Braces are a great way to straighten your teeth
Braces are indeed a great way to straighten your teeth; however the brackets and wires can sometimes get in the way of looking after your oral hygiene. If you are not careful with your oral health while wearing braces the consequences can be severe. These issues may start out small, bad breath, sore or puffy gums and your teeth going white in a bad way (yes, your teeth going white can be a bad thing).
Puffy gums usually mean that you’ve got gum disease and gum disease is notorious for doing a great deal of damage to your oral health—and by damage we mean that gum disease can lead to loss of teeth and loss of teeth can lead to further health problems. Bad breath is oftentimes an indication of bacteria that is causing cavities to ripen—cavities lead to tooth decay, tooth decay leads to root canals, or worse: you could lose a tooth.
There are two ways to avoid all of this. The first is getting Invisalign: Invisalign are clear aligners which are removable and make brushing and flossing your teeth a simple process. However if your teeth are in a state where invisalign is not an option for you then at New Wave Orthodontics we have some tips for looking after your teeth while you wear braces.
Braces are an effective way of treating crooked teeth…
At New Wave Orthodontics we offer a range of braces to suit your needs:
Clear braces:
These are brackets and wires which are fixed to the front of your teeth and are far less visible than traditional braces
Lingual or invisible braces:
These are fitted to the back of your teeth so that no one will know you’re wearing braces
Metal braces:
The tried and true braces options, metal braces offer an effective treatment for straightening your smile
Caring for your smile with braces…
When brushing your teeth use a soft-bristle toothbrush, a soft-bristle tooth brush will better be able to reach the spaces around and behind your braces; an added benefit is that a soft-bristle toothbrush will not irritate your gums. If you’re wondering what soft-bristle toothbrush is best to get, why not a child’s toothbrush, they are very soft and small which means you can reach those hard-to-get parts of the teeth that need brushing. It is also important to remember that you should change toothbrushes at least every 3 months if not more regularly.
And while we’re talking about brushing, ideally you’ll be brushing your braced teeth 5 times a day: when you get up, after breakfast, after school (or work, or university), after dinner and before you go to bed and before you go to bed you’ll also need to floss. This is pretty full-on but it is way better than getting gum disease, cavities or needed a root canal.
To further care for your teeth with braces it is also recommended that you visit your dentist every six months for a standard check-up and clean; a dentist and their equipment can clean your teeth in a way that you cannot so it is ideal to see your dentist at least every six months for a dental clean.
Your braces…your oral health
At New Wave Orthodontics we understand that this sounds like a lot of work to maintain your oral health, but believe us it is worth the effort. If you maintain your oral health while you wear your braces not only will you have straight teeth after your treatment but your straight teeth will be healthy and clean.
