Fixing Problems With Your Teen’s Braces

If your teen or tween has brand-new braces, they may be experiencing more than a bit of discomfort. Orthodontics promise a better future, but living with teen’s braces in the present can present problems.  Today, we’re sharing parenting tips on DIY solutions that may ease your child’s discomfort from braces.

 

 

teen's braces

 

 

What are orthodontic braces

First, wire-based dental braces are utilized to correct misaligned teeth.  They are typically installed during the tween or teen years.  Furthermore, dental braces may also be used to ease an uneven bite into proper position, explains Mayo Clinic. Additionally, orthodontics may be employed to eliminate gaps between teeth or move too-crowded teeth farther apart.

Adults can take advantage of dental orthotics, but the straightening process may require more time for persons with mature jawbones and teeth.

Kids will be kids, and things will happen to their dental apparatus.  In most cases, a broken orthodontic device is not an emergency.  However, you’ll want to deal with it as soon as possible per a Wisconsin dentist.  Contact your orthodontist during normal business hours and tell them what happened.  Second

When braces are new

Second, brand-new braces can be quite irritating.  Soft food are recommended during the first few weeks of wearing braces. For example, mac and cheese are good foods for this breaking-in period.  Additionally, soups and stews and scrambled eggs.  Just be sure to give the mouth a good cleaning after eating.  Your orthodontist may suggest over the counter pain medication such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.  Be sure to let your doctor know of any medicines your child may be allergic to.

A topical anesthetic like Orajel or Orabase can alleviate mouth sores associated with braces. Reapply the medicine as directed.  Your dentist may provide a special ‘relief wax’ that can be applied to the part of braces that is causing irritation. If this wax is not available, ask about an alternative. The point is to maintain a small buffer between braces and tender mouth parts until the patient gets used to wearing braces.

Causes of broken brackets

With a teen’s braces, a number of mishaps may result in broken braces brackets. Among the commonest are sports injury, too-vigorous tooth brushing, and eating the wrong sort of foods.  Flossing and tooth picking the wrong way can also cause damage to orthodontic devices, say the makers of Colgate toothpaste.

If you need to find a local dentist who can repair broken braces or make ill-fitting braces more comfortable, Emergency Dentists USA can help you. They can assist in finding a dentist who accepts payment plans, too.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of foods that someone wearing braces can enjoy without damaging their dental device.  However, popcorn, hard taco shells, pretzels, and hard corn chips are not among them. Neither are sticky candy, ice cubes, or chewing gum. Wearers of braces must be extra diligent about keeping food particles out of their dental work. Good foods to enjoy while wearing braces include fruity yogurt, melons, grapes, and pasta dishes.

DIY braces fixes

Check to see if the wires are still attached to the bracket if any are broken. If attached, gently press the wire back into place with a soft cotton swab.  Relief wax used to prevent pain in new braces may be employed to hold a loose wire in place.  Snip wires that are too long with a pair of sharp nail clippers.  However, clip as close as you can to the side that touches the teeth.  Additionally, press pieces of wire that are too into place with a soft cloth or swab. Cover the wire with a small ball of relief wax.  Of course, these are temporary repairs for your teen’s braces.  See your dentist as soon as problems occur.

Food stuck behind braces can feel terrible.  So, keep minty dental floss on hand and use it to remove stuck food particles.  Also,  in lieu of floss use a toothpick.  But, be careful not to break it.

Finally, a teen’s braces and orthodontics can be challenging to any parent.  Fortunately, the relatively small amount of time spent wearing braces can provide a lifetime of happy smiles.

 

 

Teach Your Family the Importance of Oral Hygiene

 

oral hygiene

 

Even people who say they’re really picky about oral hygiene might be making loads of mistakes in their daily routine. Taking proper care of your teeth and gums is essential.  Make sure you’re not making mistakes! This guide will help you achieve better oral hygiene health habits.

There’s plaque on your teeth right now

Unless you literally just brushed your teeth, there’s a dangerous biofilm on them right now. It’s often very thin, translucent, and filled with bacteria. It’s at the front of your teeth, at the back, to the sides, and even under the gums. It might sound like I’m describing some monstrous goo from some straight-to-DVD horror movie. But I’m actually referring to plaque!

Plaque develops and builds up around your teeth all day.  And it’s there, even if you’re convinced it isn’t. A lot of people may skip brushing sometimes because their teeth feel clean. They might swig some mouthwash just to get a minty flavor in there, but that’ll be it. Big mistake! Plaque is on your teeth right now, and you’ll have to brush your teeth before going to bed if you don’t want damage to occur! Not doing so can cause long-term problems to your overall health.

