Getting Past Your Dental Fears And Learning About Technology

Several years ago I decided to take a trip to the dentist after skipping multiple appointments for over 15 years. I truly had a dental anxiety and had a hard time getting over my fears. Thankfully, my dental visit went smoothly with only four cavities identified. What I did find from this dental visit was that there was a great deal of new information and technology that I had been missing out on. Laser-based technology and digital imaging are just a few examples. With this blog, I want you to understand that you can get over your fears and learn about this new technology like I did, so enjoy the information.

Limiting Damage To Your Braces And Your Teeth During Your Orthodontic Treatment

Dentist Blog

Braces help straighten the teeth when a dental misalignment is present. The appliance, which is made up of brackets, elastic bands, and an arch wire, apply pressure to the teeth to move them into a straighter configuration. Your orthodontist periodically adjusts the arch wire of the braces to ensure that your alignment progresses properly.

Although the braces and your orthodontist perform most of the work to realign your teeth, you still play a significant role in the outcome and length of your treatment. If you wear braces, there are measures that you should take regularly to limit damage to your teeth and appliance. Here are a few of them.

Floss

Daily flossing is suggested for people without braces. However, once the orthodontic appliance is placed on your teeth, flossing becomes even more important.

Bits of food can become caught in the brackets and wires of your braces. Additionally, plaque can build up on the appliance and on covered areas of your teeth. As the bacteria in the plaque feed on the food particles and release oral acids, your gums may become inflamed, and your teeth may develop cavities. 

Although you may be looking forward to straight, white, healthy teeth when your braces are removed, without proper flossing, you may instead find that your teeth are decayed and gum disease has developed. 

Don't Eat Overly Hard and Sticky Foods

You may enjoy eating sticky and hard foods. However, it is best to refrain from eating them while your braces are in place. The sticky items can bend or break your brackets and archwire. 

Sticky foods, such as caramel, can attach to the components of your braces and pull them in different directions, placing undue stress on the appliance. Hard items, such as ice chips, require increased bite pressure during chewing, which may result in broken brackets and damaged teeth.

Cut Your Food Into Bite-sized Bits

You may be accustomed to taking large bites of food using your front teeth primarily. However, after your braces are in place, using your front teeth to tear away huge pieces of food could damage your appliance.

Still, your braces don't have to stop you from enjoying healthy food items that are usually torn with your front teeth, such as apples or corn on the cob. Just be sure to cut the items into small pieces and chew them with your back teeth. With corn on the cob, you can simply remove the corn from the cob before eating it.

To learn more ways to protect your teeth and braces, schedule a consultation with an orthodontist in your local area. Companies that offer local orthodontists services can help you to enjoy a more beautiful smile. 

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27 June 2018