Top Guide For Orthodontic Braces

Obtaining braces is such a common thing these days and this allowed us to form different types as not everyone is the same. Braces are a great thing that orthodontists utilize to make our smile straight and perfect. It fixes many of our issues that we have in our teeth and jaw making it a wonderful tool for many people. Different forms of braces are now available for everyone; moreover, proper care of your braces is pertinent for a healthy lifestyle!

Top Choices Of Orthodontic Braces

There are three options for types of braces to choose, which is great as it gives us a variety to choose from that fits to our lifestyle. Our first one that we will look at are the most common and cheapest which is metal braces. These braces have metal brackets planted on your teeth with wires running from left to right. This uses pressure to adjust our teeth. For people who are disinclined to wear metal braces, there are other choices. Lingual braces are made of metal as well; however, they are positioned on the backside of your teeth which is great for those who prefer their braces not showing. It is a bit more complex than metal braces, but they are a great option as well. It is cheaper than the other option for braces, that do not show to the outside world. This style of braces is called Invisalign which is a see-through plastic mold of your teeth that you wear on them and it looks like there is nothing there. For these braces, you need to go to your orthodontist every couple of weeks for a new mold as they change size in order to tighten your teeth. For a child, a personal suggestion would be to go with metal braces as they are fairly common and popular as well as practical. They do not need much maintenance as compared to Invisalign which is good as kids tend to not always like going to the orthodontist every couple of weeks.

Conservation Of Orthodontic Braces

Caring for braces might be a challenging job and many people struggle with it. It's important to deal with braces and maintain hygiene for dental wellness. Maintaining your braces does not have to be difficult as they are a couple of rules to follow in order to have good oral hygiene. Brushing is the most important to healthy teeth, braces, and gums. Brushing allows you to take off almost every bit of food in your mouth allowing for a clean mouth. Now with braces, you will have to spend extra time with flossing them as the brackets and wires tend to get in the way and allows food to hide in between them (excluding to the people with Invisalign). Proper flossing with braces requires practice, caution, and extra time to get good.

Braces enable us to live a fulfilling life with confident smiles and assist us with our oral hygiene. Getting braces may be nerve racking at first and that is normal, but understand that you are not with braces alone and it is a normal thing these days to acquire braces. If you are ready to get braces at 89117 or know anyone interested, go ahead and call Braces Las Vegas at 702-660-2256 now!

Getting Used to Life After Braces

Because braces treatment often lasts for a year or more, it is very common to find yourself in a comfortable routine that incorporates your braces.

That’s why when we finally have our braces off, our routine changes. For the better, of course, but the difference makes us feel as if something is off. And you’re right… because something is off: your braces!

Weird Feeling in Mouth

Braces treatment interferes with our lips, so when the braces our off and we begin to move our lips, it will not feel the same because our lips are no longer gliding over the braces. The muscles used in your smile will feel off as a result.

Nothing to panic about! This is normal and usually takes a few days to a week or so to adjust to the new feel. We recommend moving your lips around to help your muscles remember the right motions used to generate your smile. To avoid embarrassing yourself, do this exercise when no one is watching. 

Sensitive Teeth

Another common complaint is that teeth are sensitive. Our mouth became accustomed to an orthodontic appliance in the mouth… and of course adjusted for this. So when we finally have this appliance removed for good, our mouth will feel different. Sensitivity is a result. You may feel weird sensations to hot or cold or just a general weakness feeling. This is all sensitivity and will dissipate as soon as your mouth adjusts to life without your braces involved.  

Talking Funny

This is by far the most common complaint: talking funny such as having a lisp or speech impediment. With braces on, most of us talk funny until we adjust. The same applies for when we have braces taken off: we talk funny until our lips and tongue adjust to having no braces in the mouth. This process varies for everyone, but most people are sounding like themselves again after about one week.

No More Braces-Friendly Foods

What we mean by this is that after you have your braces taken off, you no longer have to worry about damaging them by eating foods such as gum, hard candies, popcorn kernels, apples, chewing on ice, etc. However, at least for the first couple of weeks of having no braces we recommend you still refrain from these foods as your mouth works towards re-acclimating itself without the interference of braces.

Have any other questions regarding braces? We’re sure you will find your answer in our Orthodontics Resources section containing many frequently asked questions regarding braces.

Best Way to Floss with Braces

If you currently have braces, specifically traditional metal braces, then you know by now just how difficult and obnoxious it can be to floss your teeth and make sure you aren’t suffering from poor oral hygiene. Is this a familiar scenario you can relate to?

Well, the good news is that your Las Vegas braces experts are going to let you in on a tip we all wish we had back in the day.

Ready for it?

Water flossers.

That’s right, water flossers are a blessing for those trying to floss with metal braces. Water flossers are clinically proven to be more effective than dental floss for those with braces. There are different types that you will find in stores, but they all accomplish the same goal: clearing all the food particles and debris effectively from your teeth.

The only downside is that the prices for these wonderful flossing machines may be above your budget. What do you do if that’s the case? Well, we do have one alternative. It’s not nearly as effective, but it’s still better than regular floss.

So what’s the alternative?

Waxed floss with a floss threader.

This type of floss is better than regular non-waxed floss, which has a tendency to catch on your braces and leave shreds of floss stuck around your mouth. Not fun. Using waxed floss with a floss threader decreases the chance of this occurring. Gently floss each tooth before moving on to the next one.

