Preventing Cavities While Wearing Braces

Getting braces might add a whole new level of excitement to your boring journey with misaligned teeth. Many patients start taking their oral health for granted and end up having cavity problems. The reason behind this could be not knowing that you are still vulnerable to tooth decay, even with braces. 

Orthodontic appliances like braces do a great job aligning your teeth and correcting underbites, overbites, crowded teeth, and more. However, you need the intervention of an orthodontist in Denver & Aurora, CO, to recommend solutions for a decay-free grin. 

Before discussing what needs to be done to prevent cavities, let’s dive in to know if your braces can protect against dental decay. 

Can You Develop Cavities After Getting Braces?

Getting cavities can be common in many patients who don’t focus on undergoing routine oral care services. Besides, you might be already having tooth decay even before consulting a dentist or orthodontist for braces. So, irrespective of the reason, your teeth can always develop plaque and tartar, resulting in severe decay. 

Now, the possibility of experiencing dental decay during your orthodontic journey depends on several factors. The topmost factors why you might have cavities include:

• Consuming too much sugary or sticky food that gets stuck between the braces affects your teeth and oral health.
• The use of tightening wires and elastic bands in orthodontic appliances makes it difficult to brush and floss regularly. 
• Inadequate water intake means the cavity-causing bacteria remain inside the mouth for longer, causing cavities.  

Often, orthodontists recommend oral hygiene practices to keep decay at bay and ensure braces function properly. To know how you can prevent cavities with   

Importance of Oral Hygiene in Cavity Prevention

Alongside visiting your orthodontist to prevent cavities from harming teeth, you can focus on improving dental hygiene. This includes strengthening tooth enamel with fluoride treatment or using a toothpaste containing fluoride for brushing. 

Toothbrushes can’t reach certain areas within your mouth. This is why visiting an orthodontist or dentist means having your teeth with braces thoroughly checked for signs of cavities. They introduce many treatments that target the areas infiltrated by dental caries, restoring oral health.  

Some patients consume a variety of beverages, which can develop decay-causing bacteria around teeth and within the mouth. By reducing the intake, they can witness a significant reduction in cavities and improvement in oral well-being. 

How Do Orthodontists Combat Cavities?

Your orthodontist can recommend several ways to eliminate cavity-causing factors and ensure positive outcomes with braces. They utilize special equipment to remove orthodontic appliances temporarily and treat the site with fillings or other restorative treatments. 

Some practitioners also offer fluoride treatments to shield patients’ teeth against further complications. If there are debris or food particles in the gaps between orthodontic appliances, orthodontists use special cleaning equipment to eliminate them.  

What You Can Do to Maintain Oral Health Wearing Braces?

Whether you are already wearing braces or yet to undergo this orthodontic treatment, combatting cavities requires some effort. Below are the hacks you can try to elevate your smile’s health without removing braces. 

• Make it a practice to brush after every meal, which prevents sugar and food from sticking to your orthodontic appliance. 
• Get yourself a waterpik irrigator device that is effective in removing particles from braces. 
• Consult your orthodontist to recommend an interdental toothbrush, which eliminates cavity-causing bacteria even from underneath wires and brackets. 
• You can use a floss threader that easily cleans the surfaces over and under the braces. 
• Maintain a strict diet, avoiding drinks and edibles that can result in tooth decay during the treatment duration. 

Hopefully, now it is crystal clear that braces don’t guarantee a cavity-free smile! Hence, you have to be the guardian of your teeth and gums by maintaining proper oral hygiene. You can always approach an orthodontist in Denver & Aurora, CO, to prevent cavities during your journey with braces. Drink adequate water, avoid sugary foods, and brush and floss regularly to enjoy optimal dental health.