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Studies show that not enough Americans are taking good care of their teeth, especially through dental and orthodontic treatment. The advanced technology available today is what allows patients to keep their natural teeth healthy for life and is something that millions in the world don\u2019t have access to. Find out why oral health services such as orthodontic treatment is so important to patients and something to be thankful for this time of year!<\/p>\n
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When you think of the most chronic conditions and diseases that plague people today, you may not think of cavities as being one of the them. The National Institutes of Health<\/a> reports that tooth decay\u2014or cavities\u2014are the most \u201cchronic, prevalent disease\u201d among American children and adults. In fact, about 92% of people have tooth decay by the time they reach adulthood. In all age groups, roughly between 20% and 25% of people have untreated decay they are not aware of.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n What does tooth decay have to do with orthodontic treatment? This decay can happen to anyone at anytime and you are more likely to have tooth decay during your orthodontic treatment. Many patients opt for lingual, ceramic or traditional metal braces to straighten their teeth. These methods require brackets that are bonded to the teeth with wires that pass through those brackets. Even though these appliances are highly effective for providing beautiful straightening power, they can make it harder to clean your teeth. Because it\u2019s harder to clean them, and some patients don\u2019t take the extra time to do this, you can end up with tooth decay. That adds to that 92% statistic.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The best way to eliminate your risk for that tooth decay (as well as other oral health diseases), is to properly care for your teeth both with and without braces. That involves brushing your teeth at least twice a day for 2 minutes at a time, as recommended by the American Dental Association<\/a>. When you have braces, you have to do this after every meal to avoid acidic plaque buildup, which happens when your food and drink sugars mix with mouth bacteria. With braces, threadable floss to go around brackets and wires is generally needed, as well as cleaning items such as a waterpik (water shooter) tool and a proxabrush for brackets. Your oral health can be stellar during orthodontic treatment with the right oral hygiene.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Orthodontic treatment is a time when those in the U.S. can have a greater risk for developing cavities. This comes from a lack of oral hygiene during your orthodontic treatment period. However, the world at large is battling oral health diseases and poor dental and orthodontic care on an epidemic scale. The World Health Organization<\/a> reports that cavities (tooth decay) and gum disease (periodontal disease) \u201chave historically been considered the most important global oral health burdens\u201d.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 60%-90% of people worldwide have tooth decay and oral diseases connected to this condition. Children are affected the most, but statistics are almost as high in adults worldwide. Even though the U.S. is at a high percentage when it comes to tooth decay (92%), the presence of tooth decay is generally eliminated in most of the population through proper dental work and access to dental services. In the majority of other countries\u2014especially underdeveloped ones\u2014dental or orthodontic work is not a possibility for most. Oral health diseases are simply left untreated or the teeth are pulled when they become too painful.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Getting a cavity or having an oral health problem during your life can definitely be avoided, but most people will have some sort of oral problem, even if it is small. There are ways to prevent those problems such as proper<\/a> brushing and flossing every single day. A great way to reduce your risk for oral health diseases is through orthodontic treatment. For children, this is known as child orthodontics<\/a>. The American Association of Orthodontics<\/a> recommends that children have their first orthodontic appointment between age 7 or 8.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This is a time when baby teeth are starting to fall out and adult, permanent teeth are starting to come into the mouth. Proper examination by an orthodontist can sport bite and alignment issues that are developing in children. When these issues occur, the teeth can come in crooked all over or they may not rest in the position they are supposed to. This can lead to speech impediments, many dental emergencies and broken teeth in the future from uneven dental pressure, higher instances of tooth decay and gum disease, and problems with oral health diseases.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Orthodontic treatment when young can help align the teeth and jaws to prevent oral problems as a child grows. When teens and adults receive orthodontic treatment via braces, they can better straighten permanent teeth when they come in. This sets everything straight and functional before the jaws harden in adulthood. Straight teeth and aligned jaws make it so cleaning the teeth becomes almost effortless. The risk for tooth decay and gum disease is also significantly lower.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dentistry and orthodontic treatment helps diminish the presence of oral diseases.Yes, tooth decay and gum disease happen frequently due to poor oral hygiene habits. However, orthodontic treatment can help prevent those problems in the first place. Great oral care can prevent developing problems throughout your life. Even when these issues do happen, you won\u2019t have to simply get your teeth pulled or let them decay and fall out of your mouth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.belmarorthodontics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/ThankfulOrtho2-300x200.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHow Does the U.S. Compare?<\/h2>\n
The Connection to Orthodontic Treatment<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nBe Thankful for Your Orthodontic Treatment<\/h2>\n