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How To Cure Tooth Decay?

To cure tooth decay, it is important to understand the stages of tooth decay and its causes. According to Dr. Steven Lin, a dentist, the first step to curing tooth decay is understanding how bacteria cause it. The second step is preparation to reverse and cure tooth decay, and the third step is following a protocol to cure tooth decay. The protocol includes eating a nutrient-dense diet, remineralizing teeth with specific supplements, and providing proper oral hygiene to promote a healthy oral microbiome.

It is important to note that the treatment for tooth decay depends on the stage it’s in. Some examples of potential treatments include fluoride treatments, fillings, and root canals. Fluoride treatments may be liquid, gel, foam, or varnish that’s brushed onto your teeth or placed in a small tray that fits over your teeth. Fillings, also called restorations, are the main treatment option when decay has progressed beyond the earliest stage.

In addition to professional treatments, there are steps that you can take to prevent tooth decay, including brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing at least twice a day, limiting sugary and starchy foods, and avoiding snacking or drinking between meals. Drinking fluorinated water and using a fluoride mouth rinse can also help prevent tooth decay.

It is important to note that home remedies, such as oil pulling, licorice lollipops, and chewing gum, have not been proven to cure existing cavities, and may not be effective in preventing tooth decay.

How Crucial Replacing Teeth?

Replacing missing teeth is crucial not only for aesthetic purposes but also for maintaining good oral health and overall health. When teeth are missing, it can become difficult to chew food and speak clearly, and the area around the mouth may sag. Missing teeth can also cause other teeth to tilt or move out of place, and can lead to bone loss and changes in chewing patterns. Furthermore, missing teeth can lead to other health conditions if left untreated. Therefore, it is critical to replace missing teeth to maintain good oral health and overall health. When you lose a tooth, it can be tempting to leave the space empty. This is called a “tooth vacancy” and it can lead to other problems in your mouth. For example, when teeth are missing, it becomes difficult to chew food and speak clearly. The area around the mouth may sag as well.

To replace missing teeth, you may need to undergo several procedures. The first step is an evaluation by a dentist or oral surgeon. This will help determine the extent of damage and whether additional treatments are necessary before replacing the missing tooth.

Replacement options include dentures, bridges and implants. Dentures are removable appliances that fit over the gums and other teeth. They can be made of a variety of materials, including acrylic resin or metal alloys. include dentures, bridges and implants. Dentures are removable appliances that fit over the gums and other teeth. They can be made of a variety of materials, including acrylic resin or metal alloys. To replace missing teeth, you may need to undergo several procedures. The first step is an evaluation by a dentist or oral surgeon. This will help determine the extent of damage and whether additional treatments are necessary before replacing the missing tooth

When you lose a tooth, the first thing to do is visit your dentist. A missing tooth can cause other teeth in the mouth to shift out of place and may lead to bone loss around the jaw. The longer you wait to replace missing teeth, the more difficult it will be for your dentist to restore their original position.

The Medical Benefits of Braces

Braces have become a common treatment for both teenagers and adults who want a straighter, more beautiful looking smile. A pretty smile is nice, but there are also medical benefits of braces, some of which may surprise you.

Medical Benefits of Braces

Improved bite

While one of the goals of getting braces is to correct crooked teeth, they are also used to correct poorly aligned bites. A “bite” is the dental term that explains how your upper and lower teeth fit together. When you have gaps in your bite from missing teeth or poorly aligned teeth, it can impact your ability to break food down, a critical part of healthy digestion. A poorly aligned bite can impact one’s ability to chew properly and even to eat.

If left untreated, a misaligned bite can become painful as your jaw has to work harder to chew; which can result in lock jaw, TMJ disorder, and jaw pain related headaches, all of which may require complicated dental and medical treatment.

Improved Alignment of the Jaw

Overcrowded teeth or jaw misalignment can cause some speech impediments. The good news is orthodontic treatment can address both jaw and palate alignment that cause the speech impediments.  As a part of the orthodontic treatment, an expander may need to be used to widen the palate before braces are applied

An expansion in your palate can also result in better breathing, less snoring, and potentially improved ear and sinus issues that are a result of jaw misalignment as well. In fact, proper jaw alignment can change the way you look by bringing your face into proper proportions.

