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Build Stronger Teeth

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Build Stronger Teeth

Everyone knows the basics of good dental care. Brush your teeth after every meal, floss every day, see your dentist at least twice a year. It sounds simple. But what if you still don’t have strong, healthy teeth? Weak enamel can be a genetic weakness, or it can be caused by other conditions, like Celiac disease. I’ve always had weak enamel, so I started looking into ways that I could increase the strength of my teeth, and found that dietary changes could make a big difference. I started this blog to share my experience, and to talk about other ways you can make your teeth stronger and healthier. There are lots of things that you can do to improve your dental health. You just have to find them.

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5 Issues You May Face When Wearing Braces

2 March 2021
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

Getting new braces can seem a bit scary since you do not know what to do about the various problems that can come up. Here are some things to know about dealing with common braces problems. 

The Braces Are Causing Sore Teeth

It is normal for your teeth to feel fairly sore immediately after you have braces installed on your teeth. The best thing that you can do about the pain is to take an over-the-counter pain reliever to help it feel better. The discomfort will eventually go away, so just try to push through it during that first week.

The Bracket Broke

A problem that can happen with your braces is that the brackets may break after they are installed. A common problem that could happen to you is that the hook comes off that holds a rubber band in place. While this does need to be repaired, it is not an emergency that requires immediate attention. Schedule an appointment with your orthodontist and they'll fix the bracket at your earliest convenience. 

The Steel Ligature Hurts

There are these tiny steel ligatures that stick out, which are what holds the wire on the bracket. If you find that the steel ligature is digging into your cheek or gums, this is not a problem you necessarily have to go to the dentist to fix. Try taking the eraser on a regular pencil and pushing the steel ligature so that it is out of the way and not causing you discomfort. This is all it will likely take to change the position of where the metal is pointing. 

The Wire Pokes Out The Back

As your teeth start to move the metal wire is going to poke more out the back of your teeth. If this happens between appointments and starts to annoy you, there is a quick fix that you can try until your next appointment. Put a small piece of dental wax on the back of the wire so that it makes it feel soft to the touch. Your orthodontist can trim the wire during your next appointment so that it does not bother you anymore. 

The Braces Trap Food In Hard To Reach Places

You'll likely notice that food gets stuck in your braces quite easily, making your oral care routine more of a chore to do. Consider buying a water flosser that can help remove debris from your teeth, which will be faster than trying to thread dental floss between the brackets. 

For more information, reach out to a clinic like Reed & Sahlaney Orthodontics, LLP.