The smile ultimately will change and evolve as anyone ages. There is no time when you are able to completely stop taking care of your teeth, because they will constantly be evolving. Your smile changes as you age. Understanding the ways in which your smile will change will allow you to take the appropriate steps to help care for your teeth and keep them in good condition. It is crucial to ensure that you visit your care provider on a regular basis for examinations and to protect the health of your teeth. It may even become necessary to obtain orthodontic treatment as you age and your teeth change.

Wear and Tear

The older your teeth are, the more wear they will ultimately be exposed to. Wear and tear will have a larger impact on your teeth as time goes on. When the enamel layer of your teeth wears down, it will be unable to effectively protect your teeth. You will also be unable to restore the enamel layer after it has worn down. Taking the steps to care appropriately for your teeth will help to minimize wear and tear on your teeth. For example, using fluoride mouthwash can help to remineralize the teeth and prevent the effect of wear and tear on them.

Shifting Teeth

As an individual ages, it is highly likely that their bones will begin to weaken. This is only accelerated when various bones fall out of use. When the upper and lower jaw bones weaken with age, it can cause the teeth to shift. For example, it is extremely common for the bottom teeth to crowd together as the teeth shift. Gaps between the upper teeth are also incredibly common. When the teeth shift, it can lead to an array of additional problems. For example, crooked teeth become much more difficult to clean, which can lead to the accumulation of plaque and bacteria on the teeth. In these situations, it may become necessary to receive high-quality orthodontic treatment to restore your teeth to their previous alignment.

Dry Mouth

As an individual ages, their body will be less capable of efficiently producing saliva. This can lead to an array of problems with the teeth, beyond pure discomfort. When your mouth dries out an excessive amount, it will be less able to flush harmful bacteria and food particles from the surface of the teeth. It will be important to ensure that you drink a lot of water if your body isn’t quite producing enough saliva. This can help to provide the flushing capabilities that your body is no longer capable of doing.

Yellowing of Teeth

The protective enamel layer of the teeth will wear down over time, which will leave the inner dentin layer exposed. This layer is yellow, which means that when it shows through beneath the surface of the enamel layer, the teeth take on a yellow appearance. Teeth whitening procedures are often implemented in order to combat this. However, you should ensure that you regularly visit your dentist to ensure that this is the only problem resulting in the yellowing of your teeth and to devise the ideal solution for this problem. This can go a long way toward protecting your health and the health of your teeth.

Oral Cancer

The risk of oral cancer increases a substantial amount as you age. It is far more likely for an individual to develop oral cancer at this point. Due to this, it is incredibly important to have regular dental visits. This can help to identify the presence of oral cancer in the early stages, when it will be much easier to resolve. It is also important to ensure that you quit smoking or chewing any form of tobacco. These substances will also increase the risk of developing oral cancer. Oral cancer can be incredibly devastating, which is one of the reasons that it is so critical to care for your teeth as you age.

Tooth Loss

Tooth loss is capable of occurring at any point in your life, especially if you aren’t caring appropriately for your teeth. However, the risk of tooth loss tends to be much more common when an individual ages. As the jawbone weakens, it becomes less able to keep the teeth anchored in place. It is crucial to appropriately care for your teeth through any stage in your life. You need to implement a great oral hygiene routine and ensure that you regularly visit your dentist.

Here at Bailey Orthodontics, we offer excellent orthodontic services for individuals of all ages. As an individual ages, it may become necessary to obtain orthodontic treatment, especially if the teeth shift after the jawbone weakens. The appropriate treatment will go a long way toward protecting the health and appearance of the teeth. To learn more about our services and how they can still be implemented for older patients, contact us at Bailey Orthodontics today!

When you have braces, it often becomes much more complicated to clean your teeth. However, it is important to still put the extra effort into keeping your teeth clean and healthy throughout the duration of your orthodontic treatment. Braces are often a process that require around 2 years. 2 years of insufficient oral health care can cause a substantial amount of damage to your teeth. It is important to understand the best methods for cleaning teeth with braces in order to prevent substantial issues with your oral hygiene.

Cleaning Teeth with Braces

It is easy for food particles and plaque to become stuck in the wires and brackets of your braces. Cleaning teeth with braces often requires a bit more work than generally cleaning your teeth. Be prepared to spend extra time on your oral hygiene routine in order to thoroughly remove food particles and protect the health of your smile.  

