Oral Hygiene

Is An Alcohol-Free, Sugar-Free Breath Spray Okay To Use With Invisalign?

Bad breath is a problem plaguing a lot of people. This is acquired from a bad oral hygiene however it is also possible to have a bad breath even if you follow proper dental practices. Having your children to wear orthodontic braces or Invisalign Fredericksburg will not solve the bad breath problem. In fact, wearing braces all the time can sometimes worsen the problem of bad breath. Children are often lazy brushing their teeth two times a day. As it is more convenient to remove Fredericksburg Invisalign, you will think of a simpler option to help your child out –breath spray. Is an alcohol-free, sugar-free breath spray okay to use with Invisalign? The answer is, yes.

There can be a serious underlying cause behind your child’s bad breath. Before you think, “should I consult a pediatric orthodontist near me,” here are some things you need to know:

Why Should Sugar Be Avoided In Sprays?

In children, the number one reason for cavities is sugar. Even though the saliva in your mouth breaks down the sugar and aids in digestion, sugar is still something you should ensure that your child stays away from. Often, sugar would get trapped under your child’s Fredericksburg Invisalign or orthodontic braces and if saliva can’t reach it, it could cause problems. The reason for avoiding sugar in the spray is simply for caution. When sugar hides in the unreachable areas of your child’s mouth, instead of aiding in digestion, it will slowly break down your child’s tooth enamel.

Where Can You Get Sugar-Free Sprays?

Before you think about things like “I should consult a pediatric orthodontist near me,” you should consider asking the local chemist for help. Sugar-free sprays are pretty common these days and it shouldn't be difficult for you to look for one. It should, however, be mentioned that the sugar-free nature of the spray would greatly affect the taste. Sugar is added only to the spray so it improves the taste. If your child is finicky about sugar, like most other children in the world, a sugar-free spray might be a difficult choice for you.

Why Should Alcohol Be Avoided In Sprays?

If you are a drinker, you know that after a night of drinking heavily, you get an awful breath in the morning. The reason – alcohol causes bad breath. Alcohol works by naturally drying the mouth and reducing the production of saliva. Saliva is important for keeping the bacteria inside the mouth in check and alcohol spray would cause these bacteria to thrive. This is why alcohol sprays would, in fact, lead to bad breath instead of helping avoid it. When your child is wearing aligners, trapped alcohol will become a problem as it will allow the bacteria to multiply until Invisalign Fredericksburg is removed and cleaned.

Where Can You Get Alcohol-Free Sprays?

You need to choose a spray that is both sugar-free and alcohol-free. If you cannot find anything at your local pharmacy, you can try search from online websites. Type what you are looking for in the search engine and choose from the available results. Always read the reviews of the spray before you decide to buy it. Look for something that is small enough to fit in your child’s bag. It should be easy to carry to school. You can also ask your pediatric orthodontist for some recommendations regarding sugar and alcohol-free breath sprays.

FAQ: How Often Must I Wear My Invisalign Aligners? Orthodontist in Fredericksburg, VA

Are There Any Alternatives To Breath Sprays?

There are many alternatives to sprays and they are following:

  • Drink More Water – Drinking water all day long is necessary to keep one hydrated and not give the bacteria any time to settle down. It also helps the mouth to produce more saliva and avoid any bad breath. A lot of people have a habit of drinking water every time they have consumed something.

  • Use a Tongue Cleaner – Does your child clean their tongue? A thin film of debris can collect on the tongue and cause severe bad breath. A tongue cleaner can help to clean the tongue every day and keep bad breath at bay. In fact, if you don’t want to buy a separate tongue cleaner, you can teach your child how to use the toothbrush to clean the tongue.

  • Brush Twice a Day – When you are wearing aligners, it is difficult to look towards the bright side of brushing. However, there is one thing that can be done – clean the aligners. Every time your child brushes his or her teeth, they also need to clean the aligners. This would ensure the aligners from being infested with bacteria, no plaque collects on them, and they don’t start yellowing. Set a routine for brushing and remind your child about its benefits.

  • Floss – Food can get stuck between the teeth and at the back of the mouth that brush cannot reach. As this food stays there, it begins to decay and causes an awful halitosis. Flossing regularly would ensure that the food particles are removed from where they are stuck.

When Is It Time To Consult A Pediatric Orthodontist?

When your child wakes up in the morning, some amount of sourness in breath is to be expected. However, if bad breath persists all through the day and sprays simply aren't helping; there are some instances when you should consult your pediatric orthodontist.

  • Adenoids, Allergies, Sinus Infections and Colds – When the nasal passage is blocked because of these problems, bad breath can persist throughout the day and you should see your pediatric orthodontist.

  • Thumb Sucking – If your child has a habit of sucking their thumb or sucking the blanket, it can lead to dryness in the mouth. This would make the bacteria to thrive and cause bad breath.

