You know how important it is to see a dentist twice a year for a professional cleaning. But do you need to visit the dentist when you’re seeing an orthodontist every few weeks for braces treatment?
The answer is a definite YES. It’s just as important to have teeth cleaned with braces as it is without. We will always check your teeth and gums when you visit Fergus Orthodontics for your braces or clear aligners treatment, but you still need the professional dental cleaning that only your dentist can provide.
Why do you need to visit the dentist when you see an orthodontist every few weeks? Here are some ways dental visits can keep your teeth healthy and your treatment on track while you’re in braces or Invisalign.
Should I Go to the Dentist With Braces or Invisalign?
Can you even go to the dentist with braces on your teeth? Is it safe to visit the dentist while in Invisalign treatment? Visiting the dentist won’t hurt or delay your treatment, but not visiting might.
We’ll always alert you if we spot any problems, but a dentist may spot problems more easily because they’re looking more closely for cavities, gum disease, and other issues. Their examinations are specifically for those issues.
Why Visiting the Dentist for Teeth Cleaning Matters
Professional dental cleanings can help protect your teeth and gums from cavities, gingivitis, and enamel demineralization that can leave white spots on teeth after braces.
Your dentist can find and remove plaque and tartar buildup around your teeth, gums, and braces. This will help prevent gum disease and tooth decay that can slow your treatment.
How do these slow down your treatment? Depending on the issue, we may need to remove part of your braces so cavities can be filled or teeth repaired. This could delay your treatment, depending on how long you have to go without all your braces.
Your dentist can also let you know if other treatments may help. Do you need a fluoride treatment for weakened enamel? Are your brushing and flossing techniques effective enough, or would it help to use additional tools, such as a proxabrush or a water flosser?
Your orthodontist helps straighten your teeth and correct your bite. Your dentist will keep your mouth healthy during the process.
How Does a Dentist Clean With Braces?
Can a dentist clean teeth with braces? It’s difficult enough for you to get around all those wires and brackets, right? Don’t worry! Your dentist will have many specialized tools available to clean your teeth and gums easily, with or without braces.
Your dentist will also check for any tartar or plaque buildup around your braces brackets. That way, you’ll know if your teeth-cleaning methods at home are effective. If not, they’ll be able to show you ways to brush teeth better with braces.
How Often Should I See a Dentist While in Braces?
Does all this mean that you’ll have to see your dentist as often as you see your orthodontist? No, it doesn’t. For most patients, visiting the dentist twice a year is still enough, even with braces.
In a few cases, patients who seem to be prone to cavities, tooth decay, or gum disease may need to visit the dentist more often, up to 3-4 times a year, while in braces. Your dentist will let you know if that’s the case for you.
Most of the time, though, the same semi-annual checkups you have when not in braces will be enough when you are in braces.
Best Tips for Cleaning Teeth With Braces Between Dental Visits
The best way to make dental visits easier is to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy between visits. Here are some tips to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy between dental visits.
- Use a soft-headed toothbrush
- Brush at a 45º angle with light pressure — pushing too hard could wear down enamel and irritate your gums
- Use a fluoride toothpaste
- Don’t eat or drink anything for 30 minutes after brushing to allow the fluoride to reach its maximum strength to protect your enamel
- Rinse your mouth after meals, preferably with fluoridated tapwater
- Floss before brushing so you can brush away any excess plaque and food particles
- Use a floss threader to get around wires and brackets
- Use a proximal brush around brackets and between teeth for extra scrubbing power
- Use a water flosser around brackets and between teeth, but only in addition to floss, not as a substitution
What if you’re using Invisalign? It may seem much easier to keep teeth clean with clear aligners, but there are things to remember about oral hygiene and clear aligners.
- Rinse your trays with plain water after removing them and before replacing them
- Soak your clear aligners at least once a day using cleaning tablets dissolved in water
- If you don’t have tablets, you can use baking soda or vinegar dissolved in water
- Avoid toothpaste or “scrubbing” denture cleanser because the microabrasives in them will make your clear aligners cloudy
FAQs About Dentists and Braces
Do you have more questions about dental visits with braces? Here are a few common questions that we get at Fergus Orthodontics.
Doesn’t the orthodontist clean my teeth?
When you visit us, our main objective is to check your braces or clear aligners and ensure they’re doing their jobs. We’ll also make any necessary repairs, change out elastics if you have them, and move you to the next phase of your treatment. Your dentist concentrates on cleanings and ensuring your teeth and gums are healthy and strong. You need to visit us both throughout your treatment for the best results.
Can a dentist clean around my braces without hurting them?
Absolutely. Dentists clean teeth with braces all the time. They have special tools to make it easier to get around brackets and wires. Your braces will be perfectly safe.
How often should I see the dentist during orthodontic treatment?
You should visit your dentist just as you usually would, every six months. Your dentist will let you know if you need to see them more frequently.
Can I skip the dentist during orthodontic treatment since I’m visiting an orthodontist regularly?
Without dental visits, you could have tartar buildup around your gum line and around your braces brackets. Bacteria can demineralize your enamel, leading to permanent white spots that may need a< href=”https://www.fergusortho.com/treatment/teeth-whitening-braces/”>teeth whitening</a> to be less visible. Dental visits are vital during treatment.
Orthodontic Treatment in Jonesboro, AR
Visiting the dentist twice a year during braces treatment is just as important as at any other time. What’s the point of getting a straight smile if it’s not a healthy one, too? Your dentist will help ensure your smile is healthy.
If you’re ready to start treatment with braces or Invisalign in Jonesboro, AR, schedule an appointment with Fergus Orthodontics!
