No-No List!  

No-No Food List for Space Maintainers and Appliances
 Post on the refrigerator!!!

Things you cannot eat or chew !!!

ICE:                                 It will break your space maintainer or appliance.

HARD PIZZA CRUST:         It may bend the wire of your appliance.

HARD PRETZELS:             May bend wires or loosen bands.

HARD CHIPS:                   May form a hard ball and break the appliance.

GUM (ANY KIND):             It will loosen bands and pull the cement off.

STICKY CANDY:                It will loosen bands and pull the cement off.

                                     (for example: Caramel, Starburst, Tootsie Rolls)

HARD CANDY:                   It will break wires and bands, and pull off appliance.  

                                      (for ex.: Peppermints, Jolly Ranchers, Suckers)

BEEF JERKY, SLIM JIMS:     These are tough and can damage.

PENS AND PENCILS:           Not good to chew anytime!

RAW CARROTS:                These are hard and can bend wires.

Eating these foods will loosen and possibly break bands of appliances, but you may not discover the
problem until hours or days later. Please share this information with other relatives and caregivers
to ensure the patient follows these guidelines.

Patient Instructions for RPE

1.  Follow the ‘no-no’ food list!! 

2.  Turn the appliance screw twice a day for 10 days- once in the morning and once in the evening. Turn the
     screw all the way back until the next hole can be seen.

3.  When turning the screw, if the key comes out put it back into the hole and push to the back of the mouth
     until you are able to see the next key hole.

4.  If you miss a turn, make it up the next day; turning twice may cause too much discomfort.

5.  It is easier to see the appliance if the patient is laying down in an area where there is light (i.e., bed
     or floor).

6.  If you are not able to get into the office at 10 days, don’t turn screw anymore until you are seen by the
    dentist.

7.  You may notice a space form between the two front teeth, this will go away over time.

8.  If there is any discomfort, give Tylenol or Ibuprofen.

Click HERE for a printable PDF version of this information with a schedule.