Learn About Missouri Teeth Whitening Cost Near You

How Do I Take Care of My Dental Braces?

When your mouth is loaded with extras like bands, brackets, and wires, from your orthodontic braces, brushing your teeth gets tougher and extra important. Plus, dental braces interfere with the chewing process that normally bathes and exercises gums, and helps clean teeth. General dental care like caring for your teeth and keeping them cavity-free, is a top priority during orthodontics treatment.

While proper-fitting bands or brackets usually protect the covered portion of your teeth, the brackets and wires on the outside of teeth make it harder for proper dental care.

Trapped food particles and plaque are a breeding ground for cavity-causing bacteria in your dental braces. Gum disease also can develop, causing swelling and making cleaning even more challenging and painful. Improper dental care can also stain tooth enamel.

How Often Do I Need to Brush With Dental Braces?

It's best to brush within five minutes after eating anything, even if you're just snacking, and especially after a meal. Brushing away cavity-causing bacteria helps keep your teeth cavity-free. Carry a travel toothbrush in a backpack, purse or briefcase to always have on hand for brushing away from home.

How Do I Brush With Dental Braces On My Teeth?

• Brush between wires and gums to loosen any food particles that may have lodged in your dental braces. There are special toothbrushes for this, check with your orthodontist or dental care provider for recommendations.
• Start on the outside of your upper teeth, positioning the bristles at a 45 degree angle, toward the gum. Brush two to three teeth at a time using a circular motion, about ten strokes.
• Next, brush the inner surfaces in the same manner.
• Brush the chewing surfaces.
• Repeat the same process for the lower teeth as for the upper ones.
• Rinse your mouth as well as your toothbrush. Check your teeth in a mirror to make sure you've brushed all tooth surfaces.
• Floss daily between dental braces using a floss threader.
• Toothpicks, stimudents and other interdental devices work well under brackets.

You may also want to use a water oral hygiene device that helps to remove food particles from your dental braces that the toothbrush may not reach. It should be used in addition to brushing and flossing, not as a substitute for brushing.

While wearing dental braces for teeth, be sure to schedule regular dental care exams every three to six months for cleanings to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Ask your dentist and orthodontist how often they wish to see you.

By Brian J. Gray, DDS, MAGD, FICO

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Invisalign Orthodontics

Ever wish that you could have teeth straightening done, without months of wearing those geeky metal braces? And wouldn't it be nice to get your crooked teeth straightened without anyone outside the family even knowing about it?

Believe it or not, there's a new way to straighten teeth with invisible braces. And your orthodontist can walk you through it!

The process is called Invisalign®, because it uses a series of nearly undetectable aligners instead of brackets and wires. Even up close it's really hard to see that you're wearing orthodontic appliances. So now you can have the smile you've always wanted…without the dental braces you've always avoided.

Invisalign can be just as effective as wire braces. Treatment takes about the same amount of time but is far more comfortable! And because Invisalign is removable, you'll have no problem eating, brushing or flossing.

Here's how it works: an examination is done to determine if Invisalign is right for you. If things look promising, photographs and X-rays are taken and an impression of your teeth is made. Then they are submitted to an Invisalign specialist. The specialist, after verifying that Invisalign will work for you, creates a treatment plan.

A smile of straight teeth starts with a phone call to your orthodontist's office. Why not do it today and find out how an Invisalign smile could change your life!

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.