If you are still unsure about using sugar and alcohol-free sprays, contact Beecroft Orthodontics for your child. Don’t ignore the problem and call now for a complimentary consultation regarding Invisalign or any other orthodontic issue of your child.

Beecroft Orthodontics, 10472 Georgetown Dr. Fredericksburg, Virginia

Phone: 540-898-2200

Is Alcohol-free, Sugar-free Breath Spray Okay to Use with Invisalign?

Three Reasons Your Orthodontic Braces Are Still On

When planning to use braces, you would only need two days: when you get your braces put on and when you have them taken off. The duration between these two days will feel like forever however it will pass by very quickly.

Your orthodontist in Fredericksburg can only give you a general estimate of how long will it take to wear your braces. There are three major factors that can influence how quickly your mouth responds to orthodontic treatment. It means that you may need to have them on longer than what your orthodontist originally expected.

Understanding the reasons why your orthodontic braces are still on will help you worry less about your treatment. It will also help ensure that you can influence any factors that you have control over as the patient.

1. Your Orthodontist's Plan

Your orthodontist will do their best in examining your jaw, the condition of your teeth, and your overall health to gather as much data as possible to determine an accurate diagnosis of your mouth. Their experience with other patients whom have been recommended by the orthodontists will make it easier to form an accurate diagnosis of how the mouth will respond to treatment.

All the information your orthodontist will collect will be used in evaluating your condition and selecting the best method of treatment to realign your teeth and jaw.

Depending upon your orthodontist's plan, you may need to wear your braces longer to obtain the kind of quality realignment that will benefit you for a longer period of time with fewer complications.

Your treatment plan may also be lengthened due to any of the following:

  • Problems encountered by your orthodontist during the examination;

  • Problems that needed to be corrected after a treatment plan was started;

  • Changes in the treatment plan to more accurately treat your unique situation as a patient; and

  • Appointments that were spaced too far apart due to rescheduling conflicts.

If in case the dental problem will take longer than 6 to 12 months to correct, then your orthodontist will inform you of this possibility before starting the treatment. The insights your experienced orthodontist will provide is valuable in avoiding easily missed problems.

FAQ: How to Get Affordable Braces in Stafford?

2. Your Ability To Stick To Treatment

You are the second major factor on how long your treatment takes. You have a significant amount of control over factors that influence how closely you adhere to your orthodontist's treatment plan, which is why you can also be a reason if your braces may need to be on far longer than originally planned.

For example, it's possible that you have yet to have your wisdom teeth emerged in your mouth or that you have had a second set of wisdom teeth grow. They may be impacted and failing to extract them in a timely manner will result in your teeth being moved about. This can significantly delay your orthodontic treatment and lengthen how long you need to have braces. This is why it's important to take care of things like this in as timely of a manner as possible.

Meeting with your orthodontist regularly is the first step in avoiding these kinds of issues while ensuring that your treatment stays on schedule. That's why it's important not to miss appointments as possible. If you need to reschedule, try to do so in advance to ensure that you can have a new appointment scheduled as close to the old one as possible.

Here is a brief list of the things you can do to keep your treatment plan on schedule:

  • Adhere to your appointment dates and times as closely as possible;

  • Reschedule while your orthodontist still has appointment time near your former appointment time;

  • Be on-time to your appointments to ensure that your orthodontist and any technicians have enough time to treat you;

  • Complete any necessary procedures, such as extractions or restorations, in as timely as possible to avoid complications; and

  • Follow your orthodontist's instructions for oral hygiene, rubber bands, and aligners to the letter.

By following these things, you can ensure that you will wear your braces for less time and the final results of your treatment of the highest quality.

3. Your Body's Biological Response

The last factor influencing how long you'll have your braces is your body's biological response. This is one of the few things that you have no influence over and your orthodontist may not be able to entirely anticipate no matter his level of experience.

Your orthodontist can only approximate your treatment time based on the average time it takes other patients to respond to the same treatment. Sometimes, it's impossible to accurately determine how well your body will respond because of the dental problem complexity and how your teeth respond to orthodontic forces.

For example, conditions like TMJ problems caused by arthritis can significantly slow the orthodontic treatment. Other conditions like ankylosis will keep some teeth in your mouth from moving and could be a reason to extend the duration of your braces.

How your body cooperates with the orthodontic treatment will is a vital factor in fixing your teeth. The only thing you can do is to be as vigilant as possible while your orthodontist does likewise with your treatment.

Reducing How Long You Will Need Braces

As discussed above, there are factors that cannot be controlled while under orthodontic treatment. Even if you do everything your orthodontist says, there still may be delays that require you to use braces for a longer period than originally expected.

To reduce how long you need to have your braces applied, the best thing you can do is to follow your treatment plan and to work with an experienced orthodontist.

One way you can do this is by scheduling an appointment with Beecroft Orthodontics. They provide Fredericksburg orthodontics services, of the highest quality, for busy mothers, children, and other adults. Their comprehensive methods will ensure that you get the best treatment in as timely as possible.