Better Oral Care Habits

When you have crowded and misaligned teeth, they are harder to clean. Parts of the tooth may be hiding behind another tooth, making proper brushing and flossing almost impossible.  When teeth can’t be properly cleaned, bacteria can build up, and this bacteria leads to gum disease and cavities. By straightening crowded teeth, brushing and flossing should be naturally improved.

Good oral care habits include brushing twice a day, using mouthwash and flossing daily. For those with braces,  the need for  good oral care becomes even more important to prevent bad breath, gum disease, and staining of teeth. With braces, extra care needs to be taken to properly brush and floss between and around the brackets and wires. This can create new habits that, along with more regular visits to the dentist, will result in better habits that will last a lifetime.

More Confidence

Confidence is shown to lead to more overall success in life. When people hide their smile due to embarrassment, they are less likely to take the risks required to go after a top job or to ask for a promotion. When a person is no longer embarrassed by their smile, they naturally feel more confidence which is reported to lead to leads to more happiness, greater productivity, less social anxiety and ultimately better health.

Foods you can and can’t eat with braces

Getting braces is an extremely exciting time but adjusting to the changes associated with wearing your appliance can be difficult. Braces are only effective when you care for them properly, which means some types of food should be avoided throughout the duration of your treatment. This will help you achieve the best results in the shortest time possible.

What happens if you eat the wrong foods?

Eating the wrong foods can cause some discomfort and put you at risk of breaking your brackets or wires which will require unscheduled trips to your orthodontist and may increase your treatment time.

Additionally, if you frequently eat foods that can get stuck in your braces or are high in sugar content you will create an environment that encourages plaque and bacteria to thrive which may cause lasting damage to your teeth.

Foods to eat with braces

The best foods to eat with braces are low in sugar and do not require excessive chewing. This includes…

  • Bread
  • Mashed potatoes
  • Soup
  • Cheese
  • Pancakes
  • Puddings
  • Rice
  • Pasta

Foods for first week of braces

It’s normal to feel some discomfort during the first week of getting braces as your mouth adjusts to the new appliance. During this time, you should eat soft foods such as yoghurt, boiled vegetables, stewed fruit and thin soups to avoid putting additional pressure on your brackets.

Foods to avoid with braces

Anyone who wears fixed braces should avoid excessive snacking and should aim to eat a healthy and balanced diet. Foods to avoid with braces include…

  • Chewy foods such as hard rolls and liquorice
  • Crunchy foods such as chips and popcorn
  • Sticky foods such as caramel, bubble gum and snickers
  • Hard food such as nuts and pretzels
  • Sugary foods such as lollies
  • Foods that you need to bite into forcefully such as apples, raw carrots and corn

Can you eat chocolate?

Yes, you can eat chocolate with braces. However, this must be done in moderation, due to the high sugar content of chocolate. When you can, try to reach for dark chocolate, instead of milk chocolate varieties.

Can you eat pizza?

Pizza lovers can still enjoy their favourite food. But they should be careful when eating the crust because it requires a lot of chewing which is not good for your braces.

Can you eat chips?

Whether you like hot potato chips or thin crisps from the packet, you don’t have to give up chips when you get braces.

Can you eat with wax on your braces?

Orthodontic wax is non-toxic and safe for consumption. It’s made for you to put in your mouth so you can definitely eat while it is applied.

Considerations for eating with braces

Regardless of what types of foods you eat with braces, it is important to keep the crevices between the teeth and around the braces very clean. That means brushing and flossing after meals to prevent the build-up of plaque and decay. Not only can failing to do so damage the teeth and gums, but it can also cause discolouration which can last a lifetime.

If you’re wanting to ensure the best results from your orthodontic treatment it is very important that you follow the advice about safe foods for braces that is set out above and ask your orthodontist if you have any questions about your specific treatment.

Caring for braces

Whether you wear metal braces, ceramic braces or lingual braces, you need to know how to look after them. If you take care of your braces properly, it’ll make them much more comfortable and effective, meaning you’re a step closer to the perfect smile each day!

