Frequently Asked Questions
1 What Can Cause Bad Breath, and How Can I Manage It?
Persistent bad breath, also called halitosis, is something many people deal with at some point. While it can be embarrassing, the good news is that it’s often treatable with improved oral habits and lifestyle changes.
What Leads to Bad Breath?
- Reduced Saliva Flow While Sleeping: Your mouth produces less saliva at night. This allows bacteria to multiply, resulting in noticeable odour by morning.
- Smelly Foods: Foods rich in sulphur, like garlic and onions, release compounds that can linger in your breath after digestion.
- Inadequate Brushing or Flossing: Food particles left behind allow bacteria to grow, releasing gases that smell unpleasant.
- Gum Infections: Bacteria that settle below the gumline can create ongoing odours.
- Dry Mouth: Whether caused by medications, breathing through your mouth, or certain health issues, a dry mouth promotes bacterial growth.
- Tobacco Use: Smoking or chewing tobacco contributes to mouth dryness, increases plaque buildup, and leaves a lingering smell.
- Dental Appliances: Improperly cleaned dentures, retainers, or aligners can trap bacteria.
- Health Concerns: Digestive issues, respiratory infections, and diseases like diabetes or kidney dysfunction can sometimes manifest through breath odour.
Helpful Habits for Fresher Breath:
- Keep Up a Thorough Oral Routine: Brush twice each day with a fluoride toothpaste, and floss daily to remove food and plaque.
- Scrub or Scrape the Tongue: Many bacteria collect on the back of the tongue. Cleaning this area can significantly reduce bad breath.
- Drink More Water: Staying hydrated helps cleanse your mouth and encourages saliva flow.
- Avoid Overly Pungent Foods Before Social Settings: Some smells persist until the food is fully digested.
- Try a Bacteria-Fighting Mouth Rinse: Not all mouthwashes are created equal—look for antiseptic options.
- Schedule Regular Dental Visits: Your dentist can spot problems like gum disease or decay that could be contributing factors.
In some cases, bad breath persists despite good oral hygiene. If that happens, your dentist may recommend seeing a medical doctor to explore other underlying conditions.
2 What's the Right Way to Brush and Floss?
Good brushing and flossing routines are the foundation of healthy teeth and gums. They remove plaque and food particles, protecting against tooth decay and gum disease.
Why Is It So Important? Plaque is a film of bacteria that continuously adheres to your teeth. If not removed, it hardens into tartar, which only a dental professional can remove. Tartar buildup can result in inflammation, bleeding gums, and tooth loss.
Effective Brushing Tips:
- Brush Twice Daily: Ideally after breakfast and again before going to sleep.
- Use fluoridated toothpaste. Fluoride strengthens the teeth against acid erosion and reduces the risk of getting cavities.
- Brush Gently and Thoroughly: Use a soft-bristled toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your gums. Use small, circular motions.
- Cover All Surfaces: Clean the fronts, backs, chewing surfaces, and the gumline.
- Brush for Two Minutes: Set a timer or use a toothbrush with a built-in timer.
- Brush Your Tongue: A gentle scrub removes bacteria and keeps your breath fresh.
Choosing the Right Brush: Manual brushes work well when used properly, but electric toothbrushes often make cleaning easier, especially around braces or dental work.
Flossing Essentials:
- Daily Habit: Make flossing a part of your bedtime routine.
- Use Enough Floss: Cut a piece about 45 cm (18 inches) long and wind most of it around your fingers.
- Gentle Technique: Gently manipulate the floss between your teeth with a sawing motion, then curve it into a “C” around the base of each tooth.
- Other Options: Interdental brushes, soft picks, or water flossers can be great alternatives.
Finishing Touches:
- It is advised NOT to rinse the mouth with water after brushing. We want to keep the fluoride from the toothpaste on the surface of the teeth for as long as possible.
- Ask your dentist about suitable mouthwash or plaque-revealing products.
3 How Will Invisalign Treatment Fit Into My Day-to-Day Life?
Invisalign is designed for people who want straighter teeth without the look or maintenance of metal braces. Its clear, removable aligners are tailored for ease and flexibility.
Why Patients Choose Invisalign:
- Nearly Invisible: Most people won’t even notice you’re wearing them.
- Removable: Pop them out to eat or drink anything besides water, brush, or floss.
- Comfortable Design: The aligners are smooth and custom-fitted, reducing irritation.
