| Good Oral Hygiene During Orthodontic Treatment |
You,
Dr. Gittess and your family dentist are now a team.
You all want the same thing - for you to have a healthy smile with
beautiful, white, straight teeth. We will straighten your teeth
and your dentist will help keep them clean and check for
problems periodically. But you're the one who has to take care
of your teeth every single day during treatment to keep them
clean, healthy and white. That means closely following the
instructions we provide.
Now that you have braces, proper dental care will take a
little extra time and effort. But in the end, that time spent
will be well worthwhile. By taking good care of your teeth now,
you'll get the best possible results from your orthodontic
treatment. |
| Plaque is the Problem |
Plaque
is a sticky, colorless film that collects on your teeth.
It's composed of bacteria, food and saliva. If plaque
and trapped food are left on your teeth and around your
braces, they can cause swollen gums, bad breath,
cavities and permanent marks on your teeth. Plaque can
also discolor your teeth and make them look yellow. To
make sure none of these things happen to your teeth,
brush often and floss every day. And remember to visit
your family dentist regularly for check-ups. |
| When to Clean |
- Brush thoroughly at least four times a day: after every
meal and before you go to bed.
- If you can't brush right away after a meal, be sure to
at least rinse your mouth well with water until you can
brush. That way, you'll clear your braces of most of the
large food particles. A travel toothbrush is a great way to
make brushing more convenient when you're at school or work.
- At least once every day, brush your teeth and braces
thoroughly until they are spotlessly clean, and then floss.
This takes a little extra time, so you may want to do it at
night before going to bed so you don't feel rushed.
|
| How to Brush |
-
Use
a fluoride toothpaste and a soft, rounded-bristle
toothbrush that's in good condition. Because braces
wear out a toothbrush quickly, replace your brush as
soon as it shows signs of wear.
- Brush your teeth and braces the way your
orthodontist and staff members instruct you.
- Brush around all the parts of your braces and
every surface of your teeth. Remember to brush the
backsides of your teeth, and be sure to brush your
tongue. Doing this will not only help to remove food
particles from your mouth, it will make your breath
fresher, too.
- Brush your gums gently and thoroughly.
- Rinse thoroughly after brushing. Swish the water
all around your mouth and teeth.
- Inspect your teeth and braces carefully to make
sure they are spotless. Look closely in a
well-lighted mirror.
We may recommend the use of a "disclosing rinse" that
will help you see any places you may have missed with
your toothbrush. You may have to brush and rinse two or
three times before all the plaque is gone. This may
sound difficult, but it's very important. Remember: they
are your teeth, and to keep them for the rest of your
life you need to take good care of them! A healthy,
beautiful smile is worth the effort. |
| How to Floss |
Flossing is one of the most important parts of taking care of
your teeth during your orthodontic treatment. To practice good
flossing technique, follow these simple directions:
- When flossing with braces on, it might be necessary to
use what's called a floss threader. This reusable tool
allows you to get dental floss underneath your archwire
easily.
- Cut off about 18 inches of floss and loop it through
your threader, run the threader under your archwire between
two brackets, and, holding one end of the floss, gently pull
the threader off.
- Loop the ends of the floss around your index fingers,
forming a "C," and gently floss between your teeth as you
normally would. Make sure to carefully clean along your
gumline on both sides. When finished between two teeth, just
pull the floss through, re-thread the floss through the
loop, and repeat the process between your next pair of
teeth.
It's a good idea to get into the habit of flossing at night
before you go to bed. That way, you won't feel as rushed and
will take your time. Flossing with braces on may seem like a
difficult process, but it's very important. And as with
anything, a little practice will make it go a lot faster. |
| Other Hygiene Helpers |
|
Dr. Gittess, your dentist or dental hygienist will
probably recommend some of the following aids to help
keep your teeth clean. If you have any questions about
how to use them, don't be shy. Ask Dr. Gittess,
or his assistant or hygienist to explain them to you.
Interproximal brush.
This tool is designed to slip under your archwire to
more completely remove plaque and food particles near
your brackets.
Prescription
fluoride toothpaste or fluoride rinse.
Use once a day as part of your cleaning routine, if
prescribed. For the best results, use it with your
interproximal brush to deliver maximum fluoride
protection to your teeth. We may also recommend an
over-the-counter fluoride rinse.
Electric
toothbrush or water irrigator.
These devices are designed to make brushing easier and
more efficient. Ask us if they'd be helpful during your
treatment.
New Products.
New techniques and technologies are constantly being
developed to help improve results from orthodontic
treatment. Ask us if any new products will help you with
your daily dental hygiene. |
| The Problems Bad Oral Hygiene Can Cause During Treatment. |
|
Good dental hygiene is a very important part of your
orthodontic treatment. Without it, food tends to become
trapped in and around your braces, encouraging the
accumulation of plaque, a colorless film of bacteria.
The bacteria in plaque react with the sugars and
starches in food and form an acid that can eat away the
enamel on your teeth, leading to cavities.
If
you allow plaque to accumulate around your braces, it
can leave permanent stains on your teeth when your
braces are removed. This damage is called
decalcification and these lines and spots will remain on
your teeth for life.
Periodontal
disease, caused by the buildup of plaque, occurs in
three stages. In the first stage, the plaque
accumulation irritates the gums around your teeth,
leading to bleeding and swelling. This first stage is
called gingivitis.
Over
time, this plaque buildup may harden into a substance
called tartar. As tartar accumulates, a condition called
periodontitis will develop, causing a gap to form
between your gums and teeth where even more tartar can
accumulate.
In
the last stage, or advanced periodontitis, pockets of
bacteria form and deepen beneath your gums, attacking
and destroying the bone that anchors your teeth, and
making even healthy teeth loosen and eventually fall
out.
|
|
Brush and Floss Regularly |
| By brushing and flossing regularly,
you'll keep your teeth and gums in top condition and ensure that
your orthodontic treatment will deliver the healthiest smile
possible in the shortest period of time. |
|
Want a Great Smile? Check Yourself. |
Today have you:
- Removed every trace of plaque and trapped food from all
the surfaces of your teeth-fronts, backs, tops and under
your wires?
- Paid very close attention to brushing at the gum line?
Used dental floss, special brushes, mouthwashes and fluoride
mouth rinse as recommended by your orthodontist or dentist?
- Rinsed thoroughly after brushing?
- Inspected your teeth and braces to make sure they're
spotless?
Take good care of your teeth and braces. Then, when your
braces come off, you'll see that your extra efforts have been
rewarded with a healthy, great-looking smile that's good for
life. |
|
Contact Dr. Gittess for an
appointment |
|
|