Syracuse Orthodontist
QUESTIONS ANSWERED...

What are the benefits of Braces?

Answer...

The Benefits of Braces

1. Dental Health

The problem with having misaligned teeth goes further than just the surface appearance. When your teeth are crowded or crooked, it creates tight spaces between your teeth that you may hear your orthodontist refer to as food traps. This is because food debris quickly collects in these spaces. It is less likely to be swished out when you swallow water or brush your teeth. Over time, this debris turns into plaque and places you at risk for cavities

2. Prevent Dental Trauma

Protruding front teeth make dental trauma more likely to occur in an accident. It is also common for people with improperly aligned teeth to accidentally bite their cheeks and tongues while eating and talking.

3. Better Nutrition With Proper Mastication

Trying to eat with severely misaligned teeth is difficult at best. When your teeth do not fit together properly, it impacts how well you can chew. Unfortunately, your digestive system begins in your mouth since thoroughly chewing your food helps your body to break it down into easily-digestible particles that allow your body to extract the most vitamins and nutrients from each meal.

4. Improve Speech

Many people do not realize that speech is affected by more than just their voice. As you speak, your tongue’s movement against the top of your mouth and teeth helps to form the sounds that come out. This is why young children always have that adorable struggle with “s” sounds after losing their top front teeth.

5. Aesthetics

Having a beautiful smile can give you confidence when alongside your peers at work or friends and family. A pleasing dental appearance makes you feel positive about yourself, whether during job interviews, dealing with clients or customers at work, or when socializing.

How do I take care of my Braces?

 

Answer...

You should be prepared for the fact that taking care of your teeth will be more difficult once you get braces. Braces have countless tiny spaces to trap food, and this trapped food causes plaque, which can lead to many other dental problems. Because of this, it's very important tobrush your teeth after every meal (snacks count, too), to rinse with mouthwash, and to floss at least once a day. This may seem tedious or excessive, but neglecting your oral hygiene can lead to serious oral health problems, force you to spend additional time in braces, or cause unsightly staining on your teeth. The extra responsibility needed to care for braces properly is something that both you and your child should be prepared for.

Braces Do More Than Improve Your Smile

They also play an active role in correcting overcrowded and misaligned teeth. This is important because an abnormal bite (also known as “malocclusion”) may cause other problems, such as impaired plaque removal around misaligned teeth, which can lead to gum inflammation and cavities.

Taking good care of braces can help prevent damage to the braces themselves and the teeth underneath as well as make the braces more comfortable to wear. Learning the basics of orthodontic care will help you follow your dental professional's recommendations to keep your teeth and gums healthy during the time you’re wearing braces.

The Basics: Brushing And Flossing

Careful cleaning is required with braces, because plaque bacteria are easily trapped inside and around them. The following procedure will make daily brushing and flossing both simple and effective.

• Prepare to brush. Take off elastics and any other removable parts of your orthodontic appliance.
• Clean your braces. Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle to clean around the wires and pins of your braces. Brush from the top of each wire down to the bottom. Take your time to ensure that all plaque and debris are removed, and that you work all the way around upper and lower teeth.
• Brush your teeth Clean each tooth individually. First, place your brush at a 45-degree angle the gum line, then apply gentle pressure as you move in a circular motion. Do this for about 10 seconds. Use the same brushing action on all outer and inner tooth surfaces, tilting the brush as needed to better reach the insides of smaller front teeth.
• Floss once a day. Have your dental professional show you the best way to floss or follow the instructions on the product package. You may also want to use a flossing product designed for braces and orthodontic work, like a floss threader.
• Rinse and check your teeth. Rinse thoroughly with water or mouth rinse, and examine your teeth and braces in the mirror.
• Professional Care: Dentist And Orthodontist Visits

Visit the Orthodontist Regularly

During the time that you have braces on your teeth, you will need to visit the orthodontist regularly for adjustments to your appliance. After a routine orthodontic adjustment, you may experience some tightness or even a slight amount of pain. If this discomfort or pain does not quickly dissipate, or becomes extreme, you should consult your orthodontist. Concerns about your appliances, and any problems with broken parts, should also be brought to your orthodontist's attention immediately.

It’s also important that you continue with regular visits to your general dentist while undergoing orthodontic treatment. Routine checkups are necessary to spot cavaties and signs of gum disease Your dentist or hygienist may also perform frequent fluoride treatments to provide additional protection to tooth surfaces from decay while you’re wearing braces.

Your home oral care techniques will be monitored by your dental professional and changes will be recommended as necessary. As always, be sure to follow their instructions.

Taking good care of your braces is essential for avoiding complications while they're on and ending up with great-looking teeth once they're off. No matter how much money, pain, and time you've already invested in your braces, proper oral care is still the key to walking away with a beautiful, healthy smile.

Information courtesy of Oral-B