- No Diet Limitations: Since aligners are removed when eating, there’s no need to skip crunchy or sticky foods.
- Simplified Appointments: Visits tend to be quicker and spaced further apart than traditional braces.
What to Expect:
- You’ll receive a series of aligners, each of which will be slightly different, to gradually shift your teeth.
- Aligners are typically worn 20–22 hours per day.
- Each set is changed every one to two weeks, depending on your treatment plan.
- Progress is monitored through regular check-ins.
- Invisalign combines convenience with noticeable results—making it a popular choice for teens and adults.
4 Which Foods Should I Steer Clear of While Wearing Braces?
While braces are effective at realigning teeth, they also create nooks and crannies where food can get trapped—and certain foods can damage them. Making mindful choices can prevent treatment delays.
Foods to Avoid Entirely:
- Extremely Hard Items: Ice cubes, hard candies, and popcorn kernels can snap wires or loosen brackets.
- Very Sticky Foods: Taffy, caramels, and thick chewing gum can dislodge brackets or bend wires.
- Tough or Chewy Foods: Think bagels, beef jerky, or crusty bread—they can apply excess pressure.
Foods That Need Modification:
- Apples or Carrots: Cut into bite-size pieces instead of biting directly.
- Corn on the Cob: Remove kernels before eating.
- Pizza Crusts: Stick to the softer parts.
Helpful Tips:
- Be cautious during the first few days after an adjustment, when teeth may feel sensitive.
- Chew with your back teeth and eat more slowly.
- Clean your braces and teeth thoroughly after each meal.
Following these guidelines will help keep your braces in top condition—and your treatment on schedule.
5 What's the Best Way to Keep My Braces Clean?
Keeping your braces clean is crucial for the health of your teeth and ensuring your orthodontic treatment works as efficiently as possible.
Brushing Tips:
- Brush after every meal or snack.
- Pay extra attention to brushing between the brackets and gums.
- Angle your toothbrush to clean around brackets and wires.
- Spend extra time on hard-to-reach areas.
Flossing Strategies:
- Use a floss threader or pre-threaded flossers designed for braces.
- Carefully guide the floss under the main wire and between your teeth.
- Consider a water flosser for convenience.
Additional Tools That Help:
- Interdental Brushes: Great for cleaning between brackets.
- Disclosing Tablets: Colour your plaque to see where you need to brush better.
- Fluoride Rinses: Help strengthen enamel and reduce the risk of white spots.
When in doubt, ask your orthodontist for product recommendations tailored to your needs.
6 How Do Orthodontic Elastics Work and What Should I Know?
Elastics—or rubber bands—are often used in orthodontic treatments to correct how your upper and lower teeth fit together.
How to Wear Them:
- Your orthodontist will provide you with guidance on the proper placement and duration.
- Most patients wear them full-time, removing them only for meals and oral hygiene.
- Replace them a few times daily, as they lose elasticity over time.
Things to Keep in Mind:
- Keep Extras Handy: Always have spares with you.
- Don’t Double Up: More bands won’t speed up progress and can cause discomfort.
- Stick to the Plan: Inconsistent wear is the most common reason for delayed treatment.
- Mild Soreness Is Normal: Your teeth are moving, which is a good sign.
Consistency is key. Wear your elastics exactly as instructed for the best and fastest outcome.
7 What Are All the Parts That Make Up My Braces?
Braces consist of several small pieces that work together to move your teeth. Understanding each component can help you better care for them.
Common Parts of Braces:
- Brackets: The small squares attached to each tooth.
- Archwire: The metal wire that threads through the brackets.
- Ligatures: Tiny rubber bands or wires that hold the archwire in place.
- Bands: Metal rings that fit around the molars for extra stability.
- Hooks: Small extensions used to anchor elastics.
- Spacers: Temporary pieces that create room for bands before they are placed.
Each part plays a unique role in helping your teeth move into ideal alignment.
8 How Do I Properly Care for My Retainer?
Wearing your retainer after braces is vital for preserving your progress. Teeth tend to shift back toward their original positions if left without support.
Types of Retainers:
- Removable Retainers: Clear trays or wire-and-acrylic combinations worn during sleep.
- Fixed Retainers: Thin metal wires bonded to the inside of your front teeth.
Daily Maintenance Tips:
- Keep Them Clean: Rinse with lukewarm water and brush gently. Avoid toