Orthodontic appliance and oral hygiene

Braces are often used in orthodontic treatment. Orthodontic treatment takes a long time and therefore requires a great deal of discipline on the part of the patient. He has to put a lot of effort, among others in taking care of dental hygiene. It should be remembered that for orthodontic treatment to be effective, the braces alone are not enough, it is also necessary to follow clearly defined rules.

What are the indications for installing an orthodontic appliance?

The indications for orthodontic treatment are malocclusion and dental defects. Malocclusion means irregularities in the position of the lower jaw in relation to the upper jaw. It should be distinguished here:

1. posterior defects, i.e. the withdrawal of the mandible or teeth back;
2. frontal defects, which means protrusion of the jaw or teeth to the front.

In the case of dental defects, we distinguish here:

1. crowding of teeth;
2. incorrect positioning of the teeth in the dental arch;
3. too many teeth in the dental arch;
4. different time of tooth eruption;
5. tooth rotation about its own axis.

Problems with various malocclusions affect both children and adults. They can be corrected with orthodontic treatment, but its length is influenced by many factors:

1. patient’s age – it is much easier to achieve the desired effect in younger people;
2. type of defect – the more complex the defect, the longer it takes to heal;
3. behavior and cooperation of the patient – the patient should perform frequent checks and wear the device for a long time.

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What are the types of braces?

There are two types of braces among orthodontic appliances:

1. removable appliances – their other name is a removable appliance, which the patient can pull out of his mouth. It consists of wire elements and an acrylic plate in which the orthodontic screw is inserted;
2. fixed appliances – this appliance is made of wires with a diameter of 0,8 to 1,1 mm, locks and screws, which are permanently attached to the teeth.

In either case, the braces are designed to exert a small but steady force to gently and gradually move the teeth into place. The amount of force exerted varies during the course of treatment according to the progress of the treatment.

Check: Malocclusion that can be corrected by an orthodontic appliance

What do you need to thoroughly clean the mouth of people with braces?

After the orthodontic appliance is in place, the orthodontist should explain to the patient how to properly care for oral hygiene. Initially, cleaning your teeth may take longer than usual, and it is essential to have the appropriate “kit” needed when cleaning your teeth with an orthodontic appliance. This set should definitely include:

1. two toothbrushes – one traditional toothbrush with a special cavity that will help clean the braces, while the other is a special pointed toothbrush that helps to clean hard-to-reach spaces;
2. cleaners – necessary for cleaning locks and places under the wire of the dental apparatus;
3. toothpaste – any fluoride paste;
4. mouthwash – helps to get rid of, for example, plaque.

What does oral hygiene look like in the case of a removable appliance?

The basis of oral hygiene in the case of a removable appliance is thorough brushing of teeth twice a day. It is also worth using toothpaste and mouth rinses. If any irritation occurs due to the apparatus, use a gel with lidocaine. Sage or chamomile rinses can also help.

Each time you take the apparatus out of your mouth, remember to rinse it thoroughly under running water and to wash it with a toothpaste using a brush. In this way, we remove the sediment formed on the apparatus. After thorough cleaning, place the camera in a special container that will ensure air circulation.

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What does oral hygiene look like in the case of fixed appliances?

Fixed braces are attached directly to the enamel. All its elements holding the locks in place and the wire make plaque build up faster and accumulate more easily. Due to the camera, its exact removal is quite a challenge.

People with braces should therefore perform many daily hygiene procedures, such as:

1. brushing – brushing must be performed with the use of special brushes with appropriately profiled bristles. Such brushes have two lengths of bristles:
2. shorter – shorter bristles are located along the brush head;
3. longer – longer bristles are located on the edges of the brush.
4. shorter – shorter bristles are located along the brush head;
5. longer – longer bristles are located on the edges of the brush.

Proper profiling of the bristles allows longer bristles to contact the enamel. In turn, the shorter hairs gently clean the camera itself. Additionally, you can use special single-tuft or so-called brushes. spindles that will make brushing even more effective. These brushes are very flexible and flexible, thanks to which the cleaning of the teeth is even more thorough, because thanks to the special tips, they reach the most difficult-to-reach places;

1. flossing – cleaning the interdental spaces is an important element of caring for the hygiene of the teeth with an orthodontic appliance in place. Remember to floss only after the teeth have been thoroughly washed with a toothbrush. However, the thread must consist of three components:

1. a rigid short section that allows the thread to pass under the arch of the apparatus;
2. a fluffy part that cleans the surfaces of the teeth and brackets of the braces;
3. the longest waxed part that removes dirt from the side surfaces of the teeth;

1. irrigator – irrigators are devices that clean the teeth from contamination with a thin stream of water. Irrigators make it possible to thoroughly clean even very hard-to-reach places, which would not be possible using only a brush. Moreover, this solution does not damage the components of the orthodontic appliance;
2. rinses – in people undergoing orthodontic treatment with a fixed appliance, you may notice more than normal plaque build-up. Therefore, it is recommended to use mouth rinses during treatment, which will reduce the amount of plaque and thus reduce the growth of pathogenic bacteria.

It should be remembered that treatment with an orthodontic appliance usually takes quite a long time and requires a lot of patience and commitment from the patient. The above-mentioned hygiene activities are to help achieve the desired effect, i.e. not only a beautiful but also a healthy smile.

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How often should I brush my teeth with an orthodontic appliance in place?

After putting on the orthodontic appliance, the orthodontist should inform us not only about the care of hygiene, but also about how often the teeth should be thoroughly cleaned. It is worth knowing that the lack of proper hygiene can lead to complications, but by thoroughly cleaning the teeth, we can shorten the treatment and remove the braces faster. To do this, you need to brush your teeth:

1. in the morning before breakfast – cleaning your teeth immediately after waking up is a must. In this way, we will get rid of the plaque accumulated overnight, but cleaning the teeth should not take less than 4 minutes;
2. after breakfast to get rid of any food particles after breakfast. It may be shorter;
3. when you return home, to remove food leftovers and plaque build-up during the day. The oral cavity should be cleaned for a minimum of 4 minutes;
4. after dinner;
5. right before going to bed – this stage of cleaning must be very thorough and it is worth devoting a lot of attention and time to it. It is imperative to use a floss that will help to thoroughly clean the interdental spaces.

What are the consequences of improper hygiene when wearing an orthodontic appliance?

It should be remembered that proper oral hygiene is a very important element of the entire orthodontic treatment process. Neglecting this element in the entire process may result in:

1. gingival congestion;
2. symptoms of gingivitis;
3. the appearance of discoloration;
4. the difference in the color of the tooth;
5. soft tissue damage;
6. extension of treatment.

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