We are pleased to serve the community of Slidell, LA. Our doors are always open to welcome new patients who areready to receive the best in dental care.
Find Us:
Patient Library
Find helpful information in our digital library.
Archive:
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
Tags
- celebrity smiles (49)
- oral health (14)
- dental hygiene (1)
- tooth contouring (1)
- cosmetic dentistry (6)
- dental injury (5)
- mouthguards (2)
- veneers (4)
- crowns (5)
- mouthguard (2)
- dental injuries (1)
- dentures (2)
- oral hygiene (18)
- pediatric care (1)
- teeth whitening (5)
- tooth bleaching (1)
- Toothache (4)
- nutrition (4)
- dental erosion (1)
- chipped teeth (1)
- sedation dentistry (1)
- oral sedation (1)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- Dental Implants (12)
- orthodontics (4)
- braces (8)
- laser dentistry (2)
- gum disease (13)
- wisdom teeth (3)
- periodontal disease (3)
- root canal (4)
- Root Canals (2)
- dental sealants (1)
- bone grafting (2)
- pediatric dentistry (5)
- tooth decay (7)
- sealants (1)
- tooth staining (1)
- bad breath (1)
- bonding (1)
- Fillings (1)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- partial denture (1)
- dental emergency (1)
- anesthesia (1)
- periodontal (gum) disease (1)
- restorative dentistry (3)
- geographic tongue (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- air abrasion (1)
- burning mouth syndrome (1)
- tooth grinding (1)
- dental crowns (1)
- orthodontic treatment (5)
- bacteria (1)
- porcelain veneers (1)
- preventative dentistry (1)
- tooth pain (3)
- pregnancy (1)
- tmj disorders (1)
- sinus surgery (1)
- teething (2)
- Oral Cancer (2)
- cancer treatment (1)
- bone loss (1)
- teeth grinding (1)
- bruxism (1)
- blood pressure medications (1)
- medicine (1)
- Dental Extractions (1)
- Damaged Teeth (1)
- thumb sucking (1)
- smile makeover (1)
- osteoporosis (1)
- smoking (1)
- gum recession (1)
- pulp capping (1)
- root canal treatment (2)
Categories:
Oral Hygiene isn't Easy with Braces - but it's Still Doable
If you’re about to undergo orthodontic treatment, you’re going to face a challenge keeping your teeth and gums clean wearing braces. That in turn could increase your chances for tooth decay or periodontal (gum) disease, which could diminish your future dental health and disrupt your current orthodontic treatment.
The main hygiene tasks of brushing and flossing are more difficult with braces because of the fixed hardware on the teeth. Your toothbrush or floss can’t always easily maneuver around the wires and brackets, increasing the chances you’ll miss some areas. These neglected areas can then accumulate dental plaque, a thin film of bacteria and food particles that’s most responsible for disease.
But although difficult, effective oral hygiene isn’t impossible. First and foremost, you’ll need to take more time to be thorough with brushing and flossing than you might normally without braces.
Second, there are some specialized hygiene tools to make the job easier. Instead of a regular toothbrush try an interproximal brush. This special brush has a long and thin bristled head (resembling a pipe cleaner) that can maneuver in and around orthodontic hardware much easier than a regular brush.
For flossing, use a floss threader, a device through which you thread floss on one end and then pass the other sharper end between your teeth. Once through, you release the floss from it and floss as usual, repeating the process with the threader for each tooth. Another option is an oral irrigator, a device that emits a pressurized spray of water between teeth to loosen plaque and flush it away. Many orthodontic patients have found this latter option to be quite effective.
Finally, continue seeing your regular dentist for regular appointments in addition to your orthodontist. Besides cleaning those hard to reach areas, your dentist can also provide other preventive measures like topical fluoride for strengthening enamel and prescription mouth rinses that inhibit bacterial growth. You should also see your dentist immediately if you notice signs of disease like spots on the teeth or swollen or bleeding gums.
Keeping your teeth clean while wearing braces is a top priority. Doing so will help ensure your new smile after braces is both an attractive and healthy one.
If you would like more information on dental care during orthodontics, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Caring for Teeth during Orthodontic Treatment.”