Keeping your mouth healthy with Braces by Souris!

We know that maintaining good dental health requires only a few minutes a day! We thought we would offer some practical advice on how to keep your child's mouth clean and healthy between visits with Dr. Souris.

First and most importantly, you need to brush your teeth after every meal and snack. The braces provide many hidden areas for the food to collect since what you eat and drink does not wash away as easy as it does on a smooth tooth surface. More care and time are needed to adequately brush your teeth with braces in order to prevent plaque build-up and possible gum disease (two minutes is a good brushing time to shoot for). Proper brushing techniques are an essential part of maintaining good oral health during your orthodontic treatment. Flossing daily will also prevent plaque build-up between your teeth. Mechanical toothbrushes, water pics, and mouth rinses can certainly help, but effective and consistent brushing and flossing are the most important ingredients to a healthy smile during treatment. If you feel you need help, please don't hesitate to ask us for a review on proper methods of brushing and flossing at your next visit. Lastly, we encourage you to throw away old toothbrushes and replace them every 2 or 3 months or after an illness.

We hope this helps emphasize the importance of proper oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact us at 440-734-1146.

What can Invisalign do for my oral health?

When considering treatment, patients often ask us how Invsalign differs from traditional braces. Invisalign involves a series of removable aligners (retainers) that are not only clear and comfortable, but they can also help you with your oral health during and after treatment:

Healthy Gums: Straight teeth allow for better oral hygiene and thus can lessen the chance of plaque build up with red and swollen gums which can lead to gum disease.

Easy Cleaning: Invisalign is removable, therefore brushing and flossing is easier and you are able to maintain a healthy mouth. This will help avoid any tooth or gum problems that may develop during treatment due to poor oral hygiene.

Improved speech and chewing: Invisalign allows for easier adaptation to the treatment, since each aligner is snuggly fitted to the teeth. This helps minmize speech difficulties and allows for easier adjustment of the lips and cheeks with minimal discomfort.

If you have any questions about Invisalign, please feel free to contact Dr. Souris at 440-734-1146 and schedule a free consultation!