So what can you be doing to make sure you’re keeping your oral health in check while you’re wearing braces?

Perfect your brushing technique

Brushing is important whether or not you wear braces, but it becomes especially important when you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment. When you wear braces, it’s much easier for pesky pieces of food and plaque to get trapped in the brackets and cause problems, so you should use a toothbrush with a soft head to access those hard-to-reach areas. If you prefer to use an electric toothbrush, that’s fine too.

Start off by brushing at the gum line of your teeth, holding your toothbrush at a 45 degree angle towards your gums. Once you’ve cleaned your gum line, hold your toothbrush at a downward angle on the top of your brackets, and then at an upward angle to clean the bottom of your brackets.

Although generally people only need to brush twice a day, if you wear braces then we’d always recommend brushing after every meal. Keeping a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste handy in your bag is an easy way to make sure your mouth is clean and sparkling!

Floss, floss, floss!

Flossing while wearing braces can be a bit of a feat, but it’s a step in your oral hygiene routine that shouldn’t be ignored. Flossing helps to remove any plaque build-up, as well as any smaller food particles that are stuck in your braces or between your teeth. If you find it tricky to floss with flossing tape, try using floss threaders for braces or interdental brushes.

You can buy these in the supermarket or pharmacy, and they can help you manoeuvre around your brackets.

Remember to be gentle when you’re flossing. Try not to apply too much pressure or go too quickly as you could damage your braces, which would mean a trip back to see the orthodontist!

Avoid certain foods

Very few foods are actually off-limits when you wear braces, but your orthodontist will give you a list of foods you should avoid while undergoing treatment. A heads up – anything chewy, sticky, crunchy or hard is likely to be on the list.

Plus, if you’re the sort of person who’s always nibbling on your nails or chewing pen lids, you’ll need to curb that habit pretty quickly too! These types of habits and foods can break or bend the braces which is never a good thing.

You should also avoid sugary foods and drinks as these can cause staining and decay around your brackets. These stains can be permanent, and will become more obvious later when the braces are removed, which will not help you to achieve the perfect smile.

If you’re wearing braces, you’ll want to do everything in your power to make sure you’re going to get the best result. Keeping your teeth clean, taking the time to floss, and thinking about the food you eat are simple but effective steps to make sure you’ll have a perfect smile when the braces come off!

How to Brush Your Teeth and Floss With Braces

Dealing with Plaque Around Your Braces
Take Care of Your Gums
Brushing With Braces
Flossing With Braces
Plan Regular Checkups
How to Take Care of Your Child’s Braces

If you or someone in your family wears braces, take heart. Before you know it, you’ll be flashing a confident smile if you keep these few things in mind.

Dealing with Plaque Around Your Braces

Once teeth are straightened by braces, it is easier to reach plaque on and between your teeth. But while wearing braces, plaque and food particles have additional places to accumulate and become trapped.
Be prepared to spend three times as long on your oral care while you have braces on your teeth. Don’t worry, it’s worth the time. If you don’t pay attention to oral hygiene while your teeth are being realigned, you increase your risk of gum disease. Plus, it can help your teeth look that much better when it’s finally time to get your braces removed.

Take Care of Your Gums After Braces with Electric Toothbrushes

While wearing braces, you might consider using the sensitive mode of your Electric Toothbrush. The sensitive mode oscillates at a lower speed for extra care and comfort along the gum line—and around the brackets and orthodontic wires.

Brushing with Braces

Using an Electric Toothbrush makes this routine easy.

  • Get started: Remove elastics, bands, or removable parts of orthodontic appliances.
  • Clean your braces: Carefully clean around wires and pins.
  • Brush each wire: Move top to bottom, and all the way around upper and lower teeth.
  • Brush your teeth: Dental professionals recommend brushing your teeth for two minutes, twice daily. That means each quadrant of your mouth gets 30 seconds. Oral-B Electric Toothbrushes have a built-in timer that pulses every 30 seconds to let you know when to switch areas of the mouth. As you’re brushing, make sure to clean all areas of the tooth. Some people find they get the best clean going tooth by tooth.
  • Rinse, and then check your teeth: Rinse thoroughly. Examine teeth and braces in the mirror, and remember to look for any remaining food particles.

