Top Tips for Keeping Orthodontic Appliances Clean
Holiday Sweets Pose Challenge for Keeping Orthodontic Appliances Clean
Maintaining great oral hygiene is extra important during the holiday season, when festive parties often involve sweet treats. This can be a challenge if your child has orthodontic appliances such as braces, aligners, or a palatal expander in place. Don’t worry- Dr. Villasenor and the team at Rise and Shine Pediatric Dentistry have you covered!
Daily routines are the most impactful in keeping teeth clean with appliances. It’s important to understand that brushing and flossing will take more time than usual and that your child will benefit from parental assistance with routines that otherwise may be more independent for them. Also please remember that choosing the tools that work best for your child can increase effectiveness of oral hygiene. Many children find using a Water Flosser (use promo code “Denver” to get Dr. V’s pricing on this one that she uses) or Platypus flossers to be helpful in navigating around appliances. If your child wears aligners, it’s important to avoid drinking anything other than water with trays in. Also remember to clean food off the teeth after eating before replacing trays.
Fluoride treatments are extra helpful to prevent demineralization during treatment with appliances. This is where plaque buildup around appliances causes breakdown of the hard enamel layer of the tooth, causing white spots that can eventually turn into full blown cavities. Demineralization often means permanent scarring even after appliances are removed. Using fluoride toothpaste at home and applying varnish treatments at dental appointments can help fight this.
Be Diligent With Preventative Care
It is important to continue receiving preventive dental care at Rise and Shine Pediatric Dentistry even though your child sees the orthodontist for appointments. Dr. Villasenor and your orthodontist work as a team to make sure teeth and gum tissues stay healthy as your child’s bite and alignment improve. If food or plaque are still getting caught in your child’s teeth despite increased oral hygiene efforts, your child may benefit from an increased frequency of preventive dental visits. For those instances, we suggest visiting every three months instead of every six months.
Give us a call at 303-758-0223 or request an appointment online today so that Rise and Shine Pediatric Dentistry can help your child work towards their healthiest smile!