 

oral hygiene

 

Seriously, floss

A good and thorough floss at least once a day is the only way to get rid of all that plaque. Unfortunately, not everyone who brushes their teeth thoroughly bothers to floss as well. Thankfully, things have been getting better in recent years. Perhaps a decade ago, it was estimated that less than half of Americans flossed daily. In recent years, the statistics are looking much better. But the statistics still aren’t perfect. (Seriously, less than half of men brush their teeth twice a day? Come on, guys! Not that women are much better at 56.8%…)

Trust me, dentists can tell almost immediately if you’re someone who doesn’t floss. If you’re not flossing, then you’re allowing a lot of damage to occur to your mouth. The materials that floss removes have a habit of getting really old and making their way into your bloodstream. This is basically akin to allowing out-of-date food getting into your system, bit by bit. Over the years, this can cause serious health problems. Seriously: the research out there is linking a lack of flossing to severe heart disease.

 

oral hygiene

 

Dealing with problems when they occur

The problem that a lot of people have is that they tend to ignore problems when they occur. This, of course, is extremely foolish. The longer you allow oral problems to linger, the worse they’ll get.

And they can escalate into a pretty nasty territory quickly. One of the most ignored problems is the presence of blood when you brush your teeth. People may assume that they’re brushing their teeth too hard – and that could indeed be the case. But it could be that gum disease is present, which is causing you to bleed even when brushing gently.

Another problem that people often allow to go untreated is chronic dry mouth. They may think that they simply need to drink more water. Which, of course, is something you should probably be doing! But it could also be the result of a specific oral problem. Get it seen quickly, because bacteria grows faster in a dry mouth! Sometimes, people let issues that have already turned into a bad situation to get even worse! This is often because people don’t know how to deal with emergency matters. Let’s say you have a root canal emergency. Don’t just assume you can’t get help just because 911 doesn’t include dental services!  There are 24 hour dental services.

Getting a little too enthusiastic about cleanliness

Don’t let this article scare you into brushing and flossing too hard. This is actually a lot more common than you might think.  After all, there’s a lot of plaque on and around your teeth at any given time, right?

Seriously, don’t fall into that line of thinking. It’s completely possible to brush your teeth too hard. And the effects can be pretty devastating. It can actually lead to some of the decay issues you’re trying to prevent.

You may also cause gum erosion. I’d include pictures of that here, but… trust me, you really don’t want to see them! Your dentist may be able to tell if you’re brushing or flossing too hard. Be careful going forward, because it’s easier than you think to apply too much force.

Sonic Triple Bristle Toothbrush Review

sonic-triple-bristle-toothbrush

 

This post contains affiliate links.  If a purchase is made, I made be compensated.  I was offered this Sonic Triple Bristle Toothbrush at a discount in exchange for an honest review.

This is my second Sonic toothbrush.  I’ve had my first for several years, so I happy to accept the offer for the Sonic Triple Bristle Toothbrush.  This particular brush has a triple head, which I have never seen before.  Furthermore, it has a 30 day guarantee.  The manufacturer guarantees that you will see a vast improvement in your dental health.  Your teeth will be whiter and your gums healthier.  If not, you can return the product for a full refund.  This includes shipping.  Now that’s an incentive to try this toothbrush.  So, I did!

The toothbrush comes with a charger.  It take approximately 24 hours to fully charge, so be patient.  Once charged, simply keep the toothbrush in the base when not in use.

Now for the toothbrush and use.  I switched from a manual to an electric brush years ago, and I’ve never looked back.  I personally think that you get a better cleaning and healthier gums with an electric tooth brush.  My cleanings are a breeze now when I go to the dentist.  I truly believe that it is a result of using an electric toothbrush.

The Sonic Triple Bristle brush comes with 3 brushing modes:

High – Recommended after 2 weeks of use on the low setting.

Low – Recommended the first 2 weeks of use.

Massage – Recommended for those who like a pulsating massage, which is my favorite setting.

 

recommended toothbrushes

 

 

You may have bleeding gums if you don’t use an electric toothbrush regularly.  I would suggest calling your dentist if you are still having problems after 2 weeks for guidance.

Using this brush takes some getting use to since it has 3 heads.  You must place your toothpaste between the 3 heads. The brush is easy to move along your gums.  I recommend brushing your teeth for at least 2 minutes or more.

Furthermore, the Sonic Triple Bristle Toothbrush is perfect for those with dental implants and other dental work.  It is being promoted for its ability to remove plague and bacteria from the gum line without scratching or damaging the teeth.

The brush is easy to clean with a damp cloth.  I unplug mine before cleaning.  I love my original Sonic and I will held on to it.  However, I think my new brush will be the replacement once I use up all of my  cleaning heads for my original Sonic.

Last, I recommend the Triple Bristle Rechargeable Sonic Toothbrush  for a better at home cleaning.