Flossing With Braces

Although flossing with braces is tricky, you can get the hang of it with practice if you follow these steps:

  • Floss once a day:Use waxed floss (unwaxed floss is more likely to get caught and shred in your braces), dental tape or a product specifically designed to clean around your braces. Use waxed floss and thread it carefully under the main wire before passing between two teeth. Don’t snap it—simply move up and down gently, remove, and move on to the next pair of teeth, which is self-threading or regular floss with a floss threader to place above and below the orthodontic wire.
  • Use enough:About 18 inches of floss should suffice
  • Thread it carefully: Take the floss and carefully thread it under the main wire of the braces before passing it between two teeth. Then remove the floss and re-thread it under the main wire to pass between the next pair of teeth
  • Be sure not to snap the floss– simply move it up and down gently against the side of each tooth

Parents: Do the flossing for younger children who lack the coordination to thread the floss under the main wire of their braces.

Plan Regular Checkups

Seeing your orthodontist for checkups and adjustments is essential. He or she can repair broken pieces, answer general questions, and address any irregularities such as cavities or every meal or snack if you wear braces. And some dentists recommend a fluoride mouthwash to help control plaque buildup in the places that are tough to reach with a toothbrush.

How to Take Care of Your Child’s Braces

Do you have a child with braces? The following points will help make your child’s daily brushing routine effective:

  • Before brushing – Your child should take off elastics and any other removable parts of their orthodontic appliance. For removable appliances, take them out after every meal for cleaning.
  • Brush teeth – They should clean each tooth individually. First, they should place their brush at a 45-degree angle from the gum line, then apply gentle pressure whilst moving in a circular motion. They should do this for about 10 seconds, using the same brushing action on all outer and inner tooth surfaces, and tilting the brush as needed to better reach the insides of smaller front teeth.
  • Clean the braces – Your child should hold the brush at a 45-degree angle to clean around the wires and brackets of their braces. They need to brush from the top of each wire down to the bottom. They should take the time to ensure that all plaque and debris is removed, and that they work all the way around upper and lower teeth. For removable braces, clean them over a sink filled with water. This helps to prevent damage to the brace if you accidentally drop it. Brush the brace with a toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to remove all food and debris. Be careful not to damage the wires. Once it’s clean, put the brace back in the mouth.
  • Interdental brushes once a day – Have their dental professional show them the best way to clean between the teeth and braces. Also, they should follow the instructions on the product package. They may also want to use an interdental product designed for braces and orthodontic work, like a single-tufted toothbrush or floss.
  • Protecting your child’s teeth – Braces put their teeth at greater risk of developing decay, therefore they need to keep their teeth strong by using fluoride toothpaste. Brushing should be undertaken twice a day at a minimum and preferably after every meal.
  • Fluoride concentration – If their dentist or orthodontist feels they are at greater risk of tooth decay, they may increase the fluoride concentration by (i) prescribing a stronger toothpaste, (ii) applying fluoride varnish to their teeth two to four times a year when they visit them or (iii) asking them to use a fluoride mouthwash at a different time than tooth brushing.
  • Spit, but do not rinse after brushing – Rinsing after brushing will wash away the fluoride toothpaste which is needed to strengthen their teeth. This dilution effect is why even a mouthwash straight after brushing is bad news as it dilutes the fluoride around their teeth.
  • Keep up regular visits with their dentist and orthodontist.

Taking Care of Your Braces

Braces Do More Than Improve Your Smile
The Basics: Brushing and Flossing
Visit the Orthodontist Regularly

You should be prepared for the fact that taking care of your teeth will be more difficult once you get braces. Braces have countless tiny spaces to trap food, and this trapped food causes plaque, which can lead to many other dental problems. Because of this, it’s very important to brush your teeth after every meal (snacks count, too), to rinse with mouthwash, and to floss at least once a day. This may seem tedious or excessive, but neglecting your oral hygiene can lead to serious oral health problems, force you to spend additional time in braces, or cause unsightly staining on your teeth. The extra responsibility needed to care for braces properly is something that both you and your child should be prepared for.

