If you are with any orthodontic appliance, it is essential to clean your teeth several times a day. There will be times that you're on the go and need to freshen up, and no worries if you get these things prepared. Here are 6 must-haves you'll need for cleaning your teeth on the go.

1. Water

Water is readily available at bathroom sinks. After eating, or after drinking a sugary and/or acidic beverage, if you couldn't find your toothbrush, give your mouth a thorough rinse with plain water could also help. Swish it around to get rid of food particles or traces of beverages. It can even help to decrease the decay-causing acidity of your mouth. A water rinse is not as good as brushing, but it’s much better than not doing any cleaning at all.

2. A Toothbrush

Even without toothpaste, the action of brushing can remove food and plaque and will help you keep your teeth clean and healthy. If you think it's not convenient to carry a toothbrush around, then try a travel toothbrush that only takes up about half the space of a regular one.

3. An Interproximal Brush

It is a remarkable little tool that changes a lot of things. It’s small and portable. It's useful to get at food that’s stuck around brackets, between the archwire and teeth, and in between teeth. It’s effective at attacking plaque, too. The interproximal brush is so handy that you may develop a great appreciation and continue using it after you complete your orthodontic treatment!

4. Floss

Floss is for cleaning between teeth, the space between the archwire and the teeth, and especially under the gumline. If you have braces, make sure a floss threader is stowed with your floss. It means that unless you are using “pre-threaded” floss, pre-cut to length, and with an aglet tip (like a shoelace). If it's too much work for you, try brands that come in single-use packets.

5. A Mirror

A pocket mirror can be handy when you brush your teeth as well as you do the post-brush check. You can also choose an alternative: use the selfie camera on your smartphone.

6. Toothpaste

Just like toothbrushes, you can carry travel-sized tubes around instead. The same stuff in a smaller package will be just as convenient.

Orthodontics is the very first recognized specialty within the dental profession. If you are considering getting orthodontic treatment, Here are some facts about orthodontics that may surprise you.

1. “Orthodontics” is a word of Greek origin.

“Ortho” means straight or correct. “Dont” (not the word “don’t”) means tooth. Put them together, and “orthodontics” means straight teeth.

2. People have had crooked teeth for ages.

Since the time of Neanderthal man, crooked teeth have been one of the many problems. Archeologists have found Egyptian mummies with crude metal bands wrapped around teeth. Hippocrates wrote about “irregularities” of the teeth (misaligned teeth and jaws) around 400 BCE.

Thousands of years later, a French dentist, Pierre Fauchard, wrote about an orthodontic appliance in his 1728 landmark book on dentistry, The Surgeon Dentist: A Treatise on the Teeth. He described the bandeau, a piece of horseshoe-shaped precious metal that was literally tied to teeth to align them.

3. Orthodontics was the first dental specialty in 1900.

Edward H. Angle founded orthodontics. He was the first orthodontist: the first member of the dental profession to limit his practice to orthodontics only – moving teeth and aligning jaws.

4. Gold was used as the metal for braces around 1900.

Gold is malleable, so it was easy to shape it into an orthodontic appliance. And because of its malleability, it also stretches easily. Therefore, patients had to see their orthodontist frequently for adjustments that kept treatment on track.

5. Teeth move due to pressure over time.

Some pressure is beneficial for treatment, but some can be quite damaging. Teeth can be pushed out of place; bone can be distorted. Orthodontists use appliances to apply a constant, gentle pressure on teeth to guide them into their ideal positions. If the pressure is wrongly put over time, teeth can be pushed out of place; bone can be distorted.

6. Bone breaks down and rebuilds, so teeth can move.

“Osteoclasts” cells break down bones, while “osteoblast” cells rebuild bones. The process is called “bone remodeling.” A balanced diet helps support bone remodeling. So, feed your bones!

7. Orthodontic treatment is and should be a professional service.

An orthodontic appliance is not a commodity or a product. What type of appliance to use for teeth moving should be nothing more than a proper tool for the expert. Each tool has its uses, but not every tool is right for every job.

Which type of appliance to use to correct their orthodontic problem – braces or clear aligners? How do they decide? These would be the top questions specialists get from those who are considering orthodontic treatment. Here are some common treatment factors to consider for both braces and clear aligners. You should know before getting your orthodontic treatment.

Well, the first thing you should know is that there is not a single “right way” for orthodontic treatment to be done. For the best result, orthodontists will give you an accurate diagnosis after obtaining orthodontic records (x-rays, photos, and models). Then, they pinpoint the problem before crafting a customized correction.

Some things apply to all patients, such as brushing and flossing teeth daily and wearing retainers post-treatment. However, an individual's correction shall be based on the goals of treatment as well as the patient's lifestyle needs, which doesn't make one appliance better than another. Now, let’s examine some common treatment factors to consider for both braces and clear aligners.

