Each patient learns why dental hygiene is important when wearing braces. Your teeth are being moved into the desired position and you'll want to protect that investment in a healthy, beautiful smile. It is harder to keep your teeth clean with braces because food compacts in the brackets and between your teeth. It's a small brush that's typically used to clean in-between teeth. It can also increase the time that kids have to spend in braces. However, your braces may cause your toothbrush to wear faster. Other foods you should avoid because they could damage your braces include: - Popcorn. Eating any hard foods like carrots and apples. This is so that at the end of your treatment, you will be left with teeth that are pearly white and healthy. Then, have kids brush their teeth as soon as they're reunited with their toothbrush. Before you know it, you'll be getting your braces removed with straight, pearly white teeth that will make you smile.
Choose fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods for snacks since they work by adding vitamins and minerals to keep teeth healthy from the inside out. Braces are a powerful tool for straightening and aligning your teeth. Regular Cleanings are Still Important – Teeth cleanings every six months should be considered as important as daily brushings and flossing. Change your toothbrush (or electric toothbrush head) when the bristles are no longer straight. If you are looking to save some money by making a solution by yourself at home, then you are in luck. The risk of developing incipient caries and gingival lesions during orthodontic treatment should not be underestimated by orthodontists. Additionally, in extreme cases, getting cavities with braces could mean having to have the braces taken off, so the decay can be treated. Braces, wires, bands and retainers can all trap food particles and make it difficult to brush or floss away plaque. A professional clean may reduce the chance of visible staining after braces. Decalcification is when plaque, bacteria, and food acids draw minerals from the enamel, weakening it.
However, the orthodontist is trained to look for white areas around the braces and often can inform the patient before they progress. But much of the discomfort goes away, and like any new undertaking, when you do it enough, it merely becomes part of your routine. This allows the brush to clean your teeth, brackets and wires. This ensures a proper grip and allows the desired movements to be made without harming the gums and braces. It is vital to learn the appropriate brushing and flossing technique from an orthodontist after application of braces. It takes a little longer to brush with braces because of all the nooks and crannies, but it's best to take your time and do a thorough job. Because your teeth can be harder to clean while wearing braces, it's best to avoid foods that cause damage to your gums and tooth enamel. Oral hygiene is important at every stage of life. Orthodontists should be aware of the high risk of WSL and decide, at the patient level, whether it is appropriate to start or continue treatment in patients who are already experiencing enamel demineralization and continual gingival inflammation.
Anyone can develop gingivitis, but the challenge of cleaning around the gum line with braces means that braces wearers should be especially vigilant. When food particles start to create bacteria, the plaque that starts to form is a thin coating of microorganisms (also known as biofilm). While you can use regular dental floss on its own, the process will be much easier if your child or teen uses a floss threader. Brushing and flossing with braces is a little more challenging and takes some getting used to. Floss up and down the side of one tooth, getting under the gumline, and then up and down the side of the other tooth. In addition, over-the-counter and prescription toothpastes exist that can combat tooth sensitivity. Am J Orthod Dentofac Orthop. Halitosis (Bad Breath). Plan for the Future. Keeping your teeth clean, and regularly attending appointments with your dentist will help with oral hygiene. If you're going to spend the time and money to correct your child's teeth, it's also important to help your child develop good dental hygiene practices. The primary goal is to attain a behavioral change in the patient. Hold the ends of the floss firmly folded around the index fingers.
Gum disease starts in its mild form as gingivitis. There may also be sensitivity to sweet or sugary foods. Always seek the advice of your dentist, physician or other qualified healthcare provider. Guide the pointed end of the floss threader under the braces wire and pull the floss through until it can be gripped with both hands. However, people with braces are more prone to decalcification because braces act as an excellent trap for food.
At this time, a preventative dental program should be introduced. In general, soft foods are preferred over hard and crunchy foods. By helping your child floss, you can help remove foreign particles and plaque that accumulates close to the gum line. When you utilize children's braces to correct malocclusions, you should be aware that tooth decay is still possible. To reduce inflammation to your gums and cheeks, we suggest using a hydrogen peroxide antiseptic mouth rinse.
If sensitivity lingers or becomes painful, other factors might be involved. We are always happy to remove your wires before your cleaning and replace them afterward. Swishing with mouthwash after flossing and brushing can help to loosen any trapped bits of food and get into those hard-to-reach places. Floss carefully around the tooth and the gums by moving the floss up and down gently underneath the gumline. Las Vegas Children Orthodontics Require Meticulous Dental Hygiene. Then, it becomes more visible. Special brushes reach under the wires and allow patients to dislodge food particles before they have a chance to build-up and turn into plaque. We rely on you to keep your teeth and braces clean.
In other words, decalcification or white spots indicate early tooth decay. An interproximal brush, sometimes called a proxy brush or interdental brush, is a tiny brush meant to squeeze into tight spaces. Only an experienced dental professional can determine the best methods for correcting problems, such as missing or broken teeth, misaligned teeth, crooked or gapped teeth, or jaw developmental issues. You just need to take your time, be careful and get under the gum line. Damage to the enamel won't go away, nor will the white spots on their own. Tooth Discoloration. Flossing is an essential part of good oral hygiene. Check the brackets and wires to ensure nothing is loose or broken.