Our expert orthodontists at Smiles by Dr. W & Dr. R love what we do for our patients here in Boca Raton, FL!
We’re honored to have the opportunity to transform your smile and change the way you look and feel about yourself.
The boost in confidence we see in you when you’re finished wearing braces is the most rewarding part of what we do each and everyday!
An important aspect of our orthodontic care is making sure you have the information and the tools to make your treatment a success! That’s what we aim to do with today’s blog, as well.
Braces Help Your Smile, But…
Straightening your teeth is our specialty at Smiles by Dr. W & Dr. R!
We house the latest state-of-the-art technology in our Boca Raton dental office so we can design the orthodontic treatment plan that will give you the results you deserve in the most precise, efficient way possible.
Along with that, you can feel confident about your care because of the extensive training and years of experience of our orthodontists Drs. Rothstein and Wohlgemuth.
That said, wearing braces can pose certain unique risks to your oral health only if you don’t take the proper steps to keep your teeth and gums as clean as possible.
It’s not difficult, and we’re certainly here to support you every step of the way.
But you should be aware of how brackets and wires may affect your daily oral care routine and how to effectively protect your health!
With a little help from our team, you’ll not only have a straight smile at the end of treatment, you’ll have a healthy one, too!
*How Braces Affect Gum Health*
One of the most important components of keeping your mouth healthy is making sure your gums are well cared for.
That’s why the American Dental Association tells us to floss at least once everyday.
Dental floss is an important tool because it cleans the area around and under your gumline that regular brushing misses. Flossing removes any debris from those hard to reach places that bacteria like to chow down on, which starts a process inside your mouth that leads to disease-causing plaque and tartar buildup.
This is why you must dedicate yourself to daily flossing. Yes, braces make this challenging at first.
But considering what’s at stake, you’ll want to do all you can to make this a regular part of your oral hygiene routine despite your braces.
Straight teeth won’t do much for your smile if your gums are pulling away from them because of gum disease!
*How Braces Affect Your Teeth*
Studies over the last several years having to do with oral health have all revealed a disturbing truth. It’s that most adults admit to not flossing their teeth everyday, or even at all!
Now, we all know that flossing isn’t difficult at all. The only hard part about it is dedicating yourself to do it each and every day.
But if most people don’t do it when they’re not wearing braces, we’re willing to bet those who wear braces aren’t doing it either.
What does that mean?
It means that cleaning your teeth while you wear braces is more important than ever.
One of the possible setbacks to good oral health while wearing braces is demineralization. All that means is any bad bacteria in your mouth will take full advantage of any food particles stuck in your brackets and wires. They eat the debris and create acids that will then eat through your tooth enamel.
Often, what’s left are these white spots on your teeth once your braces are removed.
It’s just another reason you’ll want to do all you can to keep your teeth clean throughout your orthodontic treatment.
Maintaining Your Oral Health While Wearing Braces
They say it takes about 21 days before something becomes a habit.
So the first thing we want you to know about oral hygiene with braces is that you need to be patient with yourself. It will take some time to adjust to your new daily oral care routine.
When you visit our Boca Raton, FL dental office for an orthodontic consultation, here are some questions you should ask one of our skilled professionals:
*What kind of toothbrush is best while wearing braces?*
We can talk to you about the toothbrush you currently use and whether or not you should switch to one with a smaller head on it until your treatment is over. That way you can easily navigate your brush through the wires and brackets for maximum cleanliness.
The important thing is that you’re brushing thoroughly twice a day and that you’re using a toothbrush that does the job while also feeling comfortable in your hand.
*How do I floss around my brackets and wires?*
This is really the only part of your daily oral hygiene where you’ll need to make some adjustments.
That’s because to reach the tiny places in your mouth that are challenging even without braces will likely require some sort of special tool, such as a threader. That way you can get underneath the wire and clean around the gumline effectively.
Whatever you do, just don’t give up on yourself!
Like we said, a habit takes about 21 days to form, so be patient and remember that practice makes perfect!
Schedule A Consultation
Taking care of your teeth and gums while you’re wearing braces may seem like a hassle at first. But once you get the hang of it, you’ll find it’s no big deal at all!
Our team at Smiles by Dr. W & Dr. R are always so excited to give our patients the straight smile they’ve always wanted.
With our helpful tips about oral hygiene, your new and improved smile at the end of treatment will also be strong and healthy!
Call our Boca Raton, FL orthodontist office today at 561-327-6775 or fill out our convenient online form to schedule a complimentary consultation.
