How To Keep Your Teeth Clean With Braces
Braces aren’t dreaded like in the past; now they cool and fun and every teenager (even adults too) want in. Here are six ways to keep your teeth clean when wearing braces, along with some recommended products:
Congrats! You’re embarking on a journey of having a beautiful and healthy smile. Braces aren’t dreaded like in the past; now they cool and fun and every teenager (even adults too) want in. Now that you have braces, your teeth are a bit more tricky to keep clean. Brushing and flossing should be done at least twice per day, but with braces you should brush your teeth and/or rinse properly after every meal and snack. Always keep your toothbrush handy! Food particles and plaque can become stuck to the brackets which leaves you more at risk of tooth decay.
Here are six ways to keep your teeth clean when wearing braces, along with some recommended products:
1. Brushing, of course!
Rinsing your mouth with water or mouth rinse before brushing can help to break up loose food particles and make brushing much easier. Brush with a toothpaste that contains fluoride or nano-hydroxyapatite. Begin at the gum line and brush your teeth at about a 45-degree angle. Then brush the top of the brackets, followed by the bottom of the bracket. The goal is to brush every tooth at the gum line and along the brackets so that as much tooth surface as possible is cleaned.
Replace your toothbrush or brush head (if your toothbrush is electric) more frequently due to the wear and tear from the braces, ideally every 3 months. A good choice is Boka Brush, an electric toothbrush that uses sonic power to deliver a gentle yet effective clean. It is also recommended that you carry a travel toothbrush in your book bag or purse.
2. Flossing
Flossing is just as important as brushing! and it remains equally important when you have braces. Using a floss threader can make flossing a lot easier. Let’s admit, although very necessary flossing isn’t always fun, that’s why fruit or minty flavored floss like Ela Mint from Boka encourages flossing.
3. Water Flosser
A water flosser can also be used before/after brushing to remove any stubborn food particles that are stuck around the braces or between the teeth. I usually recommend a water flosser especially to my younger patients, but note that it is not a substitute for string floss.
4. Mouth Rinse
After brushing, use a mouth rinse to get rid of any remaining bacteria that can cause inflammation of the gums and cause decay. Not to mention, rinsing also helps your breath to remain fresh! Remember that rinsing is not a substitute for brushing and flossing.
5. Don’t Forget Your Tongue
Did you know 80-90% of the bacteria that causes bad breath reside on the tongue? In addition to brushing, flossing and rinsing, try using a tongue scraper to keep your breath smelling fresh and clean.
6. Braces-Friendly Diet
There are certain foods you will want to avoid when wearing braces. Foods and drinks with a higher acidic content are not as friendly to your teeth as those with a lower acidic content. For example, bananas are better for your teeth than oranges, water and milk are better than soft drinks, and so on. Ask your Orthodontist for a full run down of the foods you can and cannot eat with braces.
If you’re looking for an all-natural oral care product, try boka. Their toothpaste uses n-hydroxyapatite instead of fluoride, is SLS an parade free and their floss is made of vegetable wax. Use this link or enter code: theunorthodoc to get 20% off your purchase.
Brush, Floss, Rinse - Repeat!
This is a sponsored post and may contain affiliate links.
The Right Time For Your Child To See An Orthodontist
Most people think that the best time to have their child see an Orthodontist is during the pre-teen and teenage years. However, there are good reasons to have your child get an orthodontic evaluation a lot sooner.
Dr. Patrice Smith performing an Orthodontic evaluation.
Most people think that the best time to have their child see an Orthodontist is during the pre-teen and teenage years. However, there are good reasons to have your child get an orthodontic evaluation a lot sooner. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends a check-up with an orthodontic specialist no later than age 7.
Why Should Your Child Get An Orthodontic Check-Up No Later Than Age 7?
Orthodontists can spot subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth while some baby teeth are still present.
While your child’s teeth may appear to be straight, there could be a problem that only an orthodontist can detect.
The check-up may reveal that your child’s bite is ne. Or, the orthodontist may identify a developing problem but recommend monitoring the child’s growth and development, and then if indicated, begin treatment at the appropriate time for the child. In other cases, the orthodontist might find a problem that can benefit from early treatment.
Early treatment may prevent more serious problems from developing and may make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated.
In some cases, the orthodontist will be able to achieve results that may not be possible once the face and jaws have finished growing.
Early treatment may give your orthodontist the chance to:
guide jaw growth
lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
correct harmful oral habits
improve appearance
guide permanent teeth into a more favorable position
improve the way lips meet
Through an early orthodontic evaluation, you’ll be giving your child the best opportunity for a healthy, beautiful smile.
Because patients differ in both physiological development and treatment needs, the ortho- dontist’s goal is to provide each patient with the most appropriate treatment at the most appropriate time.
The original article can be found on the AAO website here
Harmful Effects of DIY Braces
Do-It-Yourself (DIY) braces and at-home teeth straightening kits have become a trend popping up all over the internet, promising dentist-quality results at a fraction of the price. While I understand how attractive these may look and sound, unfortunately, things that sound too good to be true often are. As an orthodontist I have seen some pretty damaging effects of DIY braces and wanted to share a few facts about this dangerous trend.
*WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES *
Do-It-Yourself (DIY) braces and at-home teeth straightening kits have become a trend popping up all over the internet, promising dentist-quality results at a fraction of the price. While I understand how attractive these may look and sound, unfortunately, things that sound too good to be true often are. As an orthodontist I have seen some pretty damaging effects of DIY braces and wanted to share a few facts about this dangerous trend.
