Braces and Tooth Cavity
There are several reasons people opt for braces, one of the primary being correcting the orofacial appearance. Braces are one of the most convenient treatment options for people with crooked teeth. Other orthodontic problems that may require braces include crowded teeth, overbite, underbite, crossbite, abnormal spacing, constant fatigue at the jawline, and an open bite, to mention a few. Getting braces is one thing but maintaining them is another. Keep in mind that you can develop tooth decay with braces. Can you have cavities with braces?
The answer is yes. Undoubtedly, you will have to be more cautious with your dental health when you decide to wear braces. Why is this? Braces have features such as wires and brackets that easily trap food and plaque. Improper dental hygiene can cause tooth rotting under braces, which can lead to other complicated dental consequences. Therefore, you are more likely to develop tooth cavities with braces and other orthodontic complications if you do not care for your dental health. For that reason, we will have you look at important information concerning braces and tooth cavities. The following guidelines will help you take proper care of your teeth while wearing braces.
The Best Ways to Avoid Cavities While Wearing Braces
Typically, excellent oral hygiene depends on how well you take care of your teeth. When it comes to braces, you will need extra effort to achieve your desired outcome. First, ensure that you have no teeth complications before deciding to get braces.
Getting braces with cavities is not a wise idea as the condition may worsen. You ought to visit your dentist and get a dental filling before you decide to wear braces. That said, take a look at some of the best orthodontist-recommended tips to prevent cavities while wearing braces.
Take Time to Brush Your Teeth
You ought to know that brushing while wearing braces takes more time. Do braces cause tooth decay? Braces do lead to tooth decay due to poor oral health. Keep in mind that you have foreign equipment attached to your teeth. This means some areas around your teeth will be impossible to reach if you rush the brushing time, leading to tooth decay with braces. Fortunately, orthodontics provide guidelines regarding how to brush teeth while wearing braces.
Typically, you will have to take a minimum of 10 seconds, brushing each tooth in a particular pattern. For instance, place a soft brush at an angle of 45 degrees against the gum and gently brush the gum line on each tooth. This will require a circular brushing pattern. Also, remember to brush the inside and outside your teeth surfaces. Likewise, brush the braces because they are more likely to hide food particles. This is the most important strategy to prevent the development cavities with braces.
Remember to Floss
It would be best if you flossed while wearing braces. Your toothbrush will not reach all hidden areas due to the presence of the brackets and wires. Brackets, wires, and bands are notorious for trapping food particles, which can result in plaque. A floss threader is the best tool for flossing while wearing braces. However, you have to be gentle to avoid weakening your teeth or hurting your gums. Run the floss threader in the spaces between your teeth the slide the tool back and forth to clean the teeth surfaces. In conjunction with that, use the floss threader to clean your gum line.
Use Fluoride Mouthwash after Brushing
Many times, some food particles remain in hidden places even after flossing and brushing. This is why a fluoride mouthwash is an essential element in your dental care regimen. It would help if you made sure that every effort is in place to prevent cavities with braces. Apart from eliminating food particles, a fluoride mouthwash slows the enamel breakdown rate and increases the remineralization process. This makes the enamel harder, thus more resistant to acids produced by bacteria.
However, you have to be careful when using a fluoride mouth rinse because too much fluoride can be harmful to your teeth. The standard dose is 10 milliliters of the solution. Use this solution to rinse your mouth for one minute then spit it out. Your orthodontist should recommend the best fluoride mouthwash to use.
Invest in the Right Cleaning Tools
There is a need to use special cleaning tools when you have braces. For example, as mentioned earlier, a floss threader is the best flossing equipment to use during the short orthodontic treatment. Water and air flossers are also recommendable as they are more effective than regular floss. They apply pressure to dislodge food particles and other material between the teeth and from the gums. Another perfect example is the interproximal brush. The tool has a triangular design brush head that is effective for reaching under brackets and wires. There are numerous tools recommended for dental health while wearing braces. Based on your condition, an orthodontist will guide you in selecting the best equipment.
