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Plunkett Dental has Relocated
Our New Location is:
2137 E County Rd 540A
Lakeland, FL 33813
We are in the Publix shopping center on the corner of 540A and Lakeland Highlands Rd.



Oral Hygiene for Braces


Posted on 4/15/2024 by Weo Admin
Curly haired woman with braces smiling after dental appointment at Thomas Plunkett, DMD in Lakeland, FLNow that you or someone in your family has received braces, what should you do next? When you are wearing braces, you have two real goals. First, you will want to keep your braces in great shape because the less time you spend at the orthodontist getting your braces fixed, the faster your braces will come off. Second, you will want to keep your teeth as clean as possible to eliminate the bacteria that cause tooth decay and gum disease. There is nothing worse than having your braces come off and seeing discolored teeth due to tooth decay.

A Little Bit About Braces


Orthodontists use braces to straighten poorly spaced or crooked teeth. You may also have to wear braces to correct bite pattern issues, such as an overbite, crossbite, or underbite. Usually, braces use metal, acrylic, or ceramic brackets that are cemented onto your teeth. Wires move in between the brackets, and orthodontists use these wires, tightening them to move your teeth into the correct position. Most people wear braces for between 18 months and three years.

Start With Brushing


While people without braces can brush twice a day, people with braces should brush their teeth after each meal or snack. That is because disease-causing bacteria tend to lurk in the crevices of braces if they are not regularly cleaned. These bacteria can cause tooth decay as well as gum disease. When you are brushing, be sure to brush all of your teeth for two minutes. You need to make sure you have a soft toothbrush for brushing. There are toothbrushes available specifically for cleaning in and around braces.

Flossing


Before you even think about flossing, you will want to check to make sure you have a floss threader. Floss threaders allow you to move floss in between your brackets and wires to floss between your teeth. If you do not have a floss threader, ask one of our dentists for a threader to help keep your gums healthy.

If you need more advice about how to keep your braces clean, we can help. Give us a call today to make an appointment.

Contact Us


Thomas Plunkett, DMD
2137 E County Rd 540A
Lakeland, FL 33813-3794


Hours


Mon-Fri: 7:30am-3:30pm

Phone


863-372-1010

Email


patientinfo@plunkettdental.com

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Dentist Lakeland, FL - About - Thomas Plunkett, DMD
Above all else, we here at Thomas Plunkett, DMD want our patients to maintain healthy, bright, and beautiful smiles! Call us today to schedule your appointment!
Thomas Plunkett, DMD, 2137 E County Rd 540A, Lakeland, FL 33813 : 863-372-1010 : plunkettdental.com : 2/6/2025 : Associated Words: dentist Lakeland :