Brush After Eating

You often need to brush more than twice a day when you have braces. Most experts recommend that you brush after eating to thoroughly remove food particles. The longer food particles remain on the surface of the teeth, the more damage they are likely to cause. When you make a habit of brushing after eating, you will be able to thoroughly remove food particles and prevent damage to your teeth.

Brush Correctly

While it is certainly important to brush your teeth enough, it is also important to ensure that you are brushing them correctly. Use small, gentle circular motions when cleaning teeth with braces. This will help to prevent damage to the appliance while simultaneously removing food particles and plaque from your teeth. Hold your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle in order to reach the spaces of the teeth that aren’t covered by the braces. Brushing your teeth correctly will help to keep them clean and clear of harmful particles.

Floss Daily

It can be tempting to skip flossing when you have braces. After all, how could you possibly floss between your teeth when you have braces on? It is important to carefully thread the strand of floss through the braces before using it to remove food particles from the spaces between the teeth. While it may take longer to floss with braces, it is still incredibly important to ensure that you do so.

Flossing Options

There are many options for flossing that can be particularly useful for individuals with braces. If you are using traditional floss, it will be important to use a long strand of floss. The floss usually has to be around 18 inches in order to sufficiently floss between the teeth. A floss threader is a tool that is often used to reach the spaces beneath the braces. This tool essentially implements small pieces of floss on a small base that enables you to nimbly reach beneath the braces. You may also want to use a water flosser in order to effectively remove food particles from the teeth. A water flosser implements a stream of water to help wash out extra food particles and prevent these particles from causing damage to the teeth.

Visit Us Regularly

It is crucial to visit our office on a regular basis when you have braces. With your regular orthodontic visits, we will be able to identify any problems early on. This will also allow us to identify how effective your oral hygiene routine is for cleaning beneath the braces. We can provide you with excellent guidance regarding the best strategies for cleaning teeth with braces.

Remember to Have Regular Dental Visits

While you have to visit our office for orthodontic visits, it is still incredibly important to visit your dentist regularly. Orthodontic visits are not interchangeable for dental visits. Your dentist will thoroughly clean your teeth and ensure that they remain clean, despite the presence of your braces.

Inspect for Signs of Gingivitis

Gingivitis is incredibly common when you are implementing inadequate oral hygiene. When you notice signs of gingivitis, it is highly likely that you will need to improve your oral hygiene routine. Gingivitis often manifests as red, inflamed gums. They may also bleed whenever you floss. If you notice the signs of gingivitis, you may want to visit your dentist for additional guidance to improve your oral hygiene routine.

Choose the Right Toothbrush

Your prior toothbrush might simply not be up to the task of cleaning teeth with braces. Investing in an electronic toothbrush can go a long way toward more efficiently removing food particles from the surface of the teeth. You can also use a manual toothbrush that has soft bristles and a small head that is capable of reaching spaces between the braces. Certain toothbrushes may have specific heads that are designed primarily for orthodontic purposes.

Gargle with Salt Water

Gargling with salt water can be incredibly useful when you have braces. While this may not need to be a daily addition to your oral hygiene routine, there are certain situations in which it can be particularly beneficial. For example, gargling with salt water immediately after having braces added or following adjustments can help to reduce inflammation and remove bacteria from the mouth. This also is beneficial as it can help to flush out food particles that may become stuck between teeth.

Avoid Sticky Foods

Most individuals need to avoid sticky foods when they have braces. When foods are particularly sticky, they will be more difficult to efficiently remove from the braces and surrounding teeth.

Invisalign

Invisalign is a great option for teeth straightening that provides many additional benefits. For example, the clear aligners are removable, which makes cleaning the teeth a much easier process. It can also be removed when you eat, which eliminates the necessity of avoiding sticky foods.

Our experts at Bailey Orthodontics are dedicated to providing you with the services that you need to improve your oral health while simultaneously straightening your teeth. These tips can help to ensure that your teeth remain clean throughout the duration of your orthodontic treatment. To learn more about how to clean teeth with braces, contact us at Bailey Orthodontics today!

