Keep Teeth Cavity Free With Braces

orthodontics invisible braces Provo

Does your youngster in Provo have braces? At Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry, we provide tips to help keep them clean.

It’s more difficult to keep your teeth clean if you wear braces. There are numerous places bits of food can hide. It’s challenging to get toothbrush bristles in all those nooks and crannies.

Food bits turn into bacteria

The brackets and wires on braces create places where harmful bacteria can thrive.

If brace wearers don’t practice consistent, proper oral hygiene, their teeth can become permanently damaged.

The cycle of decay in 5 stages:

  1. The bits of food collect in the tiny spaces in and around the brackets and wires
  2. The bacteria in the food particles multiply
  3. The bacteria create plaque
  4. The plaque erodes the enamel
  5. The plaque destroys enamel and the dentin below and forms a cavity

Bacteria isn’t good for gums, either

Provo orthodontic patients can also have gum disease (gingivitis). Advanced gum disease is called periodontitis. Periodontitis can bring about bone recession and tooth loss.

Protect teeth with a healthy diet plus proper oral hygiene

Teens with braces should pay extra attention to eating a nutritious diet. This includes limiting snacks between meals. Be aware that highly acidic foods and beverages can damage enamel.

Avoid soda pop and energy drinks

There are few liquids as detrimental as soda and energy drinks, both of which have enamel-eroding acid and sugar.

How to brush with braces

Here are the steps to effective brushing while wearing braces, courtesy of Colgate:

  1. Use fluoride toothpaste
  2. Remove elastics before brushing
  3. Place your brush at a 45 degree angle against the gums
  4. Gently brush with a circular motion along the gumline where the gums and teeth meet
  5. Brush at least 10 seconds on each tooth
  6. Gently brush the brackets
  7. Press the brush firmly so that the bristles spread into the gaps between the wire and the tooth
  8. Brush in and around all of the brackets and be sure to get under the wires (a battery-powered brush may be helpful)
  9. For the chewing surfaces, use a firm back-and-forth motion
  10. Spit out excess toothpaste
  11. Closely inspect your teeth and braces in the mirror to check that they are clean and shiny
  12. Replace the elastics
  13. Rinse with a fluoride mouthwash for 1 minute to help prohibit cavities and white spots
  14. Use other oral care products as prescribed by your dental professional

It is also vital to floss while wearing braces. We’ll address that in another post.

If you are new to the Orem area and looking for an experienced pediatric dentist, we invite you to give us a call.

 

1“Protecting Your Healthy Smile while Wearing Braces,” Colgate Professional, http://www.colgateprofessional.com/patient-education/articles/protecting-your-healthy-smile-while-wearing-braces

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap To Open In Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604


Take 5: Straight Talk About Braces

invisible braces ProvoHello, I’m Dr. Chris Hammond at Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry. I support healthy oral hygiene and regular, consistent check-ups. Hygiene for braces is a bit different.

Here are five important concerns to keep in mind with braces:

1. Be Careful What You Eat

Sweets and extra food stuck in hard-to-notice spaces may lead to plaque and yellowing around the appliances in your mouth. Avoid sweets, juices, sodas, anything that will stain your teeth. Also, sticky things like gum and caramel can break the equipment in your mouth.

2. Consider a Mouthguard

Sports are the center of life for many Provo families. We’re an active community. I love that. A quality mouthguard provides important protection for both your teeth and braces.

3. Take Time for Gum Health
Maintaining healthy gums requires deliberate brushing and flossing. In the past, two minutes of quality brushing was acceptable. Braces are trickier to clean. What’s another minute to make sure every nook and cranny is taken care of?

4. Check the Mirrors
Humans are exceptional at noticing flaws. Check your smile often in a mirror to keep your braces free of obvious food particles.

5. Smile with Confidence
At first, people will notice the change in your smile. But if you’re relaxed about your new braces, soon your friends will simply look past them without even noticing.

Thanks for visiting my blog today, hope it helps.

I’ve been treating patients in Orem, American Fork, Lehi, and beyond since 1967. You name it – dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, family dentistry—we do it.

Meet with me today and we can go over the possibilities and uncomplicated options to meet your needs. Can’t wait to see you!

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604


How Much Do Dental Implants Cost?

Lehi tooth implants cost

Looking into how much dental implants cost and getting a straight answer can be frustrating. But there is a reason for that.

It can be confusing to research the cost of getting a dental implant and finding nothing solid. Let us take a moment to explain why most dental sites don’t publish the cost.

1. The Math Might Come Out Higher Than Expected
The number of teeth being replaced may be more than the number of implants needed to cover that section of the mouth. Tooth implant dentists want to offer accurate pricing rather than scare you away with higher estimates. It takes a simple consultation to review dental history, assess needs and establish a treatment plan. This could mean a more efficient surgery with fewer implants.

2. There Might Be Something Better For Your Mouth
Dental implants are the state of the art in tooth replacement, much better than a bridge or denture. But sometimes the technique won’t be what you thought it was going to be, or maybe you aren’t a good candidate for the treatment.

3. Supply Costs and Lab Costs Change

A ballpark number might be possible to post on the internet but the changing cost of supplies and lab fees make it impossible to guarantee an accurate price for full mouth dental implants. Dentists who offer implants can accurately calculate dental implant surgery rates based on current prices when you come in for a consultation.

Please make an appointment to quickly and accurately get these answers. Call Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Provo for more specifics. We also provide Invisalign clear braces, and sedation dentistry for those coping with dental anxiety.

Contact Hammond Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

801-374-0070

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

3575 N 100 E Ste 200
Provo, Utah
84604