The addition of orthodontics hardware to your mouth can make it difficult to keep everything clean. The extra hardware provides extra surface area for food debris, plaque, and acids to sit on your teeth and gums and to create problems for your mouth. The bacteria in your mouth find crevices to hide in and around your orthodontics hardware and in... read more »

Your orthodontist, Dr. Lee Mahlmann, installed your braces to gradually realign your teeth for a healthier mouth and a more appealing smile. This is done by applying progressive tension to the periodontal ligaments that are anchoring your teeth into their sockets during your routine adjustment sessions. Complications from tooth decay could very well extend the number of adjustment sessions needed... read more »

We often mistake the powerful abilities of orthodontic braces to be all-encompassing. It is easy to think your teeth are protected when a wall of metal embraces them. However, this is not the case. Braces fight curvatures and malocclusions, not cavities. Any cavity-busting abilities must still come from within your own repertoire. Here are a few examples of things you... read more »

Poor oral hygiene while you are wearing braces can result in cavities on multiple teeth. Should this happen, it could potentially increase the amount of time it takes for the braces to realign your teeth. To help you better clean some of the hard to reach places in and around your braces, Mahlmann & Borders Orthodontics’s orthodontists recommend a few... read more »

While your braces are designed to be durable, they are not impervious to damage. If any part of your braces of mouth is damaged or injured, it could significantly increase the amount of time it takes to reach your ideal alignment. Keeping your teeth and braces clean from residual food particles and plaque, as well as avoiding stick and hard... read more »