Tag Archives: cavity prevention

How to Avoid Cavities During an Orthodontic Treatment

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Orthodontic treatments with braces or Invisalign can significantly improve the appearance of your smile and your oral health in the long run. However, if you do not establish an effective dental care routine, you risk developing cavities and gum disease. In this article, we discuss how to avoid cavities during orthodontic treatment.

How to Avoid Cavities During an Orthodontic Treatment

The risk of cavities increases during orthodontic treatment because appliances can trap food debris, saliva, plaque, and bacteria if your oral hygiene is not effective enough. Over time, bacteria and the acid that they produce weaken the enamel of your teeth and cause cavities. To avoid cavities during orthodontic treatment, ensure your oral hygiene is sufficient and that your diet does not promote bacterial growth.

Let us look at the most essential tips for effective oral hygiene when undergoing orthodontic treatment in more detail.

Floss Correctly

You should floss your teeth before brushing every evening. If you are wearing removable orthodontic appliances, such as Invisalign, you can floss your teeth without any additional difficulties. Use a waxed flossing thread to move it up and down between the teeth, cleaning each tooth on both sides and removing food debris. However, be gentle and do not push the floss too far into the gums to avoid bleeding.

If you are wearing braces, flossing might be slightly more challenging because of the wires running along your teeth. We recommend threading the floss under the wire to reach the top of the teeth, then removing the plaque with regular flossing motions.

Additionally, you can use specially designed floss threaders or interdental brushes to streamline the process. Adding a water flosser to your routine can also streamline the process, as this device helps loosen the plaque and food residue with a stream of pressurized water. However, remember that a water flosser should be used as an additional step before flossing and brushing with traditional tools.

Brush Your Teeth Thoroughly

Regardless of what type of orthodontic appliances you are wearing, you should brush your teeth twice a day for two full minutes. We recommend choosing a fluoride toothpaste, which strengthens enamel, and a soft or medium toothbrush that is effective at removing plaque without irritating the gums.

When brushing, pay special attention to hard-to-reach areas and clean well along the gum line with small circular motions. If you are wearing braces, be sure to clean above, below, and on the brackets at a 45-degree angle.

When wearing any orthodontic appliance, you should always brush your teeth after every meal in addition to brushing in the evening and every morning.

Clean Removable Appliances Correctly

If you are wearing Invisalign, your aligners have to be cleaned just as thoroughly as your natural teeth. We recommend following these tips:

  • Rinse your aligners well with lukewarm water every time you take them out (for example, for meals) and before putting them back in your mouth.
  • Clean your aligners twice a day with unscented soap and a soft-bristle toothbrush.
  • Soak your aligners in a special cleaning solution designed for clear orthodontic appliances for 15 to 30 minutes before brushing them in the evening.

This way, you will ensure that your aligners do not have a film of plaque and saliva and maintain their original appearance.

Get an Orthodontic Treatment at Samaritan Dental

If you are considering an orthodontic treatment with Invisalign or braces, do not hesitate to make an appointment with an experienced dentist at Samaritan Dental. We are looking forward to your visit.

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Busting Myths About Cavities

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Even in our adult lives, cavities still remain a mystery to some of us. Cavities happen over time and are not often noticeable, so being aware of how they can form and how to take care of them is essential to our dental health. The more you understand your mouth, the more precaution you can take in your everyday life. Below are some common myths about cavities and the truths that lie behind them.

For more information on preventing cavities and receiving dental crowns, contact Samaritan Dental today!

Myth: Sugar is the cause of all cavities.

Truth: While sugar is a big culprit of cavities, it isn’t the cause of all cavities. Starches, for example, are a huge bacteria stimulator that erodes away at the enamel. It’s important to know the workings behind a cavity: they’re caused by bacteria that have a high acidic pH. When the mouth is particularly acidic, which may be caused by sugary food, candy, soda, starches like bread or pasta, etc, the bacteria or biofilm that covers our teeth, turns acidic and starts to destroy the enamel — otherwise known as tooth decay.

Myth: I’ll know when I have a cavity because I’ll feel it.

Truth: When thinking of myths about cavities, it can be easy to go by feel. Most of the time, we have no idea we have cavities at all. Cavities don’t actually hurt unless the decay becomes really bad. However, it’s important to not let it get to this point, as by now it may have caused some serious issues that will cost more or take longer to repair. It’s important to stay up-to-date with regular check-ups to avoid this from happening.

Myth: Brushing & Flossing will fight the decay away.

Truth: While brushing and flossing help keep teeth clean and ward off a good amount of bad bacteria, it doesn’t actually remove all the plaque. Plaque that hangs around eventually calcifies and become tartar, which can only be removed with special dental tools. This is why it’s important to visit the dentist at least twice a year for regular dental cleaning.

Myth: Fluoride will stop the decay.

Truth: Using fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash does help manage tooth decay, but it won’t completely keep plaque at bay or cure cavities that are already there. Overall, fluoride works to reduce the amount of acid produced by bacteria and therefore strengthens enamel because it’s being exposed to less of this acid. However, some people are staying clear of fluoride as it can cause a slew of other health issues, including: “skeletal fluorosis, arthritis, compromised kidney and thyroid health, and female puberty acceleration.” (link) While some fluoride use is natural and healthy for teeth, at the end of the day, use your best judgment and consult with a professional dentist on whether or not fluoride products are right for you.

Myth: Regular snacking prevents cavities.

Truth: One myth that has gained popularity is that snacking frequently will prevent cavities. The thought behind this is that snacking will produce saliva, and saliva, which is full of minerals that aid in protecting enamel, will help keep teeth healthy and cavity-free. Unfortunately, this myth has one problem: it forgets the part about the food you’re eating. Adding sugars and starches to your mouth regularly actually increases the production of acid and is therefore detrimental to teeth enamel. Your teeth need time to recover between eating, so, if you must snack, try to do it in moderation with plenty of time in between.

Myth: The mercury in fillings is dangerous.

Truth: There’s a lot of talk about the mercury used in fillings — is it safe? Will I be paying for this later on in life? The dangerous mercury we’re thinking of is not the same as the one used in our teeth. Our tooth fillings contain a small amount of mercury, but also other materials like zinc, copper, etc. This substance is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is absolutely safe for anyone over 6 years old.

Cavity Fillings in Downtown Los Angeles

At the end of the day, if you have any cavity concerns, it’s best to get your answers straight from the source: a professional dentist. Give Samaritan Dental a call to have other myths about cavities, put to bed.