Dental Hygiene in Centennial, CO
When it comes to dental care, you can’t go wrong about coming to Sloss & Carpenter Orthodontics. Everyone at Centennial can trust us to deliver the highest-quality care and continuous care. We’re specialists in orthodontics, but before we focused on learning more about tooth alignment and proper jaw positioning, we were all about dental health and hygiene.
Everyone here at S&C Orthodontics wants you to enjoy the best possible version of your smile and optimal dental health.
The Importance of Oral Hygiene
We cannot overstate the importance of avoiding problems with your dental health. Tooth decay keeps affecting many children across the US, and adults have increased risks of developing periodontal disease as they age.
First of all, the lack of good oral hygiene increases the risk you have of suffering from dental caries and overall tooth decay. Dental caries can cause severe pain and complex infections.
Likewise, you can suffer from severe cases of periodontal disease, meaning that all the supporting tissues around the base of your teeth begin to degrade.
All of this can lead to premature tooth loss and additional need for orthodontics.
How to Have Good Oral Hygiene
There’s plenty you can do at home to avoid the onset of tooth decay. The first line of defense is maintaining good habits and routinely brushing your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Normally we would say that twice a day is enough, but when you wear braces, you’ll have to brush your teeth after every meal.
Using dental floss is non-negotiable. You can still rely on additional tools and resources, but you should ask your dental health specialist how to use dental floss with braces, as you’ll have to maneuver around brackets and wires.
Interdental Toothbrush
A Proxabrush is an interdental (between the teeth) toothbrush that you may use to clean underneath and around your wires and braces. Use the Proxabrush gently to avoid damaging your wires. The Proxabrush will help you to clean your braces while maintaining healthy teeth and gums.
Antibacterial Mouthwash
Peroxyl, a hydrogen peroxide antiseptic mouth rinse, will reduce inflammation of your gums and cheeks. Peroxyl helps to prevent infection and decrease irritation that may develop from your braces. Rinse your mouth with two teaspoons of Peroxyl (half a capful) for one minute, and then spit it out. You may use Peroxyl up to four times daily following your schedule for brushing: after meals (or after school) and before bed. Just like using peroxide for a scrape on your skin, Peroxyl helps the inside of your mouth heal. Peroxyl can be used for general irritation caused by your braces or for canker sores, cheek bites, and other minor temporary injuries to the gums.
Topical Fluoride
Phos-Flur is a sodium fluoride gel that helps prevent tooth decay while you are wearing braces by killing bacteria and replacing minerals in tooth enamel that have been exposed to harmful acids. The use of Phos-Flur does not replace daily brushing and flossing but should be done following your daily schedule at bedtime. Place a small strip of Phos-Flur on a toothbrush and apply it to your teeth for one minute and spit it out. You may not eat or drink for 30 minutes after you use Phos-Flur. It is important for the active ingredient to stay on your teeth for 30 minutes, so do not wash it away by eating or drinking.
Waterpik Water Irrigators
Water irrigators also help patients remove any food particles stuck between their teeth and braces parts with ease. The pressure at which it irrigates water into your mouth helps safely remove any leftover debris. They may be a bit noisy, but they are efficient in helping maintain good oral hygiene.
Professional Dental Cleanings
Unfortunately, once you develop tartar, you will require help from a professional to remove it and prevent damage to your gums. As more and more bacteria feed on food particles and sugar left in your mouth, they secrete acid and create a film that hardens into plaque and tartar. This film adheres to your teeth and covers the bacteria eroding your tooth enamel below. Ultimately, that leads to cavities and severe cases of periodontal disease. Going to the dentist at least once a year is the best way to ensure you keep the risk of tooth decay to a minimum.
Cleaning Your Removable Appliance
Brush your removable appliance every day as a part of your regular brushing and flossing schedule. Because food particles and plaque can accumulate on your appliance just as they do on your teeth, soak the appliance daily. Dissolve a Polident, Efferdent, or other denture-cleaning tablets in a glass of tap water at room temperature and soak your appliance once every day. Your appliance will taste better, and you will prevent plaque and bacterial accumulation.