Select Tooth-friendly Diet
Braces can damage weak teeth, thereby leading to more complicated oral difficulties. Your enamel should be strong to withstand the little pressure from wires and brackets. Therefore, it would be best if you avoid food that is likely to weaken the enamel. For instance, oranges, cherries, apples, pineapples, and lemons contain high amounts of acids, which damage the enamel when consumed frequently. Consider choosing a diet that strengthens your teeth. A perfect example is milk, eggs, seafood, pasta, poultry, and soft food that contain proper amounts of calcium and magnesium. Likewise, reduce your consumption of alcohol, soft drinks, and other drinks that are high in acidic content.
Go for Brace-friendly Diet
Hard food such as nuts, carrots, apples, pistachios, and corn can bend wires and damage brackets. This may cause necessary costs and visits to the dentist. You do not necessarily have to avoid some hard foods. For example, when it comes to nutritious foods like celery, carrots, pears, and apples, cut them into smaller pieces that require less effort to bite and chew. Also, avoid sticky foods like caramel and gum as they make it difficult to clean the braces with gentleness.
Visit your Orthodontist Regularly
It is always crucial that you go for regular check-ups every six months. When you are wearing braces, the number of visits may increase. Your orthodontist knows what is best for you. Do not skip those routine visits. An orthodontist may notice developing complications and treat them before they become severe. Moreover, it is better to have a health professional update you about your progress and advise about the best steps to take during the treatment to avoid cavities after braces.
Treating Cavities with Braces
The development of a tooth cavity when wearing braces happens quickly. The features of braces are a nuisance when it comes to trapping food particles. Even with good oral hygiene during braces, you can still develop cavities under braces. Therefore, you ought to know how to tell if you have a cavity with braces. Some of the common symptoms to watch out for include sensitivity with hot or cold fluids and sharp pain on a tooth.
What happens if you get a cavity with braces?
Treating cavities with braces may be challenging, but it is not impossible. Can you get cavities filled with braces on? Fortunately, this is possible. One of the primary treatments for tooth cavities is the use of dental filling. An orthodontist will not have to remove the wires and brackets to treat a cavity. Nevertheless, the health professional can remove the wires before treating the dental complication if the cavity is severe or inaccessible. A dentist can also use a dental crown to fix a cavity. The processes involved in treating a cavity with braces depends on the severity of the condition.
How to Care for Braces
You have to accept that taking care of braces requires extra effort. This will be tedious at first but once you maintain the routine, maintaining your braces becomes more comfortable. First, let us look at the basics of brushing and flossing that prevent cavities under braces.
Brushing and Flossing
Braces have numerous tiny spaces that trap food particles. Hence, it would be best if you used a toothbrush with a soft head to access the hard-to-reach places. You will need a proper brushing regimen. Place a soft brush at an angle of 45 degrees against the gum. Next, gently brush your gum line in circular motions while focusing on every tooth for at least 10 seconds. Keep in mind that you are not only cleaning your teeth but also your braces. Therefore, hold your soft-head toothbrush at a downward and upward angle on top of the braces to clean the top and bottom of the dental equipment.
Special Tools for Braces
When it comes to oral hygiene with braces, you will need more than standard dental floss. You will have to invest in special tools concerning the cleaning of braces. For instance, a floss threader is one of the most effective equipment as it can clean all the hidden parts of brackets and wires. However, you have to be gentle while using a floss threader as too much pressure can damage the braces. An interdental brush is also an important tool when it comes to caring for braces. Interdental brushes come in various sizes and two patterns, regular and angled.
Take your time to ensure that you eliminate all the food particles and plaque. Also, remember to visit your orthodontist regularly because routine check-ups are part of caring for braces. It would be devastating to get cavities after braces having in mind that you spent more than a year waiting for a beautiful smile.
Zara Dental in Houston Texas
Getting braces is a fantastic journey to having a beautiful smile. Suppose you are wondering where to get braces in Texas, Zara Dental is a renowned health organization in Houston Texas, that provides professional dental services for the entire family. We boast delivering high-end services with the most advanced medical technology. At Zara Dental, we offer general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, pediatric dentistry, and orthodontic services at the best prices that Houston can offer.
Should you decide to wear braces, Zara Dental in Houston Texas, is ready to improve your bite and give you a perfect smile at an affordable price. The average cost of braces is $5000. The price depends on the type of braces you are wearing. Our organization accepts the support of dental insurance covers; therefore, you may not have to spend too much on getting braces. If you are a resident of Houston Texas and other nearby regions, you are free to reach us through our phone contact or book an appointment online, as detailed on our official website. We are ready to improve your confidence!
