How to Keep Teeth Clean While Wearing Braces
Many patients who get braces for the first time have many questions on how to maintain proper oral health. Questions such as: How do I keep my teeth clean? Do I just use a normal toothbrush? How can I floss if I have braces?
Watch the tutorial video below to understand exactly how you can keep your mouth in top shape during your orthodontic treatment. In order to keep teeth clean while wearing braces, you must maintain a regular cleaning schedule and make your teeth a top priority.
Many patients make the mistake of not spending enough time re-learning how to brush or floss, but with this tutorial video on how to clean teeth while wearing braces, your oral health can remain in the best condition for the day when your braces are removed to reveal a stunning, straight, and healthy smile!
What to Expect at Your First Appointment at HGS Ortho
At HGS Ortho we are dedicated to ensuring that every visit to our Vancouver orthodontist office is as comfortable and safe as possible. We understand that many of our new patients may be nervous or anxious about their first orthodontist visit. To ease your mind, we’ve created a breakdown of what you can expect for your first appointment.
After first filling out mandatory new patient forms, your orthodontist will carefully examine your teeth in order to determine prospective treatment solutions. Typically, you will need photographs, X-rays and models for a final analysis and orthodontics plan.
On your first visit, it’s a good idea to have the following questions in mind:
- Do I have any orthodontic problems with my teeth?
- If so, what are these problems?
- What should I do in order to correct these problems?
- Will I need to extract any teeth?
- When should I begin my orthodontic treatment?
- What will my teeth look like at the end of treatment?
- How much money will orthodontics cost?
- Do I have any payment plans or insurance available?
- What if I do not undergo orthodontic treatment?
After your teeth have been analyzed, it is always a good idea to discuss with your orthodontist the treatment plan in more detail. This may require a second consultation appointment. If your orthodontic treatment plan sounds like a good idea, you can schedule an appointment right away.
Contact us today to schedule your first orthodontic consultation at HGS Ortho.
Read MoreWhat are Retainers?
Tooth realignment is a complicated and long process. The initial procedure is the installation of braces to accomplish the actual realigning of a patient’s teeth. These braces are worn for an amount of time determined by your Port Coquitlam orthodontist on a case by case basis. After the braces, HGS Ortho will require or recommend the use of retainers. Retainers are plastic molds of the roof of your mouth with wires attached to them that go around your newly aligned teeth. But what do retainers do and why are they still necessary after you’ve had braces for such a long time already?
First and foremost, a retainer can be used for different purposes apart from just wearing them after you’ve had braces. Having said that, the retainer is used after your braces have been taken out. This is a way for the teeth to stay in their new alignment as the soft tissues like the gums adjust to the new placement of your teeth and fix them into place. If you’re required to use retainers, you’ll typically have to wear them at night before you go to bed. In some cases you might also have to wear retainers in the morning.
In other cases, retainers can also help correct tooth grinding, manage and resolve speech conditions, and alleviate tongue thrusting, which occurs when a person’s tongue goes in between their teeth when they talk. Your dentist or Richmond orthodontist is the best person to tell if retainers will work for your condition.
On average, a person needs to wear their retainers for a couple of months. While it may seem like a long time, it’s a better alternative than having your teeth go back to their previously misaligned positions. A trip to the orthodontist’s office at HGS Ortho will be able give you an accurate assessment as to how long you may need retainers and how to take care of your teeth afterwards. Contact us today!
Read MoreHappy Halloween from your Port Coquitlam and Richmond Orthodontists!
Happy Halloween from HGS Ortho! We hope you have a wonderful time Trick or Treat-ing tomorrow night!
We know you’ll be enjoying your Halloween candy for a couple weeks to come, so we thought we’d take this time to remind you to floss and brush daily to keep those cavities at bay.
Please contact us HGS Ortho if you have any questions about oral health, cavities, or anything else, or if you would like to book an appointment.
Read MoreWhat’s the Difference between Braces, Functional Appliances and Retainers?
If you’ve ever wondered about the difference between braces, oral functional appliances and retainers, here’s a handy at-a-glance guide brought to you by the team at HGS Ortho in Richmond and Port Coquitlam that highlights what braces, functional appliances and retainers have to offer you.
What do they do?
Braces: Shift teeth into the correct position by exerting gentle pressure
Functional Appliances: Shift teeth and align the jaws using the muscle action produced when speaking, chewing and swallowing
Retainers: Stabilize the teeth so that the surrounding soft and hard tissues can conform to the new dental alignment
When are they used?
Braces: Are effective at all ages for correcting bite issues and crooked teeth
Functional Appliances: Typically for patients ages 7-13 with overbites and closed bites
Retainers: Can be used at any age, after orthodontic treatment or simply if teeth have misaligned again and require minor correction
What are the results?
Braces: A fantastic new smile that’s straight and correctly aligned
Functional Appliances: Improved bite, improved chewing ability and less wear on the teeth
Retainers: A post-orthodontic-treatment smile that will last for decades
Your orthodontic specialist can determine which oral appliance or combination of appliances is appropriate for you. Contact HGS Ortho in Richmond and Port Coquitlam to book an appointment.
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