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With the start of a new year, it’s common to make resolutions designed to improve ourselves and our lives. As we usher in 2023, don’t forget the importance of regular dental cleanings with our top-rated South Houston dentist. These visits ensure your teeth and gums are healthy by removing plaque and tartar and catching any issues like cavities early. If you or your child have South Houston braces, regular dental cleanings are especially vital for successful treatment. Keep reading to see how a dental cleaning with our South Houston family dentist is the best way to start your year and embrace your smile.

The Importance of Regular Dental Cleanings with Our South Houston Dentist 

Even those with meticulous dental hygiene need to schedule regular dental cleanings to maintain their overall health. When you visit our South Houston family dentist for a dental cleaning, it gives us a chance to thoroughly polish and floss your teeth, remove plaque and tartar build-up and identify any signs of decay. For those with South Houston braces, regular dental cleanings are imperative to remove food particles and build-up that can get stuck under wires and between brackets. Our South Houston dentist can also offer techniques to improve dental hygiene routines, if necessary.

Clean, strong teeth and gums aren’t only important for your oral health, but your overall health as well. Signs of certain illnesses like gum disease, some cancers, and heart disease first appear in the mouth. 

What to Expect During a Dental Cleaning 

Some plaque cannot be removed through brushing alone. Dental cleanings are needed to prevent root canals and dental fillings, especially if you have Houston braces. Here are some of the steps you can expect from your Houston family dentist.

Physical Checkup

To begin, our South Houston family dentist will examine your teeth and gums and identify any causes for concern before proceeding with the dental cleaning.

Plaque Removal

Our South Houston dentist will use a small tool called a scaler to remove all tartar and plaque around your teeth and gums. Sometimes, plaque gets so hard that it takes longer to remove, which requires more scraping in a particular spot and should serve as a sign that you may need to see our South Houston family dentist more often.

Toothpaste Polishing

Once all the plaque and tartar have been removed, our South Houston dentist will apply a special, gritty toothpaste and an electric brush to clean and polish your teeth. The unique rounded head of this toothbrush cleans more thoroughly than you can at home.

Professional Flossing

Next, we’ll floss in between each tooth to remove plaque from the hard-to-reach places. We can also clean areas you normally can’t get through regular flossing at home.

Fluoride Treatment

After rinsing off the debris, a fluoride treatment will be applied, much like a mouthwash. This protects your teeth from potential cavities for several months.

Book a Cleaning With Our South Houston Dentist

At Centra Dental, our top-rated South Houston dentist provides a range of services, such as South Houston braces, teeth whitening, dental crowns, bridges, and more. We are committed to your safety and comfort, which is why we continuously circulate surgically clean air. We strive to make the dental experience as pleasant and stress-free as possible. Patients have access to movies and wi-fi in order to make your experience as comfortable and stress-free as possible. Give us a chance to embrace your smile and ask us about our dental service specials.

The holidays are upon us, as are the sticky, sugary treats common to the season. While these indulgences are typically fine in moderation, if you or your child is undergoing South Houston braces treatment, some items are best left alone. That’s because certain foods and drinks can damage or break both South Houston metal braces and South Houston ceramic braces. Keep reading to learn some of the ways you can protect your braces this holiday season, thanks to helpful tips from our South Houston dentist. 

How Do South Houston Braces Work? 

South Houston dental braces are made up of brackets, which are cemented to each tooth and connected by a wire. Our South Houston dentist adjusts this wire periodically to slowly shift your teeth and jaw into the proper position. If your treatment plan calls for it, your South Houston dental braces may also include coils, hooks, and/or ligatures to improve effectiveness. Because these different parts of your South Houston metal braces all work together to create a straighter smile, damage to any one of these parts may delay treatment and must be fixed by our South Houston family dentist immediately. 

How Do South Houston Braces Break?

While our South Houston metal braces and South Houston ceramic braces are sturdy and often resistant to the kind of wear and tear that can cause them to break, they are not immune to damage. While this damage can occur with any one of the many small parts that comprise your South Houston braces, the most common is to the brackets. Our South Houston dentist uses an adhesive to affix the brackets to each tooth, and sometimes they can be jarred loose. Broken brackets are most often caused by patients eating sticky and/or hard foods–like those found during the holidays—that stick the bracket and pull it from the tooth. Our South Houston family dentist advises that it’s best for you or your teen to avoid these items for now.

Protect your South Houston Braces by Avoiding These Foods

Our South Houston family dentist recommends you or your teen avoid these items in order to protect your teeth and keep your orthodontic treatment on schedule. Whether you’re wearing South Houston metal braces or South Houston ceramic braces, steer clear of these items from the holiday party snack table:

• Hard candy, lollipops, and candy canes
• Hard or crunchy foods like carrot sticks, nuts, or pretzels
• Sticky foods like toffee, taffy, and caramel

Centra Dental Can Protect Your South Houston Braces 

Even the best intentions can sometimes lead to damaged South Houston braces. If that’s the case, let our top rated South Houston dentist correct the problem in our clean and safe office. Since all Houston braces components work together to shift teeth to the proper position, damage to one part could place undue stress on the surrounding components and delay treatment. Call our office to schedule an appointment with our South Houston family dentist before the holiday season gets even busier. At Centra Dental, we work hard to embrace your smiles!