Beecroft Orthodontics, 10472 Georgetown Dr. Fredericksburg, Virginia

Phone: 540-898-2200

Three Reasons Your Orthodontic Braces Are Still On

How Can Invisalign Straighten an Adult's Teeth?

If you never had braces as a teen, it is never too late to straighten your smile now. Invisalign is not only for teens but for adults as well. Invisalign uses a series of transparent trays to shift the teeth into alignment over a period of time. At the beginning of treatment, computers are used to design a series of trays, which are switched out approximately every two weeks, until your teeth are properly aligned.

Invisalign For Adults

Invisalign is a great choice for adults for various reasons. The transparent trays are practically invisible while in your mouth. Since many adults are self-conscious about having their teeth straightened, perhaps due to the outdated notion that misaligned teeth are a teenager's problem, the ability to improve their smile without drawing attention is attractive.

Invisalign trays are removable, so there is no need to adjust your diet for foods that are not permitted with traditional braces. You simply remove the trays for meals, as long as you wear the trays for 20 to 22 hours a day, most days, your treatment plan will stay on track. In fact, as long as you generally wear your trays at all times, aside from when you are eating, it won't cause any delays in your treatment to leave them out for some special occasions.

Never miss an appointment with your orthodontist. The appointments are quick and painless. Between appointments, you simply need to wear the trays as required and practice good dental hygiene.

How Can Invisalign Straighten an Adult’s Teeth?

For some people, straightening teeth is something that should be done during teenage years. In the past, people are hesitant to wear braces because it is uncomfortable to think that you will be wearing metals inside your mouth. Since Invisalign uses transparent trays there’s no more metals to worry about. Teeth shift and move throughout your life and Invisalign simply guides them into the correct spot. Who said adults shouldn't wear braces? Everyone deserves to have a beautiful smile and no one is an exception.

Why Straighten?

You may wonder if straightening your teeth is worth your time and money. There are a variety of reasons why you should consider straightening your teeth not just as an adult but a person who desires to have confidence when smiling.

Misaligned teeth make brushing and flossing more difficult to do. As your teeth shift, the spaces between some teeth may widen and others narrower. Misaligned teeth can also cause pain in your jaw and even wreck your teeth. There are also other issues that can result in long-term health problems if misaligned teeth are not treated as soon as possible.

FAQ: How Often Must I Wear My Invisalign Aligners?

Selecting an Orthodontist

Choose an orthodontist that you are comfortable to be with during your treatment period; someone you can freely talk about your mouth problems and your goals that you want to achieve. The Fredericksburg orthodontics office, such as Beecroft Orthodontics, which has the experience in treating adults, can help ease your mind and make you feel more comfortable during the straightening process. Not all Virginia orthodontics office specialize in adult treatment or Invisalign, so it makes sense to select a practice that does.

What To Expect

Invisalign treatment process has some similarities with the process of traditional straightening but also has differences in many ways. Your initial consultation will determine if you are a good candidate for Invisalign treatment. If so, the orthodontist will map out your treatment plan and use computer generated models to create your Invisalign trays.

Once you receive your trays, wear them as directed, as close to 24 hours a day as possible and expect to switch out trays every two weeks depending on your orthodontist. Do not forget to visit your orthodontist to check your progress. These visits are typically pretty quick and painless. Your orthodontist will take note of your progress, make sure you aren't having any problems and answer any questions or concerns you may have.

After Invisalign

At the end of your treatment, you will receive retainers to keep your teeth in place. It is important to wear these as directed or your teeth will begin shifting out-of-place. Generally, you will wear the retainer as close to 24 hours a day as possible. Retainers are a necessary part of orthodontic treatment, whether you choose traditional braces or Invisalign. Without the continued pressure of the retainer, the teeth will want to shift away from their corrected position. The more you wear the retainer, the better results you will have from your treatment.

Is Invisalign Right For You?

Invisalign can fix many, but not all, orthodontic issues. An orthodontic consultation is the only way to determine if your issues can be successfully treated with Invisalign. Although most orthodontic issues can be successfully treated with Invisalign, some issues may respond better to other type of braces.

If your orthodontist gives the go-ahead for Invisalign treatment, you still need to consider if it is the best choice for you. It takes a certain level of self-discipline to wear the trays as required for best results. Removing your Invisalign aligners always will only lengthen your treatment time so don’t take it off unless it’s necessary like eating, brushing and flossing teeth and even cleaning your aligners.

Financially, Invisalign is typically slightly more expensive than other traditional orthodontic treatments. However, with the variety of payment options available, it shouldn't be a major cause for concern.

Whether you are ready to begin treatment immediately, or just starting to explore treatment options, contact Beecroft Orthodontics for a consultation today.

Beecroft Orthodontics, 10472 Georgetown Dr. Fredericksburg, Virginia

Phone: 540-898-2200

How Can Invisalign Straighten an Adult's Teeth?