Orthodontics has been an aspect of the dental experience for over a century. The most well-known form of orthodontic appliance is traditional braces. Despite the rise of clear aligners and other orthodontic care options, traditional braces remain essential in dental care. While thousands of people can benefit from clear aligners, some treatments can only be achieved using traditional wire and bracket braces. If you’ve been looking into addressing misaligned teeth, malocclusion, or gaps in your teeth, you may learn that traditional braces are the way to go. Dickey Dental helps patients undergoing orthodontic treatment to protect their smiles and improve their chances of success through patient education.
Learning How To Care For Your Braces During Orthodontic Care
Those who suffer from orthodontic concerns are familiar with the steps taken to avoid revealing them to those around them. They often take care when smiling or speaking not to show their teeth. This can lead to issues with self-esteem and a real or perceived lack of confidence. Orthodontic care helps patients like these overcome their feelings of embarrassment by providing them with a beautifully straightened smile. A straight and healthy smile has numerous impacts on our life, such as improving our performance during job interviews, making more significant first impressions, and heightened success during social interactions. However, the benefits of receiving orthodontic care aren’t just physical or aesthetic in nature.
Many oral health concerns associated with orthodontic concerns can put your teeth at greater risk of developing specific oral health concerns. Consider the overall structure of your smile. Orthodontic concerns can create new nooks and crannies where food, bacteria, and plaque can hide. Further, it exposes the sides of your teeth and increases the risk of tooth decay in areas that aren’t often exposed to the ravages of food debris and decay. Correcting the appearance of your smile has the additional benefit of rendering it more resistant to oral health concerns like these.
Essential steps to take to improve the health of your smile during orthodontic care include the following:
- Brushing Your Braces – While you certainly brush part of your orthodontic appliance every time you brush your teeth, you’ve likely missed spots. Behind the wires and deep in the crannies of the brackets need extra attention. Take the time to brush these areas during your regular dental hygiene routine carefully.
- The Right Tools Make It Easy – Brushing and flossing effectively with traditional braces is an acquired skill, but some tools can improve your effectiveness. Orthodontic flossers get into otherwise hard-to-reach nooks and crannies. Further, soft-bristled brushes will ensure you don’t accidentally damage your orthodontic appliance.
- Select Food Wisely – We’re not talking about wise nutritional choices here. Thick or chewy foods can cause problems with your traditional braces. Stick to softer foods that are relatively easy to eat, and avoid caramels and other foods that can bond with or even pull on your wires and braces.
Get More Information From Dickey Dental
Contact our office at (803) 329-2126 to schedule your first visit to Dickey Dental. We look forward to introducing you to the office and helping you make important decisions regarding your oral health. You can also stop by and see us in Rock Hill, SC!
