Healthy Teeth = Better Smile

Four young people posing together at Emerson Orthodontics event with blue branded backdrop.

Maintain Oral Hygiene While Wearing Braces

When you get your braces, we will spend time instructing you on how to clean your teeth. Our patients receive a brushing grade each visit and if it is below satisfactory, we will spend time discussing with you how to improve the areas that are missed.

The following are some of the keys to a healthy mouth during orthodontics:

Reducing drinks that are high in sugar
- Soft drinks, especially Dr. Pepper and Mt. Dew
- Sports and Energy Drinks
- Fruit Juices
Brushing teeth after each time you eat to remove food and sugary film
Brushing along the gum-line (above top braces and below bottom braces)

Our #1 concern for all patients is the formation of white scars on the teeth. White spots or scars are caused when food that is left around braces or inside aligners turns into plaque. If this plaque remains on the teeth, it will either eat a hole in the teeth creating a cavity, or damage the surface leaving a white scar.

Prevention of scaring is as simple as keeping food and plaque off your teeth during treatment. We know that maintaining teeth 100% clean over a 2-year period can be a tough task. If a white scar appears on teeth during treatment, we will make everyone aware and discuss ways to prevent more from developing. If a white scar is present when treatment is completed, we have products available to reduce and/or eliminate White Scar. Click on this digital brochure for further information.

The following video discusses proper care of braces during orthodontic treatment.