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Oral Health TopicsWhat is Orthodontics? Braces with Special Care What is Gingivitis? How will not flossing affect my teeth? |
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Sturdyfloss™ 909 Cardinal Rd. Virginia Beach, Virginia, 23451 Call today! 866-578-4643 |
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Oral Health BasicsAt Sturdyfloss we care about your teeth. Here is some basic information that should help you to improve your oral health.What is Orthodontics?It is the branch of dentistry that specializes in the prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. The technical term for these problems is "malocclusion" meaning "bad bite". Adults and children can both benefit from Orthodontics; healthy teeth can be moved at any time.Most Malocclusion is inherited, but some are acquired. Inherited problems include but are not limited to crowding, spacing, extra or missing teeth. Acquired malocclusion can be caused by trauma, thumb sucking and/or pacifiers. Whether inherited or acquired, many of these problems affect not only alignment of the teeth but also facial development and appearance as well. back to top Braces with Special CarePatients with braces must be careful to avoid hard and sticky foods. They must not chew on pens, pencils, or fingernails because chewing on hard items can damage the braces. Damaged braces will almost always cause treatment to take longer, and will require extra trips to the orthodontist's office.Keeping the teeth and braces clean requires more precision and time, and must be done every day if the teeth and gums are to be healthy during and after orthodontic treatment. Patients who do not keep their teeth clean may require more frequent visits to the dentist for professional cleaning. The orthodontist and staff will teach patients how to best care for their teeth, gums and braces during treatment. They will explain how often to brush, how often to floss and if necessary, suggest other cleaning aids that might help maintain good oral health. back to top What is Gingivitis?Gingivitis is the initial stage of gum disease. Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gum tissues due to plaque and debris left on the teeth and on or around dental appliances. Plaque is the soft, sticky, colorless film of bacteria that forms constantly on the teeth and gums.IF plaque is not removed daily it produces toxins that can irritate the gums, causing swelling and bleeding, known as gingivitis, when gingivitis is left untreated it can advance to peritonitis and eventually can cause tooth loss. Although brushing and flossing are equally important, brushing eliminates only the plaque form the surfaces of the teeth that the brush can reach. Flossing on the other hand removes plaque from in between the teeth and under the gum line. Both should be used as part of a regular at home, self-care treatment plan. The rational behind flossing is not just to get the food out from between the teeth; it is a great source for removing plaque-the real culprit behind gingivitis. back to top How will not flossing affect my teeth?The image above shows healthy teeth that have become decayed due to plaque and debris left in between the teeth. This is an example of what teeth can look like when orthodontic appliances have been removed and proper home care was ignored.back to top | |
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