Good oral health is essential for optimum well-being. Aside from practicing dental hygiene at home, regular trips to a Houston dentist is a must. Getting a dental cleaning every 6 months has many benefits. You can prevent cavities and tooth decay instead of going through the stress of treating them. If you’re thinking of booking your last cleaning of the year, turn to the experts at Centra Dental. We embrace your smiles as we keep your teeth and gums healthy. Here’s more information on our dental services.

Should I Book Before the Year Ends?

If you have outstanding appointments to a Houston dentist, it’s a good idea to book them before the year ends. Most insurance plans don’t roll over to the new year. You wouldn’t want your hard-earned dollars to go to waste. Another reason to book now is for a post-holiday cleaning. After all the delicious food you ate in the last few weeks, it’s time to get your teeth cleaned. Preventive oral care can even save you money in the long run. Instead of waiting for plaque to build up, you and your family can get dental cleanings. 

What to Expect During a Dental Cleaning

Some plaque cannot be removed through brushing alone. Dental cleanings are needed to prevent root canals and dental fillings, especially if you have Houston braces. Here are some of the steps you can expect from your Houston family dentist.

• Physical checkup - Before anything else, your Houston dentist will examine your teeth and gums. If there are any causes of concern, your dentist will detect them. They will make sure that everything looks good before proceeding with cleaning.
• Plaque removal - Your dentist will use a scaler to remove all tartar and plaque around your teeth and gums. Sometimes, plaque gets so hard that it takes longer to remove. The dentist may need to scrape a particular spot longer than others.
• Toothpaste cleaning - Once all the plaque and tartar have been removed, your dentist will apply a special toothpaste. They will then use an electric brush to make sure all of your teeth are treated. This is an effective way of getting a deep clean.
• Professional flossing - Your dentist will get in between hard-to-reach places in your teeth. These are areas you normally can’t get through regular flossing alone.
• Fluoride treatment - After rinsing off the debris, your dentist will apply fluoride. This protects your teeth from potential cavities for several months.

Book a Cleaning With a Houston Dentist

Visit our top-rated South Houston dentist at Centra Dental for a range of services. We offer Houston dental braces, teeth whitening, dental crowns, bridges, and more. What sets us apart is our commitment to keeping our clients and staff safe. We have surgically clean air circulating the entire time. We strive to make the dental experience as pleasant and stress-free as possible. Your kids can watch movies, play with toys, or use the WiFi while waiting. Ask us about our dental service specials. We also accept dental insurance!

Metal braces used to be the only choice in correcting misaligned teeth. But now, ceramic braces have become just as popular. Both have their pros and cons in your dental treatment. Your South Houston dentist at Centra Dental will help you make an informed decision. At our clinic, we embrace your smiles. Our dental service specials aim to provide quality and affordable dentistry to children and adults. Not sure which South Houston braces to choose? Read on to know more about both types.

Pros of Ceramic Braces

More and more adults are getting South Houston braces to fix crooked teeth and bite issues. They choose ceramic braces over metal ones because of appearance. South Houston ceramic braces are translucent in color. They are significantly less visible than metal braces. Ceramic braces are also more comfortable. A common complaint among those who wear metal braces is that the inside of their mouths get chafed. Since ceramic braces have no metal wires, this abrasiveness is reduced.

Cons of Ceramic Braces

South Houston ceramic braces are not meant for extreme dental problems. They address mild to moderate cases. They may be less effective than metal ones if you are looking for dramatic changes. Our South Houston family dentist will assess if you will benefit more from ceramic braces. This type of South Houston braces may also be more pricey than traditional ones.

Pros of Metal Braces

The main advantage of South Houston metal braces is their durability. They are meant to fix severe cases of misalignment and bite problems. Metal braces offer total control. They allow your South Houston dentist to fix minute details. This type is less likely to show discoloration. Ceramic braces may get stains from coffee and tea. Since metal braces come in a darker material, discoloration is less noticeable.

Cons of Metal Braces

The downside of metal braces is that they are more likely to cause discomfort. The wires and brackets may irritate the inside of your mouth. This can be addressed by using dental wax. Metal braces are also more noticeable. They are immediately visible in person and photos. Metal braces may be harder to clean. Your dentist at Centra Dental will make sure to educate you on proper hygiene and maintenance of your metal braces.

Which Type of South Houston Braces Should You Choose?

The short answer is that it depends on your case. There are those who will benefit more from metal braces. For some, ceramic braces are the better option for them. Our top-rated dentist in South Houston will thoroughly examine your teeth to determine the best treatment for you. You’ll feel at ease at our clean and safe facility. We operate with surgically clean air around the clock. If you are choosing between the two options, don’t hesitate to book an appointment with us. We accept dental insurance plans. Contact us today!