Palette expanders seem overwhelming and hard to deal with at first, but after a couple of days and some of these tips you will feel much better.


Steps

1. Eat very soft foods at first, and chew with your back teeth. Take a pain releiver pill, but be careful to use the proper dose.
2. If you have food stuck in your teeth, braces, or expander, use a waterpik, floss, or a tool to get it out.
3. have good hygiene habits. talk to your orthodontist.
4. Turn it right before you go to bed, so you will not have to deal with chewing while it hurts. It should feel better in the morning.
5. Make a paper chain to count down the number of times you will have to turn it. This really helps to make it more fun! Also track the number of days you have to wear it on your calendar, or make a countdown on your computer.
6. Keep a positive attitude! This makes it much quicker, and easier to deal with.

Tips

• Just because you have an expander does not mean you can't enjoy yourself!
• Eat ice cream to soothe sore teeth.
• Talk to your friends and family if you feel upset or overwhelmed.
• Keep in touch with your orthodontist.

Warnings

• Do not eat hard or sticky foods, they can break things in your mouth.
• Broken parts just make the treatment longer, so grin and bear it while you have to!