Gingivitis due to braces? i'm 34 years old, and have never had problems with gingivitis until i got braces. i'm trying to brush and floss as well as i can, but it doesn't seem to matter. is there anything i can do to take better care of my gums?

Wires, : Wires, bands and brackets make maintaining good oral hygiene a challenge. I suggest a four prong assault . Flossing is probably the most crucial step in halting gingivitis. Use a floss threader and good floss like superfloss to get under the wires. Also, use an electric toothbrush for a minimum of two minutes. Most good electric brushes come with a timer. Two minutes will seem like an eternity at first. A mouthwash such as listerine or crest prohealth, will help fight plaque and bacteria that cause gingivitis. Also, increasing the frequency of hygiene visits will help. Seeing the hygienist every 3-4 months will allow them to address the areas that you may be struggling to clean. If the gingivitis goes unchecked, this can lead to gingival hyperplasia (overgrown gums) which will need to be surgically treated by trimming the tissue, or periodontal disease. Also, although not attributed to the same type of bacteria that causes the gum issues, poor hygiene can obviously result in cavities.

It : It is difficult to control the plaque and maintain the same degree of oral hygiene with a mouth full of orthodontic hardware. Bur your decision to finally get those teeth straight is going to require a higher level of home care. First of all i strongly recommend a power brush, probably an ultrasonic one like the sonicare. ( i don't have shares in the company). You need to walk the brush round the mouth above and below the brackets and wire. You also need to floss with threaders to get between the teeth. Finally you need to rinse. Listerine is good. One last thing should clinch it for you and that is the have your teeth professionally cleaned every twelve weeks during the course of orthodontic treatment. Dr neil mcleod dds dentistry that lasts - quality that counts.

I : I applaud your concern. I hope that your gums were in their best condition prior to the braces being placed. If so, then it sounds as if you are trying your best. All to your hygienist to see if you are being as effective as y can when you clean, and get professional cleanings frequently.

Regular : Regular visits to you regular dentist for periodontal maintenance once a month or every two months will definetly help you, you can also rinse with Peridex (chlorhexidine gluconate) once a day specially at bed time will help your periodontal condition. You have to understand that your condition could be primirely affected by the orthodontic movement of your teeth. Good luck, .

Gingivitis: Gingiva= gums, itis= inflammation. Swollen gums. You say you never had a problem before braces were put on. The only reason for gum swelling other than a reaction to incomplete plaque removal would be allergy: but if that is the reason, your cheeks, tongue and lips would be similarly swollen. You can spend more money on an electric toothbrush, but it is really just technique that is failing you.

Ur Orthodontist:why?: Although i can't know for sure without actually clinically examining you, i can offer some possible explanations. 1-as we get older, our recuperative powers often diminish. 2-regardless of your efforts, it is simply harder to keep your mouth as clean with braces on. 3-there may be a medical component, even certain medications have an effect. 4- bands that touch the gums may irritate them somewhat.

Transient problem: With proper periodic cleaning and follow up, your gingivitis problem is only temporary. However, some individual may be allergic to the metal braces and has more inflammation. In this case, switch to invisallign or ceramic braces.