How to Protect Your Teeth With Braces

One of the most disappointing things about braces has to be white spots. Think about the excitement of going to the orthodontist to have your braces removed and what it would be like to see your teeth straight for the same time.  You smile and look in the mirror, only to notice the white stains in the center of your tooth staring back at you. 

The good news is that white spots don’t have to be part of your braces treatment! We are going to share with you how you can protect your teeth even while in orthodontic treatment.

How Can I Protect My Teeth With Braces?

One of the best ways to protect your teeth while in orthodontic treatment is with really diligent home care. Keeping your teeth clean is of primary importance because it helps to remove bacteria and plaque that tends to collect around your brackets and on your gum line. 

This bacteria is the cause of not only cavities but also gum disease. So the better that you can keep the bacteria under control, the less chance you will have of developing white spots, cavities, or gum disease issues such as gingivitis. 

Here are a few things that you can do to protect your teeth from white spots and cavities while in braces treatment:

• Brush with an electric toothbrush.
• Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
• Floss daily and use floss aids to get under the wire.
• Use a fluoride mouth rinse once a day.
• Swish with water after you eat food or drink any beverage other than water.
• Avoid sugary drinks and snacks.
• Visit your dentist at least twice a year for dental cleanings.

Is It Common To Get Cavities With Braces?

Braces can increase your chances of developing tooth decay. This is mainly due to the challenge that braces create for keeping your teeth clean. With a little extra time and effort to brush and floss around the brackets and wires, you can be confident that you are doing the most important things for the health of your teeth. 

Is It Easier To Get Cavities With Braces?

We have many patients that never get a cavity while in braces treatment. We find the biggest factor to be diet and home care related. Just because you have braces doesn’t mean that you will get a cavity; however, we can’t stress the importance of brushing and flossing enough!

How Can I Prevent My Gums From Covering My Teeth With Braces?

Keeping your teeth clean will go a long way to protecting the health of your gum tissue. Some people experience inflammation of their gum tissue when it comes to wearing braces. The inflammation is caused by bacteria in their mouth that causes swelling of their gum tissue. While it might start out as an acute problem, if it is not fixed it can develop into a chronic problem. One of the best things to do is gently brush along your gum line, removing bacteria that likes to rest on the area where your gum tissue meets your teeth. 

While it may sound like a lot of work to keep your teeth clean with braces, it’s really not that bad. It just takes a little extra mindfulness and effort, but the results are so worth it! You can look forward to how straight your teeth will be after treatment. Think of how much easier it will be to brush and floss then! You won’t have misaligned teeth to work around and you also won’t have any brackets or wires to take into account. There will also be less nooks and crannies for that bacteria and plaque to hide in!

Are you interested in finding out more about orthodontic treatments? There are many options available and our dental team can help find which treatment best fits your needs. Call our office today!