

Pharmacy staff help customers who are new to orthodontics to manage discomfort and reinforce dental hygiene habits. and reinforce dental hygiene habits.. They can offer tailored palliative solutions and refer to the orthodontist whenever necessary. As a result, customers improve their oral health and trust in the pharmacy is strengthened.

The role of the pharmacy in orthodontic patient care

Pharmacies act as a reference point for health education, prevention and professional referral. The Spanish Agency of Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) stresses that orthodontics should always be performed under professional supervision.Therefore, beyond educating on how to manage side effects, it is important to redirect customers to an orthodontist at any sign of alarm.

1. Guidance on Oral Hygiene Products

Customers starting orthodontic treatment need to adapt their oral hygiene routine. Pharmacists can advise advise on products that that make dental cleaning easier while preventing oral complications: interdental brushes to clean the areas between brackets and wires, specific dental floss, fluoride mouthwashes to strengthen the enamel and orthodontic wax to alleviate discomfort caused by the rubbing of braces against the oral mucous membranes. At Laboratorios KIN we have OrthoKINa specific range of products to accompany customers in their orthodontic treatment.

Information on possible side effects

The pharmacy can supplement the information provided by orthodontists about the possible side effects of treatment and refer a customer to his or her dentist when symptoms are of concern, such as infections or persistent bleeding. Similarly, convey that orthodontics is not only an aesthetic treatment, but also a functional one, where the idea is to correct the alignment of the teeth and improve the bite, which has significant implications for oral and general health.

Types of orthodontics and oral hygiene during treatment 

The type of orthodontics used by the patient influences the pharmaceutical recommendations. Fixed braces do not require the same care as clear aligners. In both cases, maintaining good oral hygiene guarantees the success of the treatment and this is where the pharmacy has more capacity to accompany the patient.

1. Fixed orthodontics (braces)

Fixed orthodontics can include traditional metal brackets, aesthetic sapphire, porcelain or lingual brackets. This type of treatment, which cannot be removed, makes cleaning somewhat more complicated. cleaning is somewhat more complicated and tends to cause friction and canker sores on the oral mucosa. In addition, it requires monthly check-ups with the orthodontist and limiting the intake of certain foods.

Hygiene routine

Brushing should be done after each meal for 3 to 5 minutes with specific orthodontic brushes and interdental brushes. specific brushes for orthodontics and interdental brushes to clean well between the archwires and brackets. For interdental cleaning, dental floss should also be used to pass under the metal arch and oral irrigators to remove debris in difficult areas.

Toothpaste should ideally be fluoride toothpaste (1,450 ppm), as should mouthwashes. as well as mouthwashes, which should have an anti-plaque effect, be mild and not formulated with alcohol.

Dietary restrictions

Certain foods can break or break or dislodge brackets, so it is best to avoid them or cut them into small pieces.It is best to avoid them or cut them into small pieces. They should be chewed very carefully: hard foods, such as nuts or crunchy fruits, sticky foods such as chewing gum, candy or nougat with a hard consistency.

If a bracket or archwire is rubbing, apply orthodontic wax to the area to alleviate discomfort until your appointment with the orthodontist.

2. Clear aligners

With removable clear aligners, oral hygiene is easier, although it is important to be consistent and wear them daily for at least 22 hours. wear them daily for a minimum of 22 hours.. This alternative does not usually cause frequent aphthous ulcers or wounds and you can eat normally. In this case, check-ups would be every 4 to 8 weeks.

Hygiene routine

Insufficient hygiene can lead to halitosis, staining or gingival infections due to plaque due to plaque build-up. They should brush their teeth for two minutes after each meal and use dental floss or an oral irrigator before inserting the aligners. As for the cleaning of clear aligners, they should be washed daily and cleaned more thoroughly weekly with specific products for splints. Splints should always be kept in their protective case to avoid contamination.

Dietary restrictions

One of the main advantages of this type of orthodontics is that there are no restrictions on eating, but you should not eat or drink with the aligners in place. you should not eat or drink with the aligners on, except for water.except water. In addition, beverages such as coffee, tea or wine can easily stain the splints if they are placed without rinsing the mouth.

Pharmaceutical recommendations to control initial discomfort

There are protocols for the pharmaceutical management of oral discomfort, both for addressing initial dental pain and sensitivity and for the treatment of canker sores and chafing.

Tooth pain and sensitivity

To alleviate temporary sensitivity can be offered:

2. Mucosal irritation and aphthous ulcers

The pharmacy should emphasize the importance of keeping the area clean to prevent infection, and urge you to see a dentist as soon as possible if aphthous ulcers persist for more than 7 days. persist for more than 7 days or become infected. In normal situations, it is recommended:

3. Halitosis or bad breath

Halitosis is a sign of accumulation of plaque around the appliance.. A more rigorous hygiene should be advised, including alcohol-free mouthwash and daily interdental cleaning. If the hygiene is correct and bad breath persists, refer to a dentist.

4. Bleeding gums

Both at the beginning of orthodontic treatment and at monthly adjustments, light bleeding is normal. At the pharmacy, the importance of regular and careful brushing should be emphasized so as not to cause trauma. An anti-plaque mouthwash could be recommended. In the case of frequent or abundant bleedingthe client should see a dentist as soon as possible.

In certain orthodontic treatments, intermaxillary intermaxillary elastics to correct the bite and, although these are not dispensed in pharmacies, the staff can teach correct hygiene while the patient is wearing them and recommend mild mouthwashes to reduce irritation in the areas where the elastics are attached.

Advice on orthodontic customers for pharmacy staff

To accompany a client undergoing orthodontic treatment well, the first thing to do is to listen, to let them tell us what discomfort they have or what worries them so that we can help them. In addition to advising specific products, it is important to explain the explain the reason behind each piece of advice and use language that is easy to understand, if possible with practical examples: how to apply wax to the brackets, how to clean the aligner, etc.

Detecting new needs, reinforcing healthy habits and recommending useful products is the strategy that every pharmacy should follow. Recurrent Recurrent symptoms, such as irritationssuch as irritations or canker sores can be recorded for better follow-up. Keeping track of their history strengthens the bond with the pharmacy and encourages loyalty.