Braces and Invisalign in Long Beach
A Full Range of Services
Straightening Your Smile to Its Full Potential
Orthodontic treatment focuses on improving the appearance of your smile as well as overall mouth health by moving everything into its proper place. It gradually shifts the teeth into the right position, placing them under constant pressure so gently you can’t feel it happening.
You may be a good candidate for this treatment if your teeth are misaligned or crooked. Some patients have protruding upper teeth that incline forward, pushing their lips out. Another common problem we see is crowding caused by large teeth or small jaws. We can eliminate awkward gaps between teeth and correct an improper bite, facial asymmetry, and abnormal jaw shifting.
Fix Your Bite to Prevent Functional Issues
Even if you’re not concerned with the appearance of your smile, we may recommend aligning your teeth to correct malocclusion, or problems with your bite. This isn’t just a cosmetic issue. A healthy bite is essential to stay on track for long-term oral wellness. A common type of malocclusion is an overbite, where the upper front teeth cover most or all of the lower front teeth. In some cases, the lower teeth bite into the upper gums rather than the teeth. Crossbite refers to a mixed bite where some upper teeth are positioned behind the lower teeth, but others are not. This leads to worn-out teeth, gum recession, or misaligned jaws. Open bite results from children who continue to suck their thumbs when their permanent teeth start coming in. The upper and lower front teeth may protrude forward, leaving a space around the thumb. As a result, the teeth don’t meet when biting down, and the upper jaw forms with a deep concave shape where the thumb has pushed into it.
Caring for Your Braces
Since this is an ongoing treatment, it’s important that you work with us in changing your habits so everything goes smoothly. You must continue to wear your elastics or rubber bands throughout the process to maintain pressure and help teeth move.
Excellent oral hygiene is equally vital. Brackets, wires, and elastics trap more food particles and plaque in the crevices around teeth. You’ll need to spend more time brushing and flossing to make sure you’ve removed everything so no cavities form.
Prevent Tooth Problems With Rinses and Fluoride
We recommend using Peroxl®, a hydrogen peroxide antibacterial mouth rinse, to get a deeper clean and prevent infection. After brushing your teeth, rinse your mouth with two teaspoons of Peroxl for 60 seconds before spitting. You can use this up to three times a day. Stannous fluoride gels like Gel-Kam® or Flo-Gel can also be used after brushing your teeth. Fluoride helps keep tooth enamel healthy and prevents tooth decay. We recommend applying any fluoride gel right before bed, since it needs to sit on your teeth for at least 30 minutes with no eating or drinking to be effective. Once you’ve finished your regular tooth brushing, apply a small strip of gel to your teeth and scrub with a toothbrush for 60 seconds before spitting out excess fluoride.
Toothbrushes and Floss for Careful Cleaning
An interdental toothbrush like the Proxabrush® achieves a deeper clean that reaches between teeth, under the wires, and around the brackets. Interdental toothbrushes ensure healthy gums and teeth throughout treatment. Wires stand in the way of regular flossing, but food trapped between your teeth can cause cavities if left in place. Floss threaders work like a needle and thread to make flossing easy. First, insert the floss in the floss threader. Then you can use the threader to guide the floss under and over the wires, helping you access both sides of each tooth.
Book Today
See how incredible your smile can become with Invisalign and braces. Contact us today to schedule your first appointment.
