Beautiful smiles start with healthy gums! It’s important that you take care of your gums if you want to experience beautiful treatment results.
The gums are the foundations for the teeth, so they have to support the smile as it moves into its new position. When gum tissue is healthy, it’s strong and flexible – which is exactly what we need for a successful orthodontic transformation.
Here’s what you need to know about the relationship between healthy gums and beautiful results with braces or Invisalign:
The Importance of Healthy Gums
Throughout your orthodontic treatment journey, it’s important that you commit to maintaining healthy gums – day and night! Your teeth need your support as they undergo their own journey to a better position in the mouth.
Having poor oral hygiene, with or without orthodontic treatment, puts you at risk for a common yet serious infection in the gums – also known as gum disease.
It’s estimated that about 47.2% of adults ages 30 and older have some form of gum disease (also called periodontal disease).
Orthodontic treatment is a controlled inflammatory process. If you do not care for your gums correctly, the inflammatory process can become somewhat, UNcontrolled.
Gum disease is an infection that starts in the gums, and as it progresses, can permanently damage the jaw bone. This infection develops in stages, including gingivitis, periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis.
Can I get gum disease with braces? The same way you can get gum disease without braces is the same way you can get gum disease with braces. It’s generally due to an insufficient oral hygiene routine. It’s important that you commit to keeping your teeth and gums clean throughout your braces treatment.
Your braces have spaces for food particles to get trapped and bacteria to grow, which means your oral hygiene has to be up to par. Brush and floss your teeth morning and night, and consider carrying a braces care kit with a travel toothbrush, toothpaste and floss to clean your teeth after meals.
How to Prevent Gum Disease and Unhealthy Gums
Preventing a disease or unhealthy condition is always better than treating it after it’s developed! Preventing gum disease is as simple as committing to healthier habits that minimize risk factors and support your smile throughout the rest of your life.
1. Keep your teeth and gums clean – day and night.
If you’re at risk of developing gum disease, or you’re simply looking to be vigilant and prevent being at risk of gum disease, the first step is paying extra attention to your teeth and gums during your oral hygiene routine.
Commit to brushing your teeth at least twice daily and flossing your teeth at least once at the end of the day. If you have gingivitis, or notice some minor gum disease warning signs, try flossing your teeth twice daily, or after each meal.
It’s important that you do your part to prevent food particles from sticking around in your braces or teeth, because this leads to bacteria growth, which eventually leads to plaque buildup and tooth decay – then gum disease.
2. Eat a balanced, nutritious diet to help your teeth and gums ward off bacteria.
For your mouth and gums to function properly and fight off disease-causing bacteria, your body requires nutrients. Research from BMC Oral Health shows that “a diet low in carbohydrates, rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, rich in vitamins C and D, and rich in fibers can significantly reduce gingival and periodontal inflammation.”
Add some more fruits and veggies to your diet for vitamins and fiber, and try out a new salmon or tuna recipe to increase your Omega-3 fatty acid intake!
Visiting Your Dentist for Healthy Teeth and Gums
You will still need to visit your dentist every 6 months for professional cleanings. At your regular dental cleanings, your dentist will monitor the health of your teeth and gums to help you prevent gum disease.
If your dentist detects the early signs of gum disease, he or she will create a treatment plan or refer you to a periodontist to have the infection treated.
Can you get braces if you have gum disease?
Getting braces when you have an active gum infection is dangerous and could put your teeth at risk of further damage. When gum disease progresses to the later stages, it puts you at risk of teeth becoming loose or falling out, and damage to the jaw bone. We want to avoid that at all costs.
It’s important that you treat periodontal disease before beginning orthodontic treatment. Braces and Invisalign® require strong, healthy gums to move your teeth safely and efficiently.
Before you start treatment, it’s important that you visit your dentist and receive a professional cleaning to prepare your teeth for their transformation!
We want you to experience the greatest results possible, and having gum disease can compromise not only your results, but your health too.
Still have questions about healthy gums?
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions! We’re here to guide you through your treatment process, from your very first visit, to your last appointment. If you’re looking for a top orthodontist in Johnson City, we’d love to meet you! Request a complimentary exam for you or your child today!
