Getting Rid of Gum Disease

When your bottom teeth are crooked and covered in excessive gum tissue, you have a hard time getting and keeping them clean each day. Stains and cavities damage your tooth enamel and infection develops beneath your gums. These problems can make you lose your teeth over time. A dentist can improve the condition of your bottom teeth and gums with a variety of treatments, including aligners and laser orthodontics. If you're ready to make positive changes in your smile, see your dentist for these two types of orthodontic treatments.

Laser Orthodontics for Excessive Gum Growth

Overgrown gum tissue traps bacteria and plaque, which can cause gum disease and tooth decay in your bottom teeth. In addition, your overall orthodontic care won't be successful unless your dentist lengthens your teeth crowns with laser orthodontics. To help you understand more about laser orthodontic treatment, here are some concerns you may have.

How Does Laser Orthodontics Work?

Laser orthodontic treatment uses a special diode laser light to cut or trim away excessive gum tissue from your bottom teeth. However, your dentist must examine your bottom teeth carefully prior to using the laser. The dentist needs to trim the right amount of gum tissue or else it compromises your smile. For instance, if you have very small teeth, the dentist trims away a small amount of gum tissue to lengthen your teeth crowns. 

Does the Laser Treatment Cause Bleeding and Pain?

You also bleed a little during the treatment. If you take blood thinners or aspirin, be sure to tell your dentist prior to your visit to avoid complications. But you should never skip your medications unless the dentist or your primary physician tells you to do so.

Don't worry about pain during the laser orthodontic treatment. Your dentist administers an anesthetic or some other form of pain blocker before they make any incisions with the laser. You may wish to drink a warm glass of milk or cup of tea before your appointment if you still feel nervous about your treatment.

Now, that you know more about laser orthodontic treatment, it's time to learn how to straighten your bottom teeth.

Aligners for Crooked Teeth

Clear aligners aren't like regular orthodontic appliances. Instead of moving your teeth into place with square metal brackets and thin wires, aligners slip on your bottom teeth like a glove. Here are other things to know about orthodontic aligners. 

What Are Aligners Made of and How Long Do You Wear Them?

Aligners are made of a firm acrylic material that looks almost invisible when you wear it. The material also resists stains and other imperfections, which keeps your aligners attractive throughout your treatment. 

You wear each aligner for four to six weeks at a time before changing it out for another. There's a reason for this. As your aligners move your bottom teeth into their new positions, so does your lower jaw bone. Your lower jaw either moves forward or backward to line up with your upper jaw bone. The jaw's movement corrects your bite or ability to chew, slice and cut food.

Each new aligner accommodates the changes mentioned above, so it's important to keep your orthodontic visits throughout the treatment. 

How Do You Care for Your Aligners?

Unless your dentist says otherwise, you should only remove your aligners when you eat, drink or brush your teeth. You clean your aligners with warm soapy water, then dry them thoroughly with a soft cotton towel before you place them back into your mouth. Bacteria can grow on your aligners and damage them.

If your dentist approves, soak your aligners in a mild mouthwash to freshen them up. Just like your teeth, plaque and bacteria can make your aligners smell bad.

Also, avoid placing your aligners in hot places or running hot water on them. Heat can change the shape of your aligners, which interferes with your treatment.

If you have additional questions about how to care for your aligners once you get them, contact your dental office for more instructions.

Improving the appearance and health your bottom teeth and gums is essential. With the right orthodontic care, it's possible. For more information about orthodontic care, you can visit a site like http://www.cresthillfamilydental.com.