Tooth decay during the orthodontic period is one of the problems that most people undergoing orthodontic treatment face. Daily dental care is also difficult due to the inability to clean around wires and metal brackets. Over time, bacteria accumulate and tooth decay occurs from the inside, but the treating doctor follows special methods to treat this problem, and through this article we will explain to you the steps for treating tooth decay during orthodontics.

What is orthodontics? 

Orthodontics is considered one of the most famous dental treatment methods known. Orthodontics is a device consisting of a group of parts made of solid and fixed materials. It is installed and uses tension and pressure technology to leave space for the teeth to move freely in their correct place. It is also used in treating many dental problems such as tooth crowding, tooth eruption, and others, but its drawback is that it takes a lot of time.

Types of orthodontics 

Orthodontics is considered one of the best therapeutic solutions for beautifying teeth It has four types: as follows :

• Cosmetic calendar Which helps in beautifying teeth.
• like that Fixed calendar It is an integral part of the mouth.
• Non-fixed calendar It is one of the most commonly used types and is easy to move.
• Metal braces It is usually used by children.

Advantages of orthodontics 

Orthodontics is considered one of the best procedures that many patients resort to because it has many advantages ومنها:

• It is considered a guaranteed and very successful procedure.
• It also treats crooked and crowded teeth.
• Then it fills the gaps that exist between the teeth.
• It improves the shape of the jaws and teeth and thus increases the patient's self-confidence.
• It solves the problem of teeth erupting and lining up next to each other.
• Teeth are capable of performing the vital processes of chewing and grinding food.

Does tooth decay affect braces?

Yes, tooth decay affects the period of braces being installed. 

 Symptoms of tooth decay during orthodontics

There are a group of symptoms by which you can know that you have tooth decay If you notice any of them, you should immediately contact your doctor وهذه الأعراض هي:

• Allergies to hot or cold food and drinks.
• The presence of dark spots in the teeth.
• Notice bad breath.
• Inability to eat Sugary foods.

Get to know : Al-Ahsa Dental Clinic at Al-Mousa Hospital

Causes of tooth decay during orthodontics 

There are several reasons that lead to tooth decay during the orthodontic period, These reasons are:

• Eating sugary foods that are not suitable for braces, as they stick to the teeth, bacteria multiply on them, and tooth decay occurs. 
• Difficulty in cleaning teeth due to metal wires, and thus bacteria accumulate on the teeth.
• Excessive consumption of soft drinks, which weakens tooth enamel and leads to cavities.
• Not using dental floss and an orthodontic brush leads to the accumulation of food residue in the orthodontic wires.
• Not following up with the doctor regularly.

Treating tooth decay during orthodontics 

 Treating tooth decay during the orthodontic period is an important step that requires cooperation between the patient and his doctor. And the treatment is done as follows:

• The doctor begins by temporarily removing the wire to clean the teeth, fills the cavity appropriately, and then reinstalls the braces directly in order to avoid delays in orthodontic treatment.
• In cases of severe caries, the doctor needs to temporarily remove the abutment in the tooth to complete the treatment and then restore it so that the tooth does not move from its place.
• Then the doctor begins filling the teeth with the same traditional steps, but in a precise manner to preserve the parts surrounding the orthodontic device.

How to take care of your teeth during braces?

Doctors advise following a set of important tips after installing braces: the following :

• Use the interstitial brush that is used to clean the orthodontic parts.
• Continue to brush your teeth on a daily basis with a designated brush and appropriate paste.
• Make sure to brush your teeth after every meal, even snacks, because any minor infection could cause a tooth to fall out, because braces move it automatically, and infections threaten the stability of the teeth.
• In addition, you must scrub the braces with a brush and warm water, making sure that the water reaches the cracks in the teeth because these cracks are one of the places where bacteria grow most. After scrubbing, the braces are washed again to ensure that the teeth are free of soap residue and other substances.
• Then the braces must be washed on a daily basis, and if they are not washed, they must be placed in distilled water.
• Also, teeth should be brushed using fluoride solution.
• To prevent the braces from breaking, you must avoid touching them with your hands.
• The teeth should also be cleaned using floss by inserting its tip into the space of the upper part of the tooth near the gums, then moving it from front to back and vice versa. This method works to clean the tooth cavity from the inside.
• Avoid using violence when brushing your teeth. Also, when brushing, you should not pull them forcefully or put pressure on them, because putting pressure on them leads to a break in the wire connecting the teeth to each other.
• Sterilizing and cleaning your braces, especially when leaving the house.
• Use a solution of water and salt to brush your teeth to get rid of any dirt stuck in the braces.

The most important frequently asked questions about treating tooth decay during braces

Do braces themselves cause tooth decay?

 Braces do not directly cause tooth decay, but when food builds up around braces and wires, tooth decay is more likely to occur if the teeth are not taken care of properly.

 Is dental filling during braces different from regular filling?

The steps for each of them are similar, but the doctor is careful to be more precise when filling teeth during braces to avoid damaging the wires and paint surrounding the teeth.

What should I do if I feel pain after dental fillings during braces?

The feeling of pain is temporary after filling, but if the pain continues for several days, see your doctor immediately.

Read also about: برنامج الفحص الشامل 

in conclusion After we talked about treating tooth decay during the orthodontic period and the causes and methods of prevention, it can be said that treating tooth decay during orthodontics is not something impossible as many think, but rather requires careful and continuous follow-up between the patient and the doctor, and if you need to treat tooth decay during the orthodontic period, you can contact us through the hospital. Healthy mousseWe provide you with all dental services and we have the most skilled doctors.