What Are DIY Braces
We consider DIY braces anything that you do yourself to facilitate the movement of teeth. There are videos posted online where teens and young adults use items like rubber bands, dental floss, fishing lines, earring backs, paper clips, and more to move their teeth. These items are often found embedded or covered by gum tissue. Mail order aligners are becoming very popular but many of their disadvantages are not being addressed. Here we will discuss some reasons why seeing an orthodontic professional is best.
Harmful Effects of DIY Braces
Orthodontic treatment is about more than just straightening teeth. It involves moving of teeth and bone to restore proper form and function. It must be managed properly to yield the best results. Attempting to close a gap or straighten your teeth yourself significantly increases the risk of serious damage to your teeth and gums, resulting in tooth loss, changes in speech and possible infection. It is also worth considering that repairing the damage from DIY procedures could be far more expensive than the investment in an orthodontic specialist.
Tooth Loss
Using tight rubber bands or other materials to adjust your smile quickly is detrimental to tooth health. Rather than create the straight smile you crave, makeshift braces could destroy your teeth at their roots.
Unrestricted blood flow is necessary to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Makeshift braces and ill fitting DIY clear aligners can impinge on the tissues and cause unwanted movement of teeth. That subsequent movement can result in conditions such as the one seen below and cause a host of other issues that will require an immediate visit to your dentist.
Infection
Since DIY braces involve nonsterile, nonmedical-grade supplies, it’s easy to develop an infection. Rubber bands, paper clips, and similar items can cut into the gums and injure the tissue, causing open sores that aren’t able to heal while you continue to wear the makeshift braces. A gum infection may not sound serious, but it can cause damage to the surrounding tissues, severe bone loss, and spread through your circulatory system.
Speech Problems
The position of teeth also has an effect on the way we speak and pronounce words. DIY Braces often do not account for movement outside of the desired areas. This movement must be controlled properly to prevent conditions evidenced in the pic below. As a result, your upper and lower jaw may not fit together as they once did, ultimately affecting your phonetic ability.
Relapse
DIY braces offer no guarantees, so even if you try to make your own and successfully manage to move your teeth, the results most likely won’t last. Professional braces are designed to move teeth in slight increments over a period of time. There’s a reason for this: Quick adjustments have a greater chance of shifting back.
Since DIY braces tout quick results in less time, your teeth are more likely to move back to their original positions after discontinued use.
Pay More Than You Saved
Most people turn to DIY methods to save money, but when it comes to important dental procedures, you could end up paying much more to repair the damages. Surgery to address infections, correcting bone loss or extracting non restorable teeth can be traumatizing and expensive. When you consider the costs associated with correcting damages from DIY braces and at-home straightening kits, you’re better off saving the money for professional braces and having the treatment done right by a professional.
Please do not fall victim to these DIY trends and fast braces schemes. Do your research and ensure you are choosing the right professional for your smile and overall health.
An Orthodontist Can Boost Your Self Esteem!
People who are happy with the the way they look are typically more confident and have higher self esteem than those who are not. The way our teeth look and the appearance of our smile can have a pretty significant impact on the way we view ourselves. This is where an Orthodontist comes in. Orthodontics is a specialized branch of dentistry that has a focus on the alignment of teeth.
People who are happy with the the way they look are typically more confident and have higher self esteem than those who are not. The way our teeth look and the appearance of our smile can have a pretty significant impact on the way we view ourselves.
It’s true that individuals with misaligned (crooked) teeth usually are more reserved, shy or self conscious. They in turn cover their mouths when they smile or laugh, smile with their lips closed, or avoid speaking when around strangers or peers.
This is where an Orthodontist comes in. Orthodontics is a specialized branch of dentistry that has a focus on the alignment of teeth. Orthodontists diagnose, prevent, intercept, and treat dental and facial irregularities. According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), the goal of orthodontic treatment is a beautiful smile and a good bite—meaning straight teeth that mesh well with the teeth in the opposite jaw and look great.
Having healthy self-esteem and self-confidence is especially important for children, as it can impact their mental and emotional well-being during their early years of development and can shape the person they grow up to be. In today’s competitive world, you want to empower your child with everything you can to feel confident about themselves.
But, braces is not just for kids. Nowadays, adults are getting braces to get the smile they always wanted and deserved. There are several different types of braces to choose from; traditional metal braces, ceramic braces that match the color of your teeth and even clear aligners, like invisalign. More and more adults are getting braces and totally embracing the journey, like Mollie (pictured below) that’s owning her braces journey.
Mollie expresses that “I was a cheerleader but I never smiled big. Group photos and everyone is smiling but then there’s me looking all angry with the soft smile. The school picture photographers always used to tell me to smile with my teeth but I always refused.” Now she is on her way to a straighter, more beautiful smile and embracing every step of it.
Mollie with the soft smile, before she was comfortable to smile showing teeth.
A more confident Mollie, with braces showing off her beautiful smile.
Smile/non-smile :)
The changes that occurred in only 3 months of having braces on. Bottom: month 1; Top: Month 3
Her smile is getting straighter and more beautiful.
Follow along with Mollie’s braces journey by visiting her instagram page (molliewearsbraces).
In my practice, I have seen how life altering getting a straighter, more beautiful smile can be. Orthodontists can help boost one’s self-esteem by:
Improving one’s appearance - Straighter teeth means a much more beautiful smile, which in turn means a more attractive appearance.
Improving Health - straighter teeth are easier to clean than misaligned (crooked) ones, which means healthier gums, fewer cavities and fewer staining.
Correcting Speech Impediments - While not all speech patterns can be corrected without the help of a Speech & Language Pathologist, the straightening of teeth can help to improve some speech patterns.
If you’ve been thinking about a more desirable smile or have been considering Orthodontic treatment, visit the AAO website here to find an Orthodontist in your area.
Disclaimer: I am not Mollie’s Orthodontist