So, you’ve embarked on the exciting journey to a straighter, more confident smile with braces! Congratulations on taking this significant step towards achieving the smile of your dreams. You’re likely seeing your orthodontist regularly here in Centurion, making sure everything is progressing perfectly with your alignment and bite correction. But a common question often arises: “Do I still need to see my general dentist during all of this, or does my orthodontist take care of everything?”
The answer, without a doubt, is a resounding YES! Continuing your regular visits to your general dentist is not just recommended; it’s crucial for maintaining your overall oral health throughout your entire orthodontic treatment. While your orthodontist is a highly specialised professional focused primarily on the alignment of your teeth and the correction of your bite, your general dentist plays a vital and complementary role in ensuring your teeth and gums remain healthy and strong during this transformative period.
1. Cavity Checks: Your First Line of Defence Against Decay
Let’s be honest: braces, while incredibly effective at transforming your smile, can sometimes make it a little trickier to clean every nook and cranny of your teeth. The brackets, wires, and bands create more surfaces and small spaces where food particles, sugary residues, and harmful plaque can accumulate. These areas can be challenging to reach with a regular toothbrush or even floss, potentially increasing your risk of developing cavities.
That’s precisely why it’s essential to continue seeing your general dentist for a comprehensive check-up every six months. During these routine appointments, your dentist in Pretoria has the specialised expertise, diagnostic tools, and keen eye to thoroughly examine your entire mouth. They can meticulously inspect around your orthodontic appliances, identify any early signs of demineralisation or decay, and address them promptly before they have a chance to progress into more significant problems. Catching cavities in their initial stages is key to preventing discomfort, avoiding more extensive and potentially costly treatments down the line, and ensuring your teeth remain sound under your braces.
2. Oral Hygiene Cleanings: Keeping Your Smile Sparkling and Healthy
Even with the most diligent brushing and flossing routine at home – and we know you’re trying your best to meticulously clean around those brackets! – It can be incredibly challenging to achieve a professional level of cleanliness when you have braces. Food can easily get trapped, and stubborn plaque and tartar can accumulate in those hard-to-reach areas, especially along the gum line and around the brackets themselves. This build-up, if left unaddressed, can lead to not only cavities but also gum inflammation (gingivitis) and other periodontal issues.
This is where professional oral hygiene cleanings, also every six months, become an invaluable part of your dental health regimen. Here at Pretoria Smile, our skilled dental hygienists are experts at navigating around your orthodontic appliances. They use specialised instruments to meticulously remove stubborn plaque and tartar build-up from every surface of your teeth, including those areas made difficult by your braces. These professional cleanings are about more than just a fresh feeling; they are crucial for preventing gum disease, reducing the risk of bad breath, and ensuring your teeth remain strong and healthy throughout your entire orthodontic journey. A truly clean mouth is a healthy mouth, and it will make your final reveal of a perfectly straight smile even more spectacular and hygienic.
We’ve Got Your Oral Health Covered in Pretoria!
At Pretoria Smile, conveniently located for residents of Pretoria and Centurion, we understand the paramount importance of comprehensive dental care, especially when you’re undergoing orthodontic treatment. We are proud to offer professional oral hygiene cleaning services that are specifically tailored to your needs, even with braces. Our team is experienced in working around various types of orthodontic appliances to ensure you receive the most thorough and effective cleaning possible.
So, while your trusted orthodontist is busy perfecting the alignment of your teeth and crafting your ideal bite, remember to prioritise and schedule those vital six-month check-ups and professional cleanings with your general dentist. It’s the absolute best way to ensure that your smile not only becomes beautifully straight and aesthetically pleasing but also stays incredibly healthy, strong, and vibrant for many, many years to come.
Don’t let your braces be an excuse to neglect your general dental health. Maintaining regular contact with both your orthodontist and your general dentist forms a powerful partnership in achieving and preserving your ultimate smile. Your future self – and your sparkling, healthy smile! – will undoubtedly thank you for this comprehensive approach to your oral well-being. Contact Pretoria Smile today to schedule your next dental check-up and professional cleaning!
