5 Signs of Tooth Decay with Braces
Tooth decay with braces can delay your treatment resulting in a more extended period of wearing your braces. That is one of the main reasons brushing and flossing with braces is essential. Knowing the signs of tooth decay and getting it treated quickly can keep your treatment on track.
Knowing The Signs Of Tooth Decay With Braces
The signs of tooth decay with braces are the same as without braces. They can include sensitivity to hot and cold, toothaches, or pain while chewing. It is essential to treat tooth decay because untreated, it can develop into gum disease, infections, abscesses, and even problems with the jaw.
Dark or light spots or a noticeable hole means the decay has reached the inside of the tooth. An infection may also have developed by that time, causing bad breath, swelling, and possibly a bad taste in your mouth.
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Braces make it more challenging to keep your teeth clean, so it becomes more important to be diligent with brushing and flossing. It is also essential to continue seeing your regular dentist during orthodontic treatment. Your dentist can better identify and treat cavities before they progress too far.
What Causes Tooth Decay With Braces?
The causes of tooth decay with braces are also the same as without braces. With the difficulty of cleaning around the brackets and wires, plaque can accelerate tooth decay. Leaving food particles under the archwire, between teeth, or around a bracket will cause decay.
Plaque begins forming in our mouth within 4 to 12 hours of brushing. The sticky, colorless film of bacteria forms when food particles and saliva combine. Plaque combines with sugars and forms an acid. The acid can damage teeth by causing tooth decay, gum disease, and tartar. Other dental problems may also develop.
When plaque remains on the teeth, it can harden and form tartar, also called calculus. Tartar creates a crusty appearance that can cause discoloration and trap stains on the teeth. Tartar can begin developing within 24 hours, making removing plaque more difficult. Tartar can form under the gum line, along the gum line, and around brackets or other orthodontic appliances.
Helping Your Child Or Teen
Your child or teen may need help brushing and flossing when they first get braces. You may have to help them use floss threaders and work around the wires. Although teens will quickly pick up the routine, younger children may have trouble with the process.
Part of helping them is by providing gentle reminders about the importance of brushing and flossing and general care of their appliances. If you have questions or need help, the staff at Smile Style NY will be happy to answer and assist you in any way that they can.
What Happens If You Have Tooth Decay With Braces?
Braces add a lot of hiding spaces in your mouth where bacteria and plaque can have a party. Even when you do the best possible job brushing, flossing, and maintaining a clean mouth, you may still suffer some tooth decay with braces. If that happens, you should see your regular dentist for treatment.
While you have braces, you should schedule regular checkups and cleanings with your dentist. They are accustomed to working with braces and can clean around the brackets and wires. They will also check teeth for any signs of trouble.
Can Your Dentist Treat a Cavity with Braces?
Yes, cavities can be treated while you have braces. It is slightly more complicated but possible. Typically, decay occurs between teeth and around brackets and wires. The dentist may have to remove the archwire or a bracket in some cases. You will need to have an appointment with your orthodontist to have your braces repaired after the filling.
Your dentist will do everything they can to avoid interrupting your orthodontic treatment. The process for treating cavities remains the same with or without braces. The only time there are problems is when the hardware interferes with the ability of the dentist to access the cavity for treatment.
Will Cavities Delay Your Orthodontic Treatment?
In most instances, no, a cavity treatment will not interfere with or extend your braces treatment. If you have an excessive number of cavities requiring removal of your braces, that may add time to your braces treatment.
Your best defense is a good offense. That means a proactive approach to oral hygiene. Brush more—floss more. Take extra care to avoid sugary snacks and drinks. Preventing tooth decay with braces is the best plan.
How Do You Prevent Tooth Decay with Braces?
It takes about 21 days to form a new habit. When you get new braces, it is essential to develop new habits for oral hygiene. Brushing at least twice daily and flossing at least once daily are crucial. Between brushing and flossing, you should form another habit — rinsing with plain water.
When you can’t brush and floss after a meal, using pain water to rinse your mouth will help to remove loose food particles. Your brackets and wires collect small bits of everything you put in your mouth. Leaving it there is the primary cause of tooth decay.
Brushing and Flossing with Braces
Braces contain a lot of tiny spaces where food particles can collect. In addition to brushing and flossing, you should also use interproximal brushes to brush around the brackets under the archwire. There are some tips for brushing and flossing when you have braces:
- Try to brush after every meal.
- If you can’t brush immediately, rinse with water thoroughly.
- Use a floss threader to make flossing easier.
- Use interproximal brushes around your brackets and under the archwire.
- Water flossing devices are helpful if you have one.
- Use non-whitening toothpaste with fluoride.
Proper brushing and flossing will keep your mouth fresh and help you avoid tooth decay with braces. If you need assistance or have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the orthodontic specialists at Smile Style NY.
Smile Style NY Will Keep Your Treatment on Track
Dr. Sharon Eder and the staff of professionals at Smile Style NY are here for you. You may use the Contact Form to ask questions or request a call from our team. We have offices in Yorktown Heights and Mount Kisco, and you may also call them directly at:
Mount Kisco — 914-666-8997
Yorktown Heights — 914-245-3103
New patients can receive a complimentary initial examination.
