While braces are a fantastic way to achieve a beautiful and perfectly aligned smile, they also can create difficulties in keeping your mouth completely clean and healthy. It can be tricky to clean effectively around the metal wires and brackets, and if you don’t realize the importance of maintaining a clean mouth, you may be destined for developing gum disease while you are wearing braces.
The best way to keep your mouth clean is to brush and floss regularly. While wearing braces, this often means several times a day for the best results. When you eat, the food gets caught in the wires and brackets that are part of your braces. Without brushing and flossing the trapped food away, it remains trapped and collects bacteria. This means that the bacteria combines with the acid in your mouth and can begin attacking your teeth and gums.
The more plaque and bacteria that attacks your gums, the greater your risk of developing gum disease. It starts out in the minor stages as gingivitis, but if left untreated will advance to periodontitis. If gum disease reaches this advanced stage, tooth loss can result. Your orthodontic treatment won’t be worth it if you end up losing your teeth!
Instead of fighting the battle of trying to regain healthy gums once you’ve developed gum disease, the better approach is to combat it in the first place. This means making time to brush and floss your teeth so that your mouth is kept clean. You’ll end up with a healthy mouth and an attractive smile, which was the goal of wearing braces in the first place.
Orthodontist in Burbank CA
You can enjoy a flawless smile at any age, including as an adult. According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), approximately one in five patients is over 21. With modern orthodontic treatments, adults can achieve the gorgeous smiles they desire without the unpleasantness associated with traditional orthodontia.
At one time, metal braces were the only choice if you wanted to straighten your teeth. Now, adult patients can select from other options such as:
Ceramic brackets
Made from tooth-colored materials, ceramic braces are designed to blend with your natural teeth and offer inconspicuous orthodontic treatment. Usually, the bands used to hold the arch wires on are often clear or white. Ceramic braces, however, tend to cost more than traditional orthodontia does.
Lingual braces
With this type of treatment, the brackets are placed on the back sides of your teeth, which means they aren’t visible to others. Lingual braces will correct the alignment of your teeth, just as metal brackets would do. Treatment typically takes about the same amount of time as traditional braces. Initially, patients may have an adjustment period as they get used to having the brackets on the back of their teeth.
Invisalign clear aligners
One of the most popular choices for adults, Invisalign clear braces are custom, acrylic aligners that gently shift teeth into the desired position. The plastic trays fit over teeth and do not require any adjustments. Most of the time, no one besides your orthodontist will even know that you are undergoing treatment. Because the aligners are removable, you can keep teeth and gums in top condition.
