Your Child’s Orthodontist Is Not Their Dentist
02/13/2017
Do you have a child in braces? If so, you are probably making frequent trips to the orthodontics for adjustments and checkups. While it may be inconvenient or seem unnecessary to still attend your routine cleanings with your dentist, it is very important. Seeing your orthodontist should never be a substitute for seeing your dentist. Only your dentist is trained and responsible for detecting dental problems and providing a professional cleaning every six months. Not only is preventive dental care necessary during orthodontic treatment, it is actually more important than when your child didn’t have braces.
It should come to no surprise that the presence of brackets, bands and wires across your teeth make them more difficult to keep clean, yet easier for food to get trapped. This is the primary reason why dental care during orthodontic treatment is strongly encouraged. Here are some common dental concerns that your dentist will look out for if you are wearing braces:
- Plaque and Tartar Buildup Braces or other orthodontic appliances create tiny spaces where food debris and bacteria can accumulate over time. This means that plaque has an open invitation to form around the brackets and bands. If left alone, plaque turns to tartar, a harder substance that only a professional dental cleaning can remove. Hardened plaque along the gum line is a prime target for gum disease.
- Swollen Gums Does your child or teen have gums that are more red or swollen while in braces? This can actually be the first stage of gum disease, or gingivitis. Again, this is an indication that brushing and flossing efforts are not getting the job done and plaque is building up along the gums and in between the teeth.
- Decalcification This can be a major aesthetic concern that patients notice when their braces come off. Decalcification causes white spots on the teeth, due to the calcium loss that occurs when plaque stays on the tooth enamel.
- Cavities If you’ve neglected routine dental care and a cavity become big enough that it needs prompt repair, you will need to have the bracket or band removed first. Not only is this inconvenient, but it can lengthen your time in braces. With proper oral hygiene and routine dental cleanings, cavities are absolutely preventable during orthodontic treatment.
It is important to remember why you are in braces to begin with. A straight, beautiful smile should await you when you get your braces removed. Don’t make the mistake of skipping or neglecting your routine checkups with your dentist in your quest for a more confident smile. The health of your teeth and gums always come first.