Orthodontic issues can certainly arise while you are at home or even while you are on vacation. However, keep in mind that true orthodontic emergencies are incredibly rare. If you are experiencing these emergencies, such as trauma to the mouth or swallowing part of an orthodontic appliance, you may need to visit the emergency room. These are not situations that can be handled at home and it is important to obtain the appropriate treatment. There are many other issues that can be handled from home until you are able to make it into our office. Here are some tips for handling orthodontic issues at home.

Stuck Food

Food often becomes stuck in between braces. While this is not an orthodontic emergency, it can certainly be frustrating. This issue can be easily resolved when you are at home. You can usually remove the food particle with an orthodontic flosser that will allow you to reach beneath the surface of the braces. However, if you are out and about, you may not have floss available. This doesn’t mean that you have to suffer through the day with food in your teeth. If there is no other alternative, you may be able to remove the food particle by very carefully using a toothpick to move it out from your braces. You should also take care to rinse your mouth with water regularly. This can help to flush out food particles before they become wedged in your braces.

Poking Wire

Braces use wires and rubber bands to guide the teeth back into place. The use of these wires can sometimes result in wires that poke the inside of your cheek. This can be incredibly uncomfortable and difficult to deal with. However, it isn’t too difficult to rectify when you are experiencing a poking wire. First, you will want to gently push the wire out of the way with a clean cotton swab or the eraser end of a pencil. Ensure that you wash anything before you put it in your mouth to prevent a transfer of bacteria. Then, if it is a relatively small piece of wire, you can use dental wax to cover the offending piece.

If the piece of wire poking your mouth is extremely long, you may need to snip the wire to remove the discomfort. This can be done with the use of clean nail clippers. If you have to clip the wire, you will want to schedule repairs with us to ensure that they continue to function.

Cheek or Lip Irritation

Irritation of the cheek or the lips is incredibly common, especially at the beginning of orthodontic treatment. This irritation should go away within a few days as your mouth adjusts to the new braces. There are several methods that you can use to minimize discomfort during this period of adjustment. Rinse your mouth with a saltwater solution to help soothe the discomfort. You may also be able to use dental wax as a barrier to the inside of your mouth, which can prevent an escalation of the irritation.

Loose or Broken Bracket

A bracket may loosen or break for many reasons. You may have bitten down on something hard, which has caused the loosening or gotten hit in the face by a basketball. Whatever the cause, it is important to pay attention to where the bracket has become loose. When the loose bracket is in the back off the mouth, you may be able to resolve the problem by snipping off the excess water. If it is present in the front, you will want to carefully use tweezers to move the loose bracket back into its intended position. You can use your handy dental wax to hold the bracket in place until you are able to obtain repairs.

O-Ring Issues

The O-ring is the small rubber band that is used to help hold the braces in place. Occasionally, this O-ring may pop off of the braces, which can leave a loosened portion. If this happens, you will first want to try to find the O-ring. This is often much easier if you like bright colored bands on your braces. If you can find the O-ring, you will want to ensure that you clean it carefully and use tweezers to attempt to put the O-ring back on. However, if you can’t find it, you will want to contact our office to schedule an appointment to restore it. In the meantime, you can use dental wax in order to prevent any loosened portion of the braces from poking into your mouth until you can get back to our office.

Sensitive Teeth

Sensitive teeth is an extremely common condition as the orthodontic treatment helps to move your teeth back into place. This often results in pain and discomfort. In order to minimize the negative impact of sensitive teeth, you should be careful about what you eat. Sip on cold beverages to help soothe the pain. You may also want to eat primarily soft foods. You can take pain relievers, such as Ibuprofen, in order to reduce your discomfort until the sensitivity lessens.

Lost Aligners

There isn’t really a method for handling lost aligners from your home. When you lose these aligners, Invisalign treatment will stop being effective. It is important to be incredibly careful with your lost aligners. Take extra precautions to ensure that you know where your aligners are at all times. If you have lost your aligner, you will want to contact us as soon as possible to get your orthodontic treatment back on track.

At Bailey Orthodontics, we provide the services that you need to obtain a beautiful, pristine smile. Orthodontic treatment can result in some situations that will be difficult to resolve at home. When you handle orthodontic issues at home, you will be able to protect your comfort in between visits to our office. If you are ever unsure how to handle an orthodontic issue, you should consult with our expert team. To learn more about the best ways to handle an orthodontic issue at home, contact us at Bailey Orthodontics today!