{"id":402,"date":"2013-11-25T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2013-11-25T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/smilespringfield.com\/blog\/?p=402"},"modified":"2025-06-25T03:05:49","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T03:05:49","slug":"caring-for-your-teeth-after-the-braces-come-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smilespringfield.com\/blog\/2013\/11\/25\/caring-for-your-teeth-after-the-braces-come-off\/","title":{"rendered":"Caring for Your Teeth After the Braces Come Off"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>Your treatment is over!\u00a0 Continue to take good care of your smile to make sure it lasts a lifetime! <\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">When orthodontics are first removed, most people feel a sense of freedom and relief.\u00a0 However, it is very important to maintain your oral hygiene routine after the braces have been removed.\u00a0 To maintain your new smile, a lifetime of good, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smilespringfield.com\/our-services.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">preventative oral care<\/a> will be required.\u00a0 If you choose not to follow oral care recommendations provided by your dentist or orthodontist, or do not wear your retainer if applicable, your teeth can revert back to their original location.\u00a0 After having spent so much time, money and effort on straightening your teeth, why not maintain them for years to come?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Most importantly, maintaining a daily brushing and flossing routine is essential for a healthy mouth.\u00a0 Preventing tooth decay, bacteria and plaque buildup will reduce the chances that teeth will have issues in the future.\u00a0 A good oral hygiene routine will increase confidence and keep your smile beautiful. \u00a0It is also important to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smilespringfield.com\/contact-us.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">schedule regular visits to your dentist<\/a> for check-ups and cleanings. Your doctor may take <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smilespringfield.com\/our-services.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">digital X-rays<\/a> as well to examine the teeth further and ensure they are maintaining their new positions.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 250px; height: 167px; margin: 5px; float: right;\" src=\"#2013\/11\/post-braces.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>In the past, retainers were worn for a short period of time after braces were removed.\u00a0 In recent years, dentists and orthodontists have realized that continuing to wear a retainer on a regular basis can make all the difference in keeping your straightened smile secure.\u00a0 If a retainer is recommended for you, be sure to follow your dentist or orthodontist\u2019s instructions on how and when to wear it for the best result.\u00a0 It is also very important to keep your retainer clean.\u00a0 Plaque and bacteria can build up on the appliance causing oral problems such as bad breath.\u00a0 Some popular cleaning methods include vinegar washes, denture cleaner and a simple brushing with toothpaste.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For tender gums following braces removal, rinsing the oral cavity with warm or hot salt water can alleviate soreness and swelling.\u00a0\u00a0 Sometimes the gums may be sensitive to flossing, as it is difficult to fully clean them with braces on, the salt water rinse should help firm the gums back up and have them healthy in no time.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.smilespringfield.com\/about-us.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dr. Matt VanderMolen<\/a> <\/strong>at <strong>Advanced Dental<\/strong> <strong>Care of Springfield<\/strong> can assist you with any of your post-braces needs and create a customized plan for your oral care.\u00a0 Call to schedule your appointment today, at <strong>(217) 546-3333<\/strong>.\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smilespringfield.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Click here<\/a> for more information on all the services available at <strong>Advanced Dental Care<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your treatment is over!\u00a0 Continue to take good care of your smile to make sure it lasts a lifetime! When orthodontics are first removed, most people feel a sense of freedom and relief.\u00a0 However, it is very important to maintain your oral hygiene routine after the braces have been removed.\u00a0 To maintain your new smile, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37,2,40,13,16,18,34],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-402","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-advance-dental-care","category-blog","category-dental-check-up","category-dr-vandermolen","category-fastbraces","category-preventitive-dentistry","category-restorative-dentistry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Caring for Your Teeth After the Braces Come Off - Advanced Dental Care of Springfield Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.smilespringfield.com\/blog\/2013\/11\/25\/caring-for-your-teeth-after-the-braces-come-off\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:title\" content=\"Caring for Your Teeth After the Braces Come Off - Advanced Dental Care of Springfield Blog\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Your treatment is over!\u00a0 Continue to take good care of your smile to make sure it lasts a lifetime! 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