Where do I Start when Learning How to Clean my Ortho...

With all the new hardware in your mouth, you have likely noticed that there are many places for food and plaque to get caught. Cleaning your teeth will now take more than a toothbrush to clean around the orthodontic brackets and wires.
With all the new hardware in your mouth, you have likely noticed that there are many places for food and plaque to get caught. Cleaning your teeth will now take more than a toothbrush to clean around the orthodontic brackets and wires. This makes it even more important to use the home care products that are meant to clean around all those new nooks and crannies.   Here is a List of Products to get you started around your new...
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Why Cleaning your Mouth during Orthodontics is so Es...

Our teeth have 5 surfaces to clean: the cheek side, tongue side, chewing surfaces, and between the teeth on the sides. There are already many nooks and crannies that can catch food and plaque. When the food or plaque is left on the tooth, a disease typically begins. Now, add the addition of orthodontic brackets, wires, spacers, or any other device that is needed to adjust your teeth, and you have the addition of so many more surfaces to care for.
  Our teeth have 5 surfaces to clean: the cheek side, tongue side, chewing surfaces, and between the teeth on the sides. There are already many nooks and crannies that can catch food and plaque. When the food or plaque is left on the tooth, a disease typically begins. Now, add the addition of orthodontic brackets, wires, spacers, or any other device that is needed to adjust your teeth, and you have the addition of so many more surfaces to...
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But I'm Too Tired to Clean my Teeth at Night!

As a dental hygienist, I hear this a lot. Brushing before bedtime is crucial because an accumulation of disease causing bacteria won’t be sitting on your teeth all night.
As a dental hygienist, I hear this a lot. Disturbing the bacteria that has accumulated throughout the day that is sitting along the gum line and between your teeth is very important. Brushing before bedtime is crucial because that accumulation of aggressive, disease causing bacteria won’t sit on your teeth and around your gums all night. When we sleep, it is the perfect time for the bacteria to assault our teeth and gums. We are not salivating as much and...
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The Tongue Test

The tongue may be difficult to work around for a hygienist, but it can be a great asset to help patients improve their brushing skills.
Oh the tongue! The nemesis to all dental hygienists. I have spent most of my clinical career battling the most curious, and in my opinion, strongest muscle in the body. Patients are not even aware that their tongue is trying to push me away or trying to feel where my instrument is. The tongue may be difficult to work around but it can be a great asset to help patients improve their brushing skills.  I know that I am a...
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