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When you start wearing braces, it can become a challenge to clean certain areas of your mouth. If these areas are neglected for long periods of time, though, decay and stains can form on your teeth.

Your mouth will require extra attention while you have your braces on. This can include using a special toothbrush to reach those spots, flossing every day, getting fluoride treatments, avoiding certain foods, and making sure to visit your dentist. Let’s take a closer look at what you can do to prevent decay during treatment.

When you get your braces on, Dr. Betsy Meade will give you an interdental toothbrush that can be used to get to those hard-to-reach spots in your mouth. The brush has bristles that can easily remove food residue stuck between the wires in your mouth. We may also suggest using a WaterPik, which pulses a pressurized stream of water to remove excess food particles.

Brushing and flossing every day should always be a part of your oral health regimen, but this becomes especially crucial when you have braces. If food gets stuck between braces and sits on your teeth, decay and staining will start to occur. Dr. Betsy Meade and our team recommend flossing at least once a day, and brushing and using mouthwash after every meal as long as you have braces.

If you don’t have the time, make sure at least to swish your mouth really well with water after you eat. It’s especially important to follow these steps after consuming sugary foods or beverages. It’s best to avoid sweets altogether when you have braces.

Making sure to visit your dentist at least twice a year for a routine cleaning can also help to prevent any decay from damaging your teeth while your teeth are encased in braces. Your dentist will remove any plaque or tartar that’s built up since your last cleaning.

Prevention is key when it comes to keeping your mouth healthy during orthodontic care with braces. Follow these tips and you’ll keep your teeth beautiful and healthy for the day your new smile is finally revealed!

Once you get your braces off, you want to make sure your smile remains straight! This is where retainers come in.

Once your braces come off, you’ll be fitted for a retainer provided by Dr. Betsy Meade to keep those teeth in place. A retainer is a custom-fit device that sits in the mouth and reinforces the new position of your teeth. Wearing it may be annoying at first, but it’s an essential part of the process of keeping your teeth in place over the long term.

For the first few months after your braces are gone, Dr. Betsy Meade will tell you to wear your custom retainers all the time, except when you’re eating, drinking, or brushing. You have the option of having a clear plastic retainer made if you’re concerned about your appearance.

Eventually, we will recommend that you only have to wear the retainer during each night for a full year. After that, you may take a couple nights off from wearing them each week. In order to preserve the position of your teeth for as long as possible, we don’t recommend that you ever fully stop wearing your retainers.

If you’re concerned about forgetting to wear your retainer, and worried that your teeth may shift, a lingual retainer could be a good option for you. This gets placed on the back of your teeth and is not readily visible.

These retainers are permanent, but they could cause issues for you down the road if you don’t maintain good oral hygiene. Plaque and tartar can build up around these lingual bars, which is why we don’t usually recommend this as a primary choice.

Wearing your retainer is extremely vital after your braces come off. Without your retainer to keep them in place, the teeth you’ve taken so long to fix may begin to shift again. Getting braces is quite an investment, which is why you should keep wearing your retainer long after the braces have come off.

If you have questions or concerns regarding your retainers, contact our Ypsilanti, MI office and we can address any problems you may have.

We still can’t believe that the new year is officially up and running! At Betsy Meade Orthodontics, we’re all about getting (and staying) organized in the new year. We love making lists and checking things off as we go.

If you’re looking for a new way to keep track of your goals and to-dos, we recommend starting a calendar or trying a bullet journal. Don’t procrastinate and keep yourself accountable by checking it daily.

If you do go the bullet journal route, consider keeping a habit tracker. A habit tracker is a list you create each month with daily tasks that you wish you to accomplish. You can color code it and make it as visually pleasing as you want. It’s a great way to stay on track and see what you’ve accomplished each month as a whole!

We all know how busy the work week can get and how that can affect cooking at home. It can be hard to come home after a long day and have to get straight to an hour or two of cooking. Well, we’re happy to share two of our favorite fuss-free recipes with you: tacos and fettuccine alfredo with grilled chicken. They’re great for leftovers as well which is a plus.

We believe that staying organized is just one part of the productivity equation. The other equally important part is taking care of your physical health. When you feel good you are more likely to have more energy to accomplish everything on your to-do list. You can start doing this by making small adjustments like drinking water instead of pop. Your body will thank you and your teeth will , too!

In 2018 we’re making it a priority to spend more time with family and friends. We’d love to hear about what the goals you’re setting for yourself this year!

We hope you’ve had a great start to the year so far and can’t wait to see you in the office!

We still can’t believe that the new year is officially up and running! At Betsy Meade Orthodontics, we’re all about getting (and staying) organized in the new year. We love making lists and checking things off as we go.

If you’re looking for a new way to keep track of your goals and to-dos, we recommend starting a calendar or trying a bullet journal. Don’t procrastinate and keep yourself accountable by checking it daily.

If you do go the bullet journal route, consider keeping a habit tracker. A habit tracker is a list you create each month with daily tasks that you wish you to accomplish. You can color code it and make it as visually pleasing as you want. It’s a great way to stay on track and see what you’ve accomplished each month as a whole!

We all know how busy the work week can get and how that can affect cooking at home. It can be hard to come home after a long day and have to get straight to an hour or two of cooking. Well, we’re happy to share two of our favorite fuss-free recipes with you: tacos and fettuccine alfredo with grilled chicken. They’re great for leftovers as well which is a plus.

We believe that staying organized is just one part of the productivity equation. The other equally important part is taking care of your physical health. When you feel good you are more likely to have more energy to accomplish everything on your to-do list. You can start doing this by making small adjustments like drinking water instead of pop. Your body will thank you and your teeth will , too!

In 2018 we’re making it a priority to spend more time with family and friends. We’d love to hear about what the goals you’re setting for yourself this year!

We hope you’ve had a great start to the year so far and can’t wait to see you in the office!