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Are you at increased risk of tooth decay if you undergo Houston braces treatment? This is a common worry that many of our South Houston dentists patients experience when they are determining whether they should undergo dental braces treatment, and rightfully so. If you think about it, your dental braces are on the face of your tooth, so won’t you only brush a portion of each tooth? Although we can see why our patients worry about this, there are things you can do to remain free of cavities while wearing metal or ceramic Houston braces. Here are our South Houston family dentist’s tips for maintaining adequate dental hygiene while wearing Houston braces.

Brush Your Teeth After Every Meal And Snack

Brushing your teeth twice a day is good hygiene and the minimum we recommend. However, because metal braces and ceramic dental braces do tend to cover the teeth, this can make it a bit harder to get your teeth perfectly clean. To mitigate this, we recommend that you brush your teeth after every meal and snack, as this will discourage food particles from sticking around. By brushing with fluoride, non-whitening toothpaste, this will strengthen your enamel and serve as additional protection against tooth decay.

Keep Flossing Your Teeth Before Bed Every Night

For our South Houston braces patients and non-orthodontic patients alike, flossing is critical to maintaining a cavity-free smile. This is especially true for our Houston braces patients because food tends to get stuck between the teeth and the brackets. Flossing may seem hard at first, but our South Houston family dentists will be glad to teach you how to properly floss. In addition, brush picks also help in reducing food particles stuck between your teeth.

Get A Teeth Cleaning At Our South Houston Dentist Office

By visiting us for your teeth cleaning every 6 months, we can give you a deeper clean than you would get at home because no matter how diligent you are with your at-home hygiene routine, it is impossible to keep your teeth pristine without visiting your dentist. Please book an appointment for your next cleaning so we can polish the teeth, check your dental braces progress, and offer more tips on how to care for your teeth.

Dental braces, though dreaded by some, are the best way to correct issues relating to the way your teeth are aligned. At Centra Dental in South Houston, we offer multiple Houston braces options and treatment plans, each designed to correct the alignment of the teeth. Why, though, may dental braces be needed besides improving your smile? Take crowded teeth, for example. If your child’s teeth exhibit crowding, they may very likely need dental braces. Here’s why.

Crowded Teeth In Children

Teeth crowding occurs when your child’s teeth are crooked and tend to overlap one another. This can occur on the upper row of teeth, the bottom row of teeth, or both arches at the same time. What makes teeth crowd? Sometimes, excessive thumb sucking or chewing toys and other items excessively may lead to crowding. Other times, some of our South Houston family dentist’s patients simply have extra teeth, which don't fit in the mouth properly. This is a major cause of crowding, as it disrupts the natural way in which the teeth are supposed to emerge along the dental arch.

What Problems Can Teeth Crowding Cause?

One of the worst dental health problems caused by crowded teeth is excessive plaque build-up. Although some patients who don't have extra teeth can still experience heavy plaque build-up, children who do have extra teeth are especially prone to this because it's too difficult to adequately brush and floss the teeth. Excessive plaque build-up leads to cavities and even gum disease if left untreated. Severe crowding could also cause speed problems, difficulty at school, and difficulty in your child’s social confidence.

Affordable Houston Braces at Centra Dental in South Houston

Teeth crowding is one of the most common issues that require Houston braces. Not only do our affordable dental braces bring out the best in your child’s smile, but they also help your child achieve optimal dental health and a confident smile. If your child has reached the age at which you may consider Houston braces treatment, please book an appointment with us so we can begin with a consultation and design a custom treatment plan. We look forward to embracing your child’s smile!

It’s no secret that Houston braces are a great idea if you need to have a malocclusion corrected. A malocclusion is also known as a “bad bite” and the term is used to describe any and all orthodontic problems. In our previous dental braces blog, we discussed a bad bite caused by crowded teeth. This time, we will discuss overbites and how Houston braces can correct them.

What Is An Overbite

An overbite, more commonly called buck teeth in non-dental jargon, occurs when a patient’s upper teeth and jaw protrude further outward than their bottom teeth and jaw do. Some overlap from your upper dental arch over your bottom dental arch is normal and healthy, as this overlap protects your teeth from abnormal wear of the enamel, and protecting the enamel increases your protection against tooth decay. Overbites may be caused by a number of factors, some of which cannot be controlled and others that are simply poor habits. These factors include:

• Genetics
• Extensive thumb sucking
• Excessive use of pacifiers
• Pushing your lower teeth with your tongue 

What Health Problems Can An Overbite Cause?

Although some jaw overlap is healthy, it is easy for it to become unhealthy. An overbite can cause certain speech impediments, much like other malocclusions. Overbites have also been known to cause chewing difficulties, and many patients with overbites end up biting their tongues or cheeks a lot by accident. Over time, this may cause your teeth to exhibit worn enamel early on. Lastly, an overbite tends to cause damage to the gums and other teeth because of the improper bite pattern, which results in tooth decay and even gum disease in severe cases.

Affordable Houston Braces at Centra Dental Your Go-To South Houston Dentist

Straight teeth are not merely cosmetic; they are crucial for your overall dental health. If you suspect you or your child has an overbite or “buck teeth”, then please book an appointment with our South Houston dentist so we can schedule a Houston braces consultation. At this consultation, our South Houston dentist will evaluate the bite and develop an affordable Houston braces treatment plan. We look forward to embracing your smile!

As a South Houston family dentist that specializes in Houston braces, many of our pediatric patients’ parents ask us if it’s too late for them to wear dental braces. The truth is that it’s never too late. In fact, we highly encourage adults to wear dental braces if they have crooked teeth and/or a malocclusion, otherwise known as a “bad bite”.

Adults May Have A Bad Bite Since Childhood

There are different kinds of malocclusions, including overbites and underbites. If you had a malocclusion as a child, then chances are you still have a similar problem today. If you don’t fix your bad bite, this will cause a multitude of dental health issues, such as:

• Headaches
• Tooth decay
• Gum disease
• Speech impairment
• Difficulty chewing
• Difficulty digesting

Getting Braces Young Is Better Than Waiting, But Adult Treatment Is Still Just As Effective

Although we recommend getting braces as a child because children's teeth are more moldable, this doesn’t mean adult treatment is out of the question. It may take longer, but adults who undergo Houston braces treatment will also benefit from a straight, beautiful smile. Our South Houston braces dentist offers different types of dental braces:

• Metal Houston Braces, which are the most common method of orthodontic correction and are especially efficient at correcting even the most severe case.
• Ceramic Houston Braces, which are increasing in popularity due to their tooth-like color and impressive strength. This makes them a viable alternative to metal dental braces for patients who dont want to draw attention to their mouths while they undergo treatment.
• Invisalign Clear Aligners, which are the most subtle method of malocclusion correction because clear aligners are nearly invisible and offer more flexibility in terms of wear.

Get Adult Houston Braces With Our South Houston Family Dentist At Centra Dental

If you’re an adult and are worried about your smile, don’t fret. We want you to feel confident in your beautiful smile. If you think dental braces might be an option for you, then please book an appointment with us. We will begin with the initial dental braces consultation to address your concerns and then design the best treatment plan for you. With our braces starting at $99 a month, we look forward to embracing your smile, affordably.