Braces Do More Than Improve Your Smile

They also play an active role in correcting overcrowded and misaligned teeth. This is important because an abnormal bite (also known as “malocclusion”) may cause other problems, such as impaired plaque removal around misaligned teeth, which can lead to gum inflammation and cavities.

Taking good care of braces can help prevent damage to the braces themselves and the teeth underneath as well as make the braces more comfortable to wear. Learning the basics of orthodontic care will help you follow your dental professional’s recommendations to keep your teeth and gums healthy during the time you’re wearing braces.

The Basics: Brushing And Flossing

Careful cleaning is required with braces, because plaque bacteria are easily trapped inside and around them. The following procedure will make daily brushing and flossing both simple and effective.

  • Prepare to brush. Take off elastics and any other removable parts of your orthodontic appliance.
  • Clean your braces. Hold your brush at a 45-degree angle to clean around the wires and pins of your braces. Brush from the top of each wire down to the bottom. Take your time to ensure that all plaque and debris are removed, and that you work all the way around upper and lower teeth.
  • Brush your teeth. Clean each tooth individually. First, place your brush at a 45-degree angle the gum line, then apply gentle pressure as you move in a circular motion. Do this for about 10 seconds. Use the same brushing action on all outer and inner tooth surfaces, tilting the brush as needed to better reach the insides of smaller front teeth.
  • Floss once a day. Have your dental professional show you the best way to floss, or follow the instructions on the product package. You may also want to use a flossing product designed for braces and orthodontic work, like a floss threader.
  • Rinse and check your teeth. Rinse thoroughly with water or mouth rinse, and examine your teeth and braces in the mirror.
  • Professional Care: Dentist And Orthodontist Visits

Visit the Orthodontist Regularly

During the time that you have braces on your teeth, you will need to visit the orthodontist regularly for adjustments to your appliance. After a routine orthodontic adjustment, you may experience some tightness or even a slight amount of pain. If this discomfort or pain does not quickly dissipate, or becomes extreme, you should consult your orthodontist. Concerns about your appliances, and any problems with broken parts, should also be brought to your orthodontist’s attention immediately.

It’s also important that you continue with regular visits to your general dentist while undergoing orthodontic treatment. Routine checkups are necessary to spot cavities and signs of gum disease. Your dentist or hygienist may also perform frequent fluoride treatments to provide additional protection to tooth surfaces from decay while you’re wearing braces.

Your home oral care techniques will be monitored by your dental professional and changes will be recommended as necessary. As always, be sure to follow their instructions.

Types of Braces

Today’s orthodontics offer more kinds of braces than ever before. Check out your options

Metal braces/Traditional braces
Ceramic Braces
Lingual Braces
Invisalign

Metal braces/Traditional braces

These are the metal brackets and wires that most people picture when they hear the word “braces.” However, modern brackets are smaller and less noticeable than the notorious “metal-mouth” braces that many adults remember. Plus, new heat-activated archwires use your body heat to help teeth move more quickly and less painfully than in the past.

Pros: Least expensive type; colored bands give kids a chance to express themselves
Cons:Most noticeable type of braces

Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces are the same size and shape as metal braces, except that they have tooth-colored or clear brackets that blend in to teeth. Some even use tooth-colored wires to be even less noticeable.

Pros: Less noticeable than metal braces; move teeth much faster than clear plastic aligners (Invisalign)
Cons:More expensive than metal braces; Brackets can stain easily if patients don’t care for them well

Lingual Braces

Lingual braces are the same as traditional metal braces, except that the brackets and wires are placed on the inside of teeth.

Pros:Invisible from outside
Cons:Difficult to clean; more expensive; not appropriate for severe cases; can be more uncomfortable at first; regular adjustments take longer and are more difficult than with traditional braces

Invisalign

Invisalign consists of a series of 18 to 30 custom-made, mouth guard-like clear plastic aligners. The aligners are removable and are replaced every 2 weeks.

Pros: Almost invisible; Patients can eat and drink whatever they want


Cons: Will not work for serious dental problems; only available for adults and teens, not children; more expensive option; can be easily lost and costly to replace; treatment may potentially take longer.