Symptoms of Gingivitis
Here are some of the symptoms to avoid gingivitis.
- Red, swollen and irritated gums
- Gums become tender to touch
- After brushing and flossing a minor amount of bleeding is noticed
- Bad breath
Once you have braces, it is quite easy to develop gingivitis. This is because it is easier for plaque build-up below the brackets if you don’t brush or floss well. The hardware that you have put on make it difficult for the brush to reach certain areas of the teeth and gums. Hence bacteria can accumulate in the mouth when you have braces on and this can lead to gingivitis.
Here are some ways with the help of which you can prevent gum disease or gingivitis when you have braces.
Brush Teeth on a Regular Basis
The Gingivitis and the braces go hand-in-hand and thus, you must ensure that you brush the teeth at least twice a day without fail. You should brush or at least rinse the mouth whenever you eat anything. Make sure that you use the right kind of toothbrush, toothpaste and flossing materials in this case. Brushing can be made convenient, faster and more comprehensive if you use an electric toothbrush with soft bristles. Your dentist can also recommend you effective tools for a cleaner and more hygienic oral health.
Use Piksters
These are a type of interdental cleansers as they go under the orthodontic wire and go in between the teeth. These are little pipe cleansers that easily reach the tough nook and corners. To suggest how thick the brush is, they are available in a plethora of colours. You can go for a multi-pack initially and then you can decide which one suits you best. You can take them anywhere and you just need one hand and you can clean the teeth well on the go. It will seem like you are using a toothpick.
Mouth Rinse for Gingivitis
If your dentist feels that there is something extra for clearing up they may prescribe a mouth rinse for you. This way you can reduce the inflammation from the gums. But this is not something that is suggested for the long run. While the stain can be removed it is not something that you should go on using. So, your dentist can recommend you about how long to use it.
Follow the Right Flossing Technique
You should hold the floss between the index fingers of both the hands and you should place it in the shape of C and interdentally. Now you can move the floss up and down. You should clean the area under the gums in the proper way as it is the place where the calculus and plaque accumulate. Flossing may take a bit longer time when you have braces put on. After flossing you should brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush and then you can rinse with the anti-bacterial mouthwash.
Use Oral Care Aids
During the orthodontic treatment, you should use water flossers and electronic toothbrushes. These devises come with special tips or heads so that they can be used with orthodontic devices. They also come with a built-in timer in order to ensure that they are used for the right amount of time.
Oral Irrigators
At the time of the orthodontic treatment rinsing the mouth is necessary but it is not sufficient. So, there are some special irrigators that shoot a stream of water with pressure and thus help to remove plaque. But the excessive usage of irrigators can be damaging to the braces and so they should be used in the way the dentist suggests and should not be used in excess.
Hygiene Appointments
At times the stubborn calculus and plaque can be removed only by a professional and thorough cleaning at the office of the best dentist in Chennai. You should also point it out to the dentist that you need a professional cleaning as it is a great way to stop gum bleeding.
The above are some of the ways in which you can get rid of and also keep at bay gingivitis while you have braces put on and are undergoing an orthodontic treatment.
