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In 24 months or less, you could have the smile of your dreams! Straight, white, beautiful teeth will give you new confidence and improve the first impression you make on people. You\u2019ve committed to wearing braces so that you can enjoy a head-turning smile for the rest of your life. Great! But while you\u2019re in braces, you\u2019ll need to spend time each day brushing, flossing, and cleaning your mouth. In addition, there are certain foods you should avoid and bad habits you should break.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In today\u2019s blog, you\u2019ll learn:<\/span><\/p>\n Practice Diligent Daily Oral Hygiene<\/strong><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Before you got braces, brushing and flossing were important ways to deter tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. With braces, oral hygiene is even more important because braces trap food particles, plaque, and tartar against teeth. If you don\u2019t remove plaque, within a few days it will calcify into tartar, a hard-to-remove, insoluble substance. Decaying food particles, plaque, and tartar will cause cavities and contribute to the development of gum disease, which increases systemic health risks.<\/span><\/p>\n In addition, white spot lesions (WSLs) can develop around brackets. WSLs areas appear when tooth enamel becomes demineralized, and the \u201cscars\u201d can last forever. When the acid produced by plaque leaches minerals from tooth enamel, WSLs develop. To avoid demineralization around orthodontic brackets, keep your teeth free of plaque and pay special attention to cleaning around brackets. A fluoridated mouthwash can help remineralize teeth, as well.<\/span><\/p>\n We want your orthodontic treatment experience to produce an amazing, healthy smile, and we\u2019ll certainly do our part\u2013but you must commit to doing your part, too.<\/span><\/p>\n Brushing with Braces<\/span><\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n These tips will help you maintain healthy, clean teeth and gums while wearing fixed braces:<\/span><\/p>\n Brush and floss after each meal (take a toothbrush, floss, and paste with you when you leave home)<\/span><\/p>\n Flossing With Braces<\/span><\/strong><\/b><\/p>\n Most people don\u2019t floss their teeth daily, but flossing isn\u2019t difficult. The positive effects flossing has on dental health are well worth the effort. For orthodontic patients with fixed braces, flossing is more involved because archwires block floss from reaching the gumline between teeth. However, thorough, twice-daily flossing is imperative for all orthodontic patients.<\/span><\/p>\n You\u2019ll need to use a floss threader, a tool that looks like a large, dull plastic needle, to thread floss under archwires. At first, flossing will be cumbersome and time-consuming, but with practice, you\u2019ll become a speedy professional.<\/span><\/p>\n We cannot stress enough the importance of flossing while wearing braces. Don\u2019t neglect to floss or rely on an interdental brush as a substitute for flossing. The only proper way to floss your teeth is with actual dental floss.<\/span><\/p>\n Follow these steps at least twice daily, but preferably after meals and snacks, as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Foods and Drinks to Avoid while Wearing Braces<\/strong><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Foods and drinks rich in sugar, as well as sticky, tough, crunchy, and hard foods can harm your braces and your teeth. Hard candy, suckers, and sugary beverages expose teeth to sugar over a long period, which is particularly hard on tooth enamel. Sweet drinks should be consumed using a straw, but water is always better.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Remove these foods and drinks from your diet while wearing braces, and add more water to your menu.<\/span><\/p>\n Call Us for Your Orthodontic Consultation<\/strong><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n If you think that you or your child needs to be evaluated by an orthodontist,\u00a0<\/span><\/span>call us today<\/strong><\/b><\/a>.<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>Our dental team is accepting new patients, and we\u2019re happy to work with children as young as six years of age. Note that no adult is \u201ctoo old\u201d for braces! Our orthodontic team will conduct a comprehensive orthodontic evaluation, then provide you with our findings and, if necessary, a treatment plan. We can file your insurance and offer payment plans to make orthodontic therapy affordable for virtually any budget.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#FAF9F7″ custom_padding=”30px|30px|30px|30px|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”default” pac_dcm_carousel_specific_module_num=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.22.1″ _module_preset=”da97f663-bffa-4dfa-a3da-aee969fc6c1b” header_3_font=”Roboto Flex|700|||||||” header_3_text_align=”center” header_3_text_color=”#333333″ header_3_line_height=”1.4em” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n\n
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Need an Orthodontics Appointment For You or Your Child?<\/h3>\n