So you’ve gone through months of orthodontic treatment and the day has finally arrived when your braces will come off. It’s a big day for all our patients at Park Lane Orthodontics and it’s always a big day for the staff too. Watching patients study their new smile in a mirror gives us a great sense of satisfaction but we always stress that a beautiful new smile will only last if you take the right steps to make sure you don’t fall into bad dental habits or risk permanently damaging your teeth.
There’s lots of things you can do to ensure your new smile lasts a lifetime but we’ve crystallised these into three easy-to-follow rules that will keep you beaming away without ever worrying about your teeth again.
1 Follow a daily oral hygiene regime
We recommend brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day.
Forgetting to brush your teeth is a big no-no as far as we’re concerned. That’s because plaque is constantly building up on the surface of your teeth. Failure to brush away plaque means bacteria is allowed to thrive in your mouth and on your teeth which increases your risk of developing, tooth decay, cavities and gum disease. It also means overtime your teeth can change colour to a darker shade and lead to bad breath and halitosis.
A good time to brush your teeth is in the morning and before you go to bed at night but, if you can, brush after meals too especially if you’ve been eating any sugary foods or drinking fizzy drinks. Carrying round a toothbrush and a small tube of tooth-paste is a handy tip too as you can nearly always find a place to have a quick brush!
2 Protect| Safeguard | Shield
Ok, accidents can and do happen. Trip over on the pavement; fall off your bike; walk into a swinging door and many more things life throws at us when we’re not expecting it. Cracked teeth and injuries to our mouth can happen out of the blue but when you know you’re about to run on to a rugby pitch, tennis court or play footy in the park then always wear a protective mouthguard. You can buy off-the-shelf versions or if you’d prefer a custom-fitted mouthguard then ask any member of the team at Park Lane Orthodontics about how to protect your teeth and smile,
3 See your dentist at least twice every year
The old adage prevention is better than cure must have originated from a dentist! It’s easy to put off visiting your dentist but regular appointments give you the best way to avoid more serious dental problems like tooth-decay, gum-disease and even oral cancer. That’s because your dentist will identify any early warning signs of decay or worse dental problems. You’ve worked so hard to get your perfect smile so it would be such a waste to lose it for the sake of a half hour appointment at the dentist. We also recommend you should see a dental hygienist at least once a year for a thorough deep clean of your gums and teeth. Why not set up reminders on your phone so you’ll never forget to miss a dental appointment again. It’ll keep you smiling and save on any unnecessary expensive dental work in the future.
For more information on oral hygiene and keeping your smile healthy contact Park Lane Orthodontics. T 0118 9411628