However, keep in mind that waxed floss is limited and that you must constantly keep re-purchasing it when you run out. With a water flosser, it’s a one-time purchase that utilizes your own water. You only have to re-purchase, but the machines tend to last awhile before this occurs.

If you want to make flossing life easier with braces, we strongly recommend you invest in a water flosser. Bleeding may occur initially as your gums become accustomed to the pressure. We recommend starting out on a low pressure setting and working your way up towards higher as you become used to the machine.

How Overall Health Affects Dental Health

When it comes to oral health, people usually think of it as a separate entity from the rest of the body, yet the two are connected. In fact, some medical or health conditions directly impact the health of your teeth and gums. In some cases, it is the illness that affects the health of your mouth; and in others, it is the medication or treatment administered.

From diabetes to cancer treatments, these illnesses or treatments can erode tooth enamel, cause a dry mouth and bad breath, or even turn your tongue black. You will need to be more conscious of your dental health if you have:

1.       High Blood Pressure

An estimated 25 percent of the American population suffers from this dangerous condition. Although it is treatable, the medications used have a number of side effects, including gingival enlargement – a condition characterized by inflammation of gums causing them to grow over your teeth.

2.       Diabetes

People with diabetes tend to have high levels of sugar in saliva, as well as reduced saliva flow, which facilitates the growth of bacteria in the mouth. This puts them at higher risk of infections in the mouth from not only bacteria, but also yeast, fungi, and viruses. So, these people have a higher risk of severe tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth loss. Conversely, people with uncontrolled gum disease can have difficulty controlling diabetes.

3.       Chronic Kidney Disease

Kidney disease is a serious condition that can be fatal if left untreated. It is usually characterized by breath that smells like ammonia or fish. As your condition worsens and the kidneys are unable to filter toxins and waste from your blood, your breath will start smelling like urine.

4.       Acid Reflux

Also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, acid reflux can be diagnosed by your dentist during a normal check-up, since it causes erosion on your back teeth due to powerful acid in your stomach dissolving the enamel. You can protect your teeth by gurgling water in your mouth after every reflux episode. Also avoid taking meals 2-3 hours before bed, and stay away from triggers like caffeine, alcohol, and acidic items.

5.       Stomach Ulcers

Ulcers are usually caused by the bacterium H. pylori, which weaken the protective lining of your stomach and intestine, resulting in sores. Ulcers themselves do not affect your oral health; but the medication used can turn your tongue black. Fortunately, this side effect fades away once you stop taking the treatment.

6.       Other Conditions

There are many more conditions to watch out for, including:

• HIV/AIDS – the virus increases the risk for gum disease, dental caries, and mouth infections (sores, blisters, oral warts, and yeast infections)
• Hyperthyroidism – increases the risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease
• Anemia – insufficient oxygen in the gums leading to gum disease
• Sjogren’s syndrome – dry mouth
• Cancer treatment – known to cause sores, bleeding, and fungal/viral/bacterial infections

Take charge of your health

If you are suffering from any of these conditions, work closely with your dental care providers to come up with a good oral care plan to keep your mouth healthy.

How to avoid the negative impact of stress on your oral health

Most people are aware of the effects of stress on the body, though many don’t realize that it also affects the teeth, jaw, and a number of other oral tissues. Nearly everyone suffers from some form of stress in their life, but some people deal with more stressful situations than others. Regardless of whether you face a little or a lot of stress in your daily life, there is a good chance that the stress is impacting your oral health.

Some of the oral health conditions associated with stress include:

• Teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism) – Usually occurs at night while asleep, and is known to cause damage to tooth enamel and teeth, as well as headaches and jaw soreness
• Gum disease – Stress tends to lower your immune system, reducing the ability of the body to fight against harmful bacteria in your mouth
• Dry mouth – Can be a side effect of stress or the medications taken to manage stress or depression, reducing your ability to wash away food particles and neutralize the acid in your mouth, increasing the risk for gum disease, tooth decay, and infection
• Tooth decay – Stress can lead to neglect of proper oral hygiene, and encourage unhealthy lifestyle choices that increase the risk for decay
• Canker sores – Though harmless, the white spots that form on the soft tissue of the mouth can be very painful

How can you improve your oral health and reduce stress?

During your routine dental visits, it is important that you talk to your dentist about any stress-related issues you may be experiencing, and how to manage the implications.

Treatment options to help alleviate painful symptoms include:

• Custom-fitted night guard – Can be worn at night to prevent tooth damage caused by clenching and grinding
• Avoiding hard or crunchy when in pain
• Avoiding alcohol and tobacco as coping mechanisms since they can make the oral symptoms worse (like through dehydration resulting in dry mouth)
• Take pain relief medications or try physical therapy or a gentle massage to help you relax
• Stay out of the sun or protect yourself with a strong sunscreen of at least SPF 30 to prevent cold sores
• Request your dentist or doctor for a prescription for antiviral drugs to prevent cold sores, or anti-inflammatory drugs to manage jaw inflammation

Final note

While managing and treating the symptoms may provide some relief, the biggest contributing factor to your deteriorating oral health is the stress itself. So, you need to consider stress reduction techniques to help manage painful oral health symptoms. Some options include: taking a break from work to relax; exercising and eating a diet rich in iron and proteins; staying hydrated; avoiding refined and excess sugar and caffeine; and changing your attitude.