Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Eating and drinking with a butterfly brace
• Method 2 of 4: Keep your butterfly braces clean
• Method 3 of 4: Adjust the butterfly bracket
• Method 4 of 4: Soothe the pain and discomfort of your butterfly braces
• Tips
• Warnings

If you have butterfly braces or if your child has one, you will be able to deal with it more easily by making small adjustments to your diet, your daily schedule and the way you clean your teeth. A butterfly brace is also called a suture expansion brace, hyrax or spider brace, and is a small brace that is attached to the palate and supported by the upper teeth. Such braces are usually worn for two to several months. During this time, the butterfly brace gradually stretches the two halves of the hard palate that have not yet grown together to correct a number of different dental problems, such as an overbite and overlapping teeth. Butterfly braces work best for young teenagers whose palate tissue has not yet grown together, but can also be used in adults.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Eating and drinking with a butterfly brace

1. Get as many of your favorite soft foods and drinks as possible at home. Choose foods that get you the nutrients you need without making eating even more difficult than it already is for you. You can choose from yoghurt, healthy shakes, ice cream, pureed vegetables such as potatoes, zucchini or yams, or pureed bananas, soup, etc.
2. Take small bites and chew gently. Remember, the butterfly brace will literally pull the two halves of your upper jaw apart, putting pressure on the bones in the lower part of your face. You will likely chew with the teeth that are not attached to the braces.
3. Take small sips and use a thin straw. You will be able to drink liquids more easily than eat solid foods because your tongue doesn't have to move the food around in your mouth to chew. You just have to swallow.
4. Wipe your mouth regularly. If you have butterfly braces, your mouth will generally produce a lot more saliva. Have a napkin or tissue handy to wipe away the saliva and keep everything nice and dry.
5. Eat your favorite solid foods when you feel the least discomfort. Take advantage of these moments when they come. With a little patience, you will still be able to enjoy pasta, sandwiches, and even pizza.

Method 2 of 4: Keep your butterfly braces clean

1. Continue to brush and floss your teeth daily. This ensures good oral hygiene, which is something we should all do on a regular basis. Now is the time to make this a habit.
2. Consider buying an oral irrigator such as a Waterpik to make your teeth more thorough and easier to clean at home. An oral irrigator sprays a small, powerful jet of water into your mouth to clean the areas that are difficult to reach. Such an aid is highly recommended for many types of braces and other orthodontic appliances.
   • When cleaning, concentrate especially on the middle part, the screws, the edges of the brace and where the brace touches or covers the edge of the gum.
3. Bring a regular toothbrush and a travel toothbrush when you go out for dinner. Step away from the table after dinner and use the toothbrush to gently brush away any food residue that is stuck between your teeth and braces.

Method 3 of 4: Adjust the butterfly bracket

1. Follow your orthodontist's instructions for adjusting the butterfly brace. Your orthodontist will tell you how often to adjust the brace. This can vary from one to two or three times a day, depending on how much the palate needs to be stretched and anything else that needs to be done by the orthodontist during treatment, such as fitting a different type of braces.
   • Be consistent as possible.
   • If you think that you probably cannot keep to the schedule or can only adjust the braces later, always ask your orthodontist for advice first.
2. Find the key your orthodontist gave you. This is a tool, usually a small metal rod, that you insert into the screw in the center of the brace and allow the brace to slide apart sideways to stretch the palate.
   • If your key does not have a safety string, attach a long string or piece of dental floss to the end. You can easily grab the key if you drop it in your or your child's mouth.
3. Insert the key into the hole in the screw in the middle part of the bracket. In most cases, insert the key into a small angled hole that points towards the back of the upper teeth (i.e. the key points towards the opening of your mouth).
   • If you are doing this to yourself, do this in front of the mirror in a well-lit room.
   • If you're doing this on a child or teen, have him or her lie down and open his or her mouth as far as possible to avoid gagging if you accidentally touch the uvula. Make sure there is enough light and you can see the bracket clearly. If necessary, use a flashlight.
4. Turn the key as far as it will go. After inserting the key into the screw and taking care not to hit the skin at the top of the mouth, turn the screw slowly and with consistent pressure as far as it will go towards the throat.
5. Carefully remove the key from your or your child's mouth. Clean it and keep it in a safe place.
6. Go to all scheduled appointments with your orthodontist. Most orthodontists will require you to visit once a week to have progress checked and problems resolved.
   • Make a handy list of questions and problems you have.

Method 4 of 4: Soothe the pain and discomfort of your butterfly braces

1. Take a liquid pain reliever half an hour before you need to adjust the braces. This will help soothe the inflammation and discomfort you will experience an hour after adjustment.
2. Adjust the braces after meals. You have already eaten and your mouth has a chance to rest while you experience pain, pressure and discomfort.
3. Relax and put an ice pack on your cheeks after adjusting the braces. This helps to soothe inflammation in the area.
4. Then have something tasty like a small ice cream or a cold drink. The cold also helps to soothe and numb the inflammation.
5. Use orthodontic wax to protect the tissue in your mouth from abrasion. Orthodontic wax is available at most pharmacies and forms a removable and reusable barrier between the iron of the butterfly brace and the soft tissue of your mouth.
6. If you have a cut or area that keeps hurting, use a topical pain reliever pain reliever.
   • You can also gargle regularly with a weak, lukewarm saline solution to relieve occasional tenderness and pain.

Tips

• Stay in touch with your orthodontist and don't be afraid to ask questions.
• Talk to your friends and family if you get upset or frustrated in the process.
• Remember that eventually you will no longer have to wear braces, but you will always have a beautiful smile.
• See your orthodontist regularly for a check-up.
• If you just got the braces, you will probably talk in a strange way. Your pronunciation will likely get better in a few days. For example, you can read things out loud for practice.
• Use medication or an ice pack to relieve the pain.

Warnings

• You will find that you will start to talk differently, especially in the beginning. This is because the control over your muscles normally fits perfectly with the shape of your mouth, which now contains something strange. The hard to pronounce consonants will get easier with a little practice, usually within a few days. Have patience!
• Don't eat hard candies, fudge and other very crunchy and sticky foods, as this can damage your expensive butterfly braces.