Who needs a retainer?
According to the doctrine, after every orthodontic treatment, a permanent retainer (wire) should be attached to the back of the front teeth of the lower jaw, because the teeth have a tendency to move back to their original position, if given the opportunity. This retainer remains fixed for a lifetime, since the teeth still show this tendency even after years. After a short acclimatization period after insertion, the retainer is hardly noticeable to the patient. However, the permanent retainer is not always possible. In patients with a very deep bite, where the upper teeth reach far beyond the lower teeth when biting together, the retainer is often not an option because it hinders the biting together.
What is the best way to clean fixed braces?
Fixed braces limit the possibilities for cleaning and produce hard-to-reach loopholes in which bacteria can easily settle.As this increases the risk of caries, thorough cleaning of the wire elements and teeth is particularly important. In general, it is possible to brush with a manual toothbrush or even easier electrically to reach the majority of the surfaces as before. For the hard to reach areas between the wire and the bracket, as well as in the interdental spaces, interspace brushes are recommended, with which remaining food residues can be removed.
Since normal dental floss can no longer be used optimally, a Floss dental floss (e.g. SuperFloss) should be used for the interdental spaces. This has a reinforced end and a “fluffy” middle section. The hard end allows the user to get between the teeth more easily, while the soft middle section removes all food debris and bacteria.
A mouth rinse containing fluoride is also recommended to suppress demineralization of the tooth structure by bacteria. The electric toothbrush is well suited to clean the teeth and braces regularly. The rapid vibrations of a sonic toothbrush or rotational movements of an electric toothbrush blast the plaque from the braces and teeth. However, the electric toothbrush is not sufficient for daily cleaning of the interdental spaces and the hard-to-reach areas between the wire and brackets, and interdental brushes or reinforced dental floss are indispensable.