Braces

Using braces can successfully treat most orthodontic problems. Having been used as the traditional form of treatment by orthodontists for decades, today’s streamlined braces come in various models – stainless steel, tooth-colored ceramic, and even gold-colored.

1. Visibility

While there are more inconspicuous options for braces (tooth-colored brackets, braces that go behind the teeth), other elements remain visible (rubber bands, wires, or gold-colored brackets). However, you can choose to alter the colors of your rubber bands.

2. Removability

Braces remain affixed to the teeth throughout the course of treatment for a more stable and functional result. To look on the bright side, you can’t lose them unless you eat hard and sticky foods.

3. Comfort

In the beginning, there might be some discomfort when braces are placed or adjusted, and brackets and wires can temporarily irritate your mouth tissue. But overall, the discomfort is short-term and easily managed. Once you become accustomed to the braces, you may even forget having them on.

4. Hygiene

There is a need to keep teeth, gums, and braces free of plaque and food debris so bacteria can’t attack tooth enamel or cause inflamed gums. Food debris and plaque must be removed by frequent brushing and flossing.

5. Diet

Those with braces must be careful about hard, sticky, crunchy, and chewy foods to avoid breaking a bracket or popping a wire out of the bracket. Instead of carbonated drinks, flavored waters, or sports drinks that contain acids and sugars, and both are bad for tooth enamel, try to opt for water.

Clear Aligners

Clear aligners are plastic replicas of your teeth. The gentle pressure on the teeth to slightly repositioning them as you wear them. As one of many technological advancements, aligners have made orthodontic treatment less conspicuous. They're also one of the many appliances orthodontists use to move teeth and align jaws.

1. Visibility

With clear, thin, plastic-like trays, aligners are virtually invisible and allowing an individual to achieve a straight smile inconspicuously. To help guide the teeth into place, there will be tooth-colored attachments placed on the teeth. Aligners are designed to minimize the appearance of the appliance to fit any lifestyle better.

2. Removability

Aligners are removable, which makes many patients appreciate them even more. You can take them out to eat, to brush and floss, or for short periods for special occasions. The key is to wear them as prescribed. That typically means a minimum of 22 hours a day and in the correct sequence. But because of their high removability, aligners can be easily lost or damaged.

3. Comfort

There may be some discomfort when you first switch to a new set of aligners, but it's not hard to manage. Aligners are made for looking fabulous and feeling more confident after the treatment, not comfortable while wearing them, so don't remove them due to mild discomfort.

4. Hygiene

It is crucial to avoid drinking soft drinks, flavored waters, or sports drinks of any kind with aligners in. Liquids seep into aligners, and if they contain acid, sugar, or worse, both, it can rapidly lead to staining of the teeth and extensive decay. Make sure your teeth are spotless with aligners placed in the mouth.

What type of appliance is used in orthodontic treatment is far less important than how the skill of the person providing the treatment is. Rely on the skills of your orthodontist, who has the education, experience, and expertise to evaluate diagnostic findings and develop those into a treatment plan that will help you or your child achieve a healthy and beautiful smile.

Are you thinking about getting dental veneers? Before going to the dentist, it is better for you to get a general knowledge about veneers first. If you are still quite confused afterward, then you may write down the questions and take them to your dentist for answers.

What Are Veneers?

Veneers are like costumes for your teeth. Made from porcelain or resin-composite materials, veneers are thin shells attached to the front surface of your teeth.

Though veneers don't change whatever is behind them, they can improve the appearance of the teeth. If you have chipped, broken, discolored, or smaller-than-average teeth, veneers can be an appropriate option.

Why Veneers Are So Popular?

There are more and more people getting veneers each year. So, why do they choose veneers? Well, for one thing, compared with dental implants or other cosmetic dentistry options, veneers cost a lot less. In addition, the effects of the veneers are immediate, and no major surgery is required.

What Affects The Cost Of Veneers?

Generally speaking, veneers are cheaper than dental implants, but the costs of veneers are largely affected by these factors:

• 1. Veneer material
• 2. What brand name your dentist has available
• 3. Where the dental clinic is
• 4. The expertise of the cosmetic dentist you choose

Next, let's take a look at the costs of two main types of veneers - porcelain veneers and composite veneers. You might be surprised how much the costs can vary due to the factors mentioned above.

Porcelain Veneers Cost

Cost: $800 – $3,000 per tooth

Porcelain veneers are the more expensive type of veneers, but worth the price. They are strong enough to last 10 -15 years and look like natural teeth.

Composite Veneers Cost

Cost: $250 – $1,500 per tooth

Composite Veneers are cheaper but not as durable as porcelain veneers. If you are looking for more economic options, composite veneers might be a better choice, because they can get the job done and still last 5 - 7 years.

How To Find A Local Veneers Dentist?

The best way to find the most suitable veneers for you and how much they will cost is to visit one or more cosmetic dentists. If you need any help finding a local dentist, you can start your search here.