Gum disease is one of the most dangerous dental issues in the world today. This is why our orthodontist, Dr. Christopher Corsa, strongly recommends doing everything you can to keep gum disease at bay. Unfortunately, your smile is prone to this disease while you have braces. This is because it’s difficult to properly remove the plaque from your smile regularly. So, he encourages you to focus on cleaning your teeth and gums regularly. You can do so by doing the following things:

-Focus on properly brushing your teeth: Make sure to use the right tools (a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste) to brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time. Because braces trap food particles regularly, it’s actually recommended to brush after each meal and snack. So, if you can brush regularly, do it. Make sure to tilt the brush as you clean so you can scrub under and around the appliance.

-Focus on properly flossing your teeth: Flossing is very important because it removes plaque along the gumline. This is why it’s important to floss at least once a day. If you can floss more (like after you brush), do it. To make flossing easier, use tools like a water flosser, floss threader, and waxed dental floss.

-Visit your dentist every six months: Your six-month checkups are vital for preventing gum disease, especially because the cleaning treatment removes the plaque that your toothbrush and floss could not remove. So, make sure to attend your checkups twice a year so you can prevent this dental issue.

To learn more about how to prevent gum disease in San Jose, California, please contact Corsa Orthodontics at 408-997-7772 when you have the chance. Our orthodontic team is here to give you the information you need so you can maintain a top-notch smile! We look forward to hearing from you.