Flossing With Braces

Dental health and hygiene are always important, especially when you have braces. Traditional metal braces catch food and debris, making brushing and flossing crucial. Dr. Cynthia Wong, D.M.D. of Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics in Orland Park, IL. has a few tips and tricks for flossing with braces.

 

With braces, your daily hygiene routine should take three times longer. Food has a lot more pathways to hide and lodge between your teeth. You need to be flossing at least once a day with braces to make the most of your oral health. One of the largest deterrents for flossing with braces is the difficulty. This doesn’t mean you should just give up. Besides the traditional approach to flossing, there a few other methods that make flossing with braces a lot easier.

 

Waterpik’s are unique handheld tools that spray a steady stream of water at the teeth. The pressure from the water cleans out food from the teeth and gumline. Special tips are offered to help clean orthodontic devices. This lets you clean brackets and between teeth easier.

 

Floss threaders are small, inexpensive tools that help pull floss behind brace wire. This lets you get around the metal work, allowing you to floss.

 

Dental tape is just like floss but more sensitive. This is a better option for flossing with braces if you didn't floss regularly beforehand.

 

Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics is located in Orland Park, IL. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Cynthia Wong, D.M.D., visit our website or call 708-444-8341.

Orthodontic Myths

At Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics in Orland Park, IL., Dr. Cynthia Wong provides her patients with a variety of orthodontic and dental services. Yet there are always common misbeliefs and questions that Dr. Wong and our staff hear frequently about orthodontics. Here are a few of these myths and the truth behind them.

 

First, that orthodontists and orthodontic work are overpriced and expensive. Orthodontists offer unique services that are catered to each and every patient. The cost of treatment depends on the complexity of the case. Treatment and payment plans are available for all patients. Dr. Wong and our staff will work with you to find a form of treatment that financially works for you.

 

Second, that orthodontic treatment is purely cosmetic. In reality, braces provide both functional and cosmetic purposes. Straightening the teeth doesn’t just look good, aligning your jaw and teeth improves biting, chewing, and speaking. Misaligned teeth or jaws can result in problems like teeth grinding, where your teeth rub against each other and wear away enamel.

 

Third, metal braces are the only kind available. In today’s world, traditional metal braces are offered alongside new forms like invisible braces or Invisalign. This lets you as the patient pick a form of braces that works best for you and your lifestyle. If metal braces do not work for you, Dr. Wong will work with you to find a treatment that does.

 

Lastly, orthodontic treatment is just for children. There is no age limit to good dental and orthodontic health. Teeth have the same ability to shift and move regardless of how old you are. In 2014 alone, close to 1.5 million adults were treated by orthodontists. If you are unhappy with your teeth or smile, you are not alone.

 

These are just a few examples of the myths that surround orthodontic work. If you are interested in learning the truth about our orthodontic services, contact us today. Dr. Cynthia Wong, D.M.D. is available for appointments at Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics, located in Orland Park, IL. To schedule an appointment, visit our website or call 708-444-8341.

 

Cleaning your Braces

At Dr. Cynthia Wong, DDS, we advise our patients to maintain good oral hygiene with braces even though it can be difficult to clean your teeth. Braces are an additional place for plaque, food debris, and acid to collect and damage your teeth and gums. Cleaning your teeth with braces takes considerably more time but is important to keeping your teeth healthy while you have them.

When it comes to brushing your teeth with braces, make sure you brush at a 45 degree angle at the gum line and on the surface of your teeth. We suggest our patients brush the top and bottom of the bracket along with the front to remove plaque.

Flossing is important with braces because there are so many places for plaque to build. We encourage our patients to floss daily with braces to prevent cavities and tooth decay. If you find it challenging to floss with braces, soft picks are a good alternative to traditional flossing.

Don’t forget, any food you eat has a chance to get stuck and around in your braces. Be sure to practice good oral hygiene care so that you have a beautiful smile!

To learn more about all of the services we provide, please visit https://www.drcynthiawong.com/our-practice for more information and to schedule an appointment with Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics in Orland Park, IL, call 708-444-8341.

Diet with Braces

When our patients get braces, we advise them to avoid eating foods that can cause damage to your braces. Foods that are hard, sticky, and chewy can cause damage to the wires, bracket, and rubber bands. Hard foods such as nuts and chips should be avoided to prevent damage while sticky foods such as caramel and gum can get stuck to your braces and cause damage.

At Dr. Cynthia Wong, DDS, we encourage our patients to follow a diet that contains softer foods that are less likely to damage your braces. Foods that are safe to eat include dairy, meat, fruit (soft), vegetables (soft), bread, and seafood. Any vegetables or fruits that are harder should be cut up into smaller pieces.

After patients get their put braces put on and later tightened, your teeth will feel sore for a couple of days. During this time we recommend our patients stick to the softest foods possible that require as little force to chew as possible to prevent soreness.

Don’t forget to practice good oral hygiene with braces to keep them as clean and healthy as possible!

To learn more about all of the services we provide, please visit https://www.drcynthiawong.com/our-practice for more information and to schedule an appointment with Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics in Orland Park, IL, call 708-444-8341.