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The Importance of Clean Teeth!
You, 1ST IMPRESSIONS Orthodontics and your family dentist are now a team. We all want the same thing...for you to have a healthy smile with beautiful, white, straight teeth. Dr. Gibson will straighten your teeth and your dentist will help keep them clean and check for any problems every six months. But you're the one who has to take care of your teeth every single day during treatment to keep them clean, healthy and white. That means closely following the instructions Dr. Gibson and the 1ST IMPRESSIONS Orthodontics team provide.
When To Clean: Brush thoroughly at least four times a day: after every meal and snack, and before you go to bed. If you can't brush right away after a meal, be sure to at least rinse your mouth vigorously with water until you can brush. That way, you'll clear your braces of most of the large food particles. Take your travel toothbrush and Christmas tree brush with you to school or work. At least once every day, brush your teeth and braces thoroughly until they are spotlessly clean, and then floss all of your teeth. Try to do this right before you go to bed so you don't feel rushed and can take your time.
How To Brush: Use a fluoride toothpaste and a soft, rounded-bristle toothbrush that is in good condition. Brush your teeth and braces the way Dr. Gibson and the 1ST IMPRESSIONS Orthodontics team members instruct you. Brush around all the parts of your braces and every surface of your teeth. Remember to brush the backsides of your teeth, and be sure to brush your tongue. Doing this will not only help to remove food particles from your mouth, it will make your breath fresher, too. After brushing your teeth, brush your gums gently but thoroughly. Rinse vigorously with water after brushing. Swish the water all around your mouth and teeth. Inspect your teeth and braces carefully to make sure they are spotless. Look closely in a well-lighted mirror.
How To Floss: Flossing is one of the most important parts of taking care of your teeth during your orthodontic treatment. When flossing with braces on, it might be necessary to use what's called a floss threader. This reusable tool allows you to get dental floss underneath your archwire easily. Cut off a long piece of floss and loop it through your threader, run the threader under your archwire between two brackets, and, holding one end of the floss, gently pull the threader off. Loop the ends of the floss around your index fingers, forming a 'C', and gently floss between your teeth as you normally would. Make sure to carefully clean along your gumline on both sides. When finished between two teeth, just pull the floss through, re-thread the floss through the loop, and repeat the process between your next pair of teeth.
The Problems Poor Oral Hygiene Can Cause During Treatment: Good dental hygiene is a very important part of your orthodontic treatment. Without it, food tends to become trapped in and around your braces, encouraging the accumulation of plaque, a colorless film of bacteria. The bacteria in plaque react with the sugars and starches in food and form an acid that can eat away the enamel of your teeth, leading to cavities, tooth scars, puffy gums, and a less than perfect smile. Poor oral hygiene habits may require Dr. Gibson to recommend early removal of braces, and/or costly dental and surgical procedures after the braces are removed. Please take good care of your teeth!
1ST IMPRESSIONS Orthodontics: 303-452-2277
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