Keeping Your Teeth Clean While Wearing Braces

Traditional Braces: A fifteen-year-old patient was so excited to get his braces off. After almost three long years of brackets, wires, and rubber bands he now had a great, straight smile he could show off. But there was one problem at his dental checkup – he needed fillings. Lots of them. His happiness with his new smile disappeared at the thought of the dentist’s drill.

What happened? Like many teenagers, he hadn’t always kept up with his dental hygiene. A lack of regular brushing and flossing can lead to tooth and gum problems.  Eating sugary and starchy snacks like soda, candy, and French fries (the kind of stuff most kids and teens love) can contribute to tooth decay. And since he was wearing braces, these foods easily became trapped and gave cavity-causing bacteria something to feed on. Once his braces were off, cavities were found on his back teeth and in between a few teeth. When you have braces, it is vital that you keep your teeth clean.

How can you practice good oral hygiene when wearing braces to get a healthy straight smile from Dr. Maria Yazji Orthodontics? The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) suggests you use:

• Interproximal brushes – these tiny brushed can reach the spaces between your teeth much better than a regular toothbrush can. The AAO states that these dental hygiene tools “can help dislodge plaque and food particles trapped between teeth and around brackets.”
• Water Irrigators – These handy devices use a high-powered stream of water to clean your teeth. Using dental floss can be downright annoying with braces. Teens and pre-teens wearing traditional braces may become frustrated with threading floss between wires, and may neglect to floss for days at a time. Water irrigators make it easy, however, for South Florida patients of Dr. Yazji to clean their teeth.
• Fluoride mouth rinses – To guard against decay, your dentist may prescribe you a fluoride rinse to be used once or twice a day, or they may recommend an over-the-counter rinse for you to use.

Insignia Advanced Smile Design

Orthodontic treatment from the offices of Dr. Maria Yazji can help you get a healthy smile for years to come. Straight teeth look good and can set you up for a lifetime of dental health when combined with good dental hygiene. At the offices of Dr. Yazji, we offer Insignia Advanced Smile Design braces. These braces are custom-designed for each patient using advanced 3D technology. Since Insignia braces are customized to the needs and structural individualized of each patient’s smile, they are gentler than traditional braces and require a shorter treatment time too!

At Dr. Maria Yazji Orthodontics, we can help you get straight teeth through Insignia Advanced Smile Design, and keep your teeth healthy during your treatment with dental care tips and recommendations from your dentist. To schedule a consultation for Insignia braces at one of our three South Florida offices – in Brickell, Miami, and Weston – contact us. Get a beautiful and healthy smile from Dr. Maria Yazji Orthodontics.