Living With Braces: Better Than Living With Bad Teeth & Gums
Living With Braces: Better Than Living With Bad Teeth & Gum
Maybe it's the procedure - the thought of actually getting dental braces that keeps you from taking action. Or, possibly it's the process - the thought of living with braces. If you're one of these people, you have to ask yourself if living with the alternatives - crooked or missing teeth, swollen and bleeding gums, and bad breath - are really viable options. Don't let the fear of the unknown keep you from knowing the facts:
- dental braces are beneficial in so many ways - physically, emotionally, socially and economically
- braces improve your appearance, which improves your self-confidence, which ultimately improves your quality of life
The reality is, if you already take good care of your teeth by brushing, flossing and rinsing, then living with braces doesn't require you to do much more than you're already doing.
For more information about living with braces, call Dr. Sands or Dr. Fotovat at 818-980-5300. Or, if you live in North Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, Burbank or Studio City, schedule a free initial consultation at our office on Laurel Canyon in Valley Village.
Living With Braces In North Hollywood & Valley Village
Food particles and plaque naturally accumulate on the teeth whether you have orthodontic braces or not, although with them, it's easier for the tiny debris to find hiding spots, which could eventually lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Proper oral hygiene is, therefore, vital to protect your teeth. The extra effort you give to keep your teeth, braces and gums clean and healthy will result in a superior orthodontic outcome, reduce your number of visits to the dentist or orthodontist and protect your investment in looking good and living well.
Brushing
Brush with a soft toothbrush at least 4 times per day - after each meal and before bed. Use a small amount of toothpaste that contains fluoride and exert moderate force in a circular motion around the gumline, before brushing down on the upper teeth and up on the lower. Be sure to clean above, below and in-between each brace. An interdental toothbrush (also known as a Proxabrush) is helpful for cleaning under wires and around braces, although care should be taken not to damage your braces. Your toothbrush will wear out faster, so be sure to replace it as soon as the bristles begin to fray. Remember to brush both your tongue and the roof of your mouth.
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Scrub each surface of every tooth with 10 strokes of the toothbrush. |
Brush the lower teeth up. |
Brush down on the upper teeth. |
Flossing
Use a piece of nylon floss approximately 12 inches long to remove plaque and food particles from between your teeth. This should be done twice a day, after lunch and before bed. As you slide the floss up and down along the tooth's surface, the floss will "squeak" when the tooth is clean. Be sure not to exert too much force on your archwire. To get under the wire, you will be provided with a reusable floss threader.
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Using the floss threader, carefully pull waxed floss between wire and braces. |
Rinsing
An antiseptic dental rinse (Peroxyl) should be used 4 times daily to control minor gum inflammation and irritations that might arise from orthodontic braces. Rinsing is also effective in removing debris.
Topical Fluoride
A thin ribbon of Phos-Flur gel should be applied to the teeth with a toothbrush prior to going to bed to re-mineralize tooth enamel which has been exposed to bacterial acids and to act as an antibacterial. This gel should be left on for 1 minute and then removed. Please refrain from eating or drinking for 30 minutes following application, as it will dilute the gel's active ingredient (sodium fluoride).
It's never too late and it's rarely too early to enjoy the many benefits associated with braces. You don't have to live with less than perfect teeth. Regardless of your age, our office located on Laurel Canyon Blvd. in Valley Village, has an orthodontic treatment that is sure to put a smile on your face. Our Valley Village office is close to several freeways, and an easy drive from North Hollywood, Studio City, Burbank, Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Pacoima, Sylmar, Toluca Lake, Glendale and Sun Valley. Set up an appointment for a free complimentary initial consultation.
