floss threader | Rivera Orthodontics https://www.riveraorthodontics.com Fri, 16 Sep 2016 13:51:39 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 A Fixed Retainer Requires Some Routine Care and Cleaning https://www.riveraorthodontics.com/a-fixed-retainer-requires-some-routine-care-and-cleaning/ Fri, 16 Sep 2016 13:51:39 +0000 https://www.riveraorthodontics.com/?p=211 Now that you have achieved your ideal smile, your orthodontist, Dr. Jaime Rivera, can remove your braces. However, you will still need to use a retainer to help your teeth maintain their new positions. There some residual tension in the periodontal ligaments that are anchoring your teeth in your mouth. This tension has the potential [...]

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]]> Now that you have achieved your ideal smile, your orthodontist, Dr. Jaime Rivera, can remove your braces. However, you will still need to use a retainer to help your teeth maintain their new positions. There some residual tension in the periodontal ligaments that are anchoring your teeth in your mouth. This tension has the potential to pull your teeth out of alignment.

If your top or bottom front teeth needed a significant amount of adjustment, Dr. Jaime Rivera might recommend installing a fixed retainer. This retainer is a sturdy metal band that is cemented behind your teeth to hold your teeth in place. You should expect to have the fixed retainer for the rest of your life.

A fixed retainer is non-removable and it can sometimes make cleaning challenging. To help brush away plaque and food particles from hard-to-reach places, you might want to try using interdental brushes. The narrow-angled heads can help clean those places.

If you find that flossing between the teeth and around the gumline is challenging, you might want to use a floss threader with waxed floss. The wax coating also helps the strand of floss slip into place easier.

If you have questions about the best way to clean your fixed retainer in El Paso, Texas, you can call Rivera Orthodontics at 915-592-5853 to seek further advice.  

 

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]]> How to Clean around Your Braces for Optimal Oral Hygiene https://www.riveraorthodontics.com/how-to-clean-around-your-braces-for-optimal-oral-hygiene/ Thu, 01 Sep 2016 19:56:55 +0000 https://www.riveraorthodontics.com/?p=213 Keeping your teeth and braces clean is an important part of the alignment process. Tooth decay related to poor oral hygiene can actually increase the total treatment time to realign your teeth. At Rivera Orthodontics in El Paso, Texas, our orthodontist, Dr. Jaime Rivera, has some tips to share with you about cleaning around your braces. If you’re having [...]

The post How to Clean around Your Braces for Optimal Oral Hygiene first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

]]> Keeping your teeth and braces clean is an important part of the alignment process. Tooth decay related to poor oral hygiene can actually increase the total treatment time to realign your teeth. At Rivera Orthodontics in El Paso, Texas, our orthodontist, Dr. Jaime Rivera, has some tips to share with you about cleaning around your braces.

If you’re having issues flossing between teeth and around the gum line, you might want to try using a floss threader with waxed dental floss. This is a simple loop-shaped tool that can help work floss around wires and other hardware. Using waxed dental floss makes it easier to slide the strand into tight places.

Interdental brushes have small-angled brush heads that can help clean between wires and brackets as well as remove food particles from the contours near the gum line. They can be very helpful for clearing away small food particles from around bands and spacers.

Dental water jets and oral irrigators produce a concentrated stream of water that can help loosen and wash away food particles from hard-to-reach places. Just keep in mind that it cannot replace flossing.

If you have questions about the tools and techniques to help clean and maintain your braces in El Paso, Texas, please feel free to call your Rivera Orthodontics orthodontist, Dr. Jaime Rivera, at 915-592-5853 for further advice. Together we will help you create a healthy, aligned, more confident smile!

The post How to Clean around Your Braces for Optimal Oral Hygiene first appeared on Rivera Orthodontics.

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