Dental Supplies for Braces

Brushing and flossing with braces will take some extra care to ensure you are doing a good job. Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics of Orland Park, IL wants patients to know how to take proper care during their orthodontic treatment. Check out some of the dental supplies that will help you do that!

 

Floss Threaders

Floss threaders are loops that help you get the floss under your wires quicker and easier. They look like a sewing needle with an eye at the end, but larger. Many patients enjoy using it because flossing with regular floss can be time-consuming and tedious.

 

Superfloss

Superfloss refers to a brand of floss that has a stiff end that makes it easy to get underneath wires. It also has a patch of thicker floss to better remove plaque.

 

Interdental Cleaners

These are tiny brushes that are able to get underneath wires. These make it so it is possible to brush the sides of brackets. Without an interdental cleaner, a regular toothbrush will miss much of the plaque that surrounds the brackets.

 

Be sure to take extra-special care of your teeth while you wear braces to keep away cavities and uneven staining. To schedule your next appointment at Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics in Orland Park, IL, call our office at (708) 444-8341 or visit our website, www.drcynthiawong.com. 

Avoiding Cavities While Wearing Braces

Wearing braces unfortunately means that there are more places for bacteria to hide. This is why it is important to keep good oral hygiene, especially while wearing braces. At Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics in Orland Park, IL, we want to advise our patients about proper oral care while wearing braces to avoid unwelcome cavities.

Cavities happen when bacteria sit on a tooth long enough for the enamel to start decaying. Sugar is a huge cavity-causer; therefore, your first tip is to avoid consuming sugary foods and drinks all day. It is okay to have a sugary snack or drink once in a while, but making it a staple of your diet is a bad idea for both your teeth and your health. If you do choose to have some candy or a pop with lunch, be sure to rinse your mouth afterward and brush your teeth when you can.

The most important rule of keeping cavity-free teeth is brushing and flossing. Make sure you are brushing two to three times per day, including after meals, and flossing once per day. It will help to have braces-friendly dental supplies on hand to make the job easier.

Straight teeth have many health benefits for the mouth; however, if poor oral care is taken, it can lead to some nasty cavities. Take our tips for good care! To learn more about Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics here in Orland Park, IL, call our office at (708) 444-8341 or visit our website, www.drcynthiawong.com. 

Avoiding Staining While Wearing Braces

When you get your braces off, you are going to have a wonderfully straightened smile. Many patients cannot stop smiling the day they get their braces off! However, with poor dental hygiene, sometimes the day the braces come off can reveal some uneven staining. At Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics in Orland Park, IL, we want all of our patients to know how to take good care to avoid staining with braces. Keep reading for our tips!

 

Keep it Clean

Be sure that you are brushing and flossing as often as you are supposed to. This means brushing in the morning, before bed, and after meals. You will also need to floss every day. While wearing braces, you will need some special supplies to take good care of your teeth.

 

Use Special Dental Supplies

There are tiny tree-shaped brushes called interdental cleaners that should be used to brush the sides of the brackets under the wires. These are important so that plaque does not build up around the brackets. A regular toothbrush can be used to brush along the tops and bottoms of the brackets. You will also want threaders that can be used to easier flossing.

 

Watch out for Stain-Causers

Dark foods and drinks are able to stain teeth if they are consumed frequently. Although they can stain teeth slowly over time, since you are most likely wearing braces for at least one year, you will want to make sure you are paying attention to these stain-causers. Examples are coffee, cola, blueberries, and beets. Drink dark liquids through a straw, limit the amount of dark foods and liquids consumed, and rinse your mouth after consumption.

 

Braces create a beautiful smile and healthy teeth. Make sure your beautiful smile stays beautiful after braces by keeping these tips in mind. To schedule an appointment at Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics in Orland Park, IL, call our office at (708) 444-8341 or visit our website, www.drcynthiawong.com. 

Bad Habits to Kick While Wearing Braces

When wearing braces, it is important to steer clear of a few habits that may delay treatment. Dr. Cynthia Wong of Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics in Orland Park, IL wants her patients to know which habits to kick to the curb for healthy treatment.

Biting Fingernails and Other Non-Food Objects

Biting your fingernails is already bad for your teeth, but when you bite them while wearing braces, it could create enough pressure to cause one of your brackets to break or pop off. Even if the brackets remain intact, the pressure will make the braces less effective, therefore delaying treatment. This rule also goes for biting on pen caps, pencils, water bottles, etc. Just stick to biting food!

Hard or Crunchy Foods

Okay, so we said to stick to food. What you really should do is stick to the right foods, and avoid some of the others. Hard foods like popcorn, bagels, and raw carrots are common culprits for popping off brackets. In addition, skip the sticky stuff like chewing gum and caramels.

Brushing Too Hard

Many people think they need to apply force and really scrub their teeth to get them clean. However, all it takes is a light touch with a soft toothbrush. Scrubbing hard is not only bad for your gum tissue and enamel, but it can cause damage to a bracket or wire.

Your Daily Pop

Pop is filled with sugar that can hide in between teeth and around your brackets! Pop is also very acidic, so drinking it frequently can contribute to worn down enamel. Frequently drinking dark colas can also stain your teeth and while you have brackets on, the staining won’t reach that area of the teeth. It could result in some uneven staining. Stick to keeping pop as a treat instead of a staple in your diet.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Cynthia Wong of Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics in Orland Park, IL, call us at (708) 444-8341 or visit our website, www.drcynthiawong.com.