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Lingual braces are a lot like regular braces, but they have brackets and wires on the inside of the teeth instead of the outside. Why choose this type of appliance? Because lingual braces offer some benefits other braces don’t.

Lingual braces are almost invisible to the people around you. If you’re involved in a contact sport, they are much less likely to contact your lips and mouth. (But you should still wear a mouthguard!) If you play a reed or brass instrument, they won’t have as much impact on your lips, your mouth, and your performance. And, did we mention they’re almost invisible?

Just like regular braces, lingual braces require careful cleaning to protect your teeth from staining, plaque and cavities. But because the brackets are located on the inside of the teeth, making sure your teeth are their cleanest can be a bit more challenging. Here are some suggestions for making your life with lingual braces a little easier.

• Think Small

Because you will be working on the inside of your mouth, a brush with a smaller head might be more maneuverable (and more comfortable!) in a tighter space. If you use an electric toothbrush, look for a head attachment in a smaller size or one especially designed for orthodontic appliances.

And for the tiniest spaces, use the tiniest brushes. Interdental brushes, also called interproximal brushes, can fit between your wires to clean around brackets as well as removing plaque between teeth.

• Thread Alert

How to get that floss under the wire? Special tools called floss threaders can help get your dental floss where it needs to be. Or try one of the flosses meant for braces wearers, which offer pre-cut strands with a stiff tip at one end to thread between teeth and through wires more easily.

• Top Picks

For removing food particles and plaque between teeth, try interdental soft picks. These have a flexible, textured pick at the tip to fit gently into smaller, tighter spaces. They are also easy to carry on the go if you aren’t able to floss.

• Water Power

Water flossers use a pulsing stream of water to clean between and around teeth. If you find it very difficult to floss around your lingual brackets, this might be a good option. Make sure any model you choose has a seal of approval, and has been tested for safety and effectiveness.

• Keep Current

Remember to keep up with your regular appointments at our Jupiter, FL office. It’s especially important to care for your mouth and teeth while you are wearing braces.

No matter what type of appliance you use, get in the habit of cleaning your teeth and braces after every meal and snack.  You will be rewarded with a beautiful and healthy smile when your orthodontic work is completed—and that’s the greatest benefit of all!

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Proper oral hygiene techniques are always worthwhile, but they are especially crucial when you’re wearing orthodontic appliances such as braces. When you don’t maintain an effective oral hygiene routine, you can be more susceptible to gum disease as well as tooth decay, cavities, decalcification, discoloration, and/or staining of the teeth.

Braces themselves don’t cause these issues, but since they create spaces that are difficult to clean, they provide extra sources of food (dental plaque and food debris) for the bacteria that do. Bacteria create a biofilm on the surface of a tooth that can spread if not addressed. That bacteria food can only be removed by a mechanical action: brushing and flossing your teeth!

Here’s a list of smart hygiene steps to follow for the duration of your braces treatment:

Proper tooth brushing technique: Make sure to brush your teeth thoroughly (for a total of about two minutes), but not too hard. Point the head of the toothbrush at the gum line and brush just hard enough so that you feel slight pressure against the gums. Use a soft, small-headed toothbrush or an electric toothbrush if you’d like. Try your best always to clean on and around every tooth, bracket, and wire in your mouth!

Flossing: Braces can make flossing a chore, but it’s an essential adjunct to proper tooth brushing. Make sure to floss between all your teeth and brackets. Dr. Christopher West can provide you with braces floss threaders and interproximal toothbrushes (small brushes used to clean areas under wires and between brackets) to make the task easier. You might also consider purchasing an oral irrigator that uses a stream of water to blast food particles and debris from between teeth and gums.

Rinse with water: This may sound slight, but it’s a good idea, especially if you aren’t able to brush. Rinsing your mouth with water throughout the day helps to dislodge the decay-causing food particles that become lodged in braces.

Hygiene away from home: It’s a good idea to have a kit with a toothbrush, floss, floss threaders, mirror, and small water cup on hand at school or work. That way, you’ll be sure to have all the tools you need to keep your mouth clean.

Regular professional cleanings: As always, it’s best to visit your dentist regularly to verify everything in your mouth is in order and your oral hygiene routine is effective. Twice a year is sufficient, unless the dentist recommends more frequent visits.

It's vital to keep your teeth and gums clean during your braces treatment, and that requires your care and attention. If feel like you need help with any of the techniques above, a member of our Jupiter, FL team can demonstrate them for you!

Valentine’s Day is the holiday to celebrate all the treasured relationships in your life. It’s a time to honor love in all shapes and forms with cards, social gatherings, and sometimes even binge eating of sweets.

It's hard to look the other way when grocery stores and pharmacies are invaded with goodies connected to the Valentine’s Day theme, and especially if you’re on the receiving end of some of these sweets. We get it. In fact, we’re all for it!

However, we also support a cavity-free smile. So in the interest of your dental and general health, and because we think it’s genuinely tasty, Dr. Christopher West recommends an alternative to the Valentine treats you may be accustomed to: dark chocolate. 

Yes, Healthy Chocolate Exists

Studies have shown that dark chocolate is high in flavonoids, an ingredient found in the cocoa beans used to make chocolate. Flavonoids can help protect the body against toxins, reduce blood pressure, and improve blood flow to the heart and brain.

By opting for dark chocolate rather than milk chocolate, you get to reap these benefits! Pretty sweet, right? Just make sure to stick to high-quality dark chocolates that have undergone minimal processing.

Dark Chocolate, AKA Protector of Teeth

Not only does dark chocolate provide some nice benefits for your overall health, it also helps protect your teeth against cavities! According to the Texas A&M Health Science Center, dark chocolate contains high amounts of tannins, another ingredient present in cocoa beans.

Tannins can actually help prevent cavities by interfering with the bacteria that causes them. Think of them as scarecrows for bacteria. They don’t always prevail, but isn’t it nice to have them there?

Smooth Never Sticky

Unlike many popular candies, dark chocolate is less likely to stick in the crevices of your teeth. Chewy, gooey sweets are more likely to hang around in your mouth for longer periods of time, which means they raise the odds of your harboring cavity-creating bacteria.

While some dark chocolates have additives like caramel or marshmallow, it’s best to opt for the plain varieties, which are just as delicious. If you’re feeling festive, though, a dark chocolate with caramel is still better than a milk chocolate with caramel, so that’s the way to go!

While dark chocolate has some pretty sweet benefits, the most important thing to remember (whether you go the dark chocolate route or not), is that moderation is key. That being said, we hope you have fun satisfying your sweet tooth and shopping for treats for your friends and loved ones. Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us at Family Orthodontics in Jupiter, FL!

We know that being a teen is hard, and we know that adding braces to the mix can often elicit a less-than-enthusiastic response. Luckily, teens can now have straighter teeth without the hassle, discomfort, and embarrassment of metal braces!

Dr. Christopher West proudly offer Invisalign Teen clear aligners to our adolescent patients.

One of the main benefits of Invisalign Teen aligners is that they are virtually invisible. They are also removable, which means teen patients are free to eat anything they choose. The aligners are also easily replaceable, should they ever get lost! The best part? They make it easy to keep up with a healthy brushing and flossing routine. 

The aligners are made from a lightweight, plastic material that fits precisely on the teeth. Invisalign Teen treatment has become a popular treatment here at Jupiter, FL because it helps our younger patients achieve a straight, beautiful smile without undergoing the dreaded metal-mouth.

For more information on Invisalign Teen clear aligners, please feel free to give us a call at our Dr. Christopher West office today!