Metal Mouth Message Board

I will be getting metal brackets put on most of my teeth in about 5 days. Does the orthodontist usually give new patients a kit with floss, wax, etc.? If not, do common pharmacies/grocery stores have orthodontic care kits? I don't have much spare time between now and then, but don't want to have a couple rough first days with braces. I need to go back to work after getting them put on, then need to teach later that night. I originally planned to have an easy day after getting braces put on, but work got really busy.

My Orthodontist gave me a little kit with wax, interdental brushes, toothpaste a toothbrush, floss, and threaders. I also purchased supplies at Walmart (floss threaders, wax etc) I have found that having multiple sets of things works best for me. I have a small pouch with everything I need that I have at work, I keep a set of supplies in my car. and of course I have everything I need at home also. I have containers of wax everywhere since I often forget where I put it (I am a little ADD)

I suspect it may depend where you are geographically. Ive seen many references to kits, etc on this forum over the years, mostly from ortho patients in north America. It appears to be standard practice there (but I may be wrong!).

In Austalia it seems to b less common. My ortho certainly never gave out kits or samples etc. I havent heard of it here, but that's not to say it's never done!

I have to say I didnt need to get much, just wax from the chemist every now & then, & some floss threaders from the same. Salt for hot water rinses in the early days was the only other requirement. Oh & a stick blender to blitz your meals

Good luck!

I think I got a box of wax and some threader floss.

You'll almost certainly get some wax. You may get an interdental brush (a.k.a. Proxabrush) You will probably also get an envelope of floss threaders. You may get the usual samples of toothpaste and mouthwash. You may get an "ortho head" toothbrush.

As far as a whole "kit"? Not usually... (Although most orthodontists and dentists I've seen DO sell fancy electric toothbrushes if you want to buy one.) Some orthodontists may put all the aforementioned items in a flimsy pouch, but not anything that's going to last.

I got nothing besides the braces

It depends on where you live - if some ortho starts doing that, the others should do the same, sooner or later...
Seems to be standard practice in the US, but then again, the whole treatment is pretty expensive - I rather buy the kit myself, over here

Proxabrush that I used for a couple of days. I think there were also some small portable interdental brushes included. Gum Soft-Picks that I used for a couple of weeks. Super floss and floss threaders that I used for an embarassingly short time. Wax which I have never used although I'm sure I needed to, I just toughed it out because I didn't want to use wax. Manual toothbrush. Travel toothbrush. Various brochures and pamphlets. I think that was about it. I thought it was quite generous.

I live in Australia and I got a kit when I first got braces. I guess it is uncommon in other places....

It included:
Dental wax
3x toothbrushes (regular one, travel one and a special braces one)
Refill brushes for the brace toothbrush
Food guide
Dental hygiene with braces guide
Packet of pink pills that you chew up and it glows where plaque is that you missed
Mini travel pouch for dental products
Floss
Colgate Tube of toothpaste
Colgate travel size toothpaste
And just basic pamphlets on elastics, hygiene etc.

That's all I think, I was quite impressed.

Not in Japan. I got 2 boxes of wax.

I got a little baggie with toothpaste, some flouride toothpaste, a toothbrush, some lip balm and some wax and a peice of paper with instructions on how to brush the braces and foods I should avoid etc.

I thought it was nice to have all the little toys to play with while I sat on the edge of my bed wondering "what have I done????" I wasn't in the mood to go shopping, so I just reached into my bag of stuff and tried everything out eventually. The one thing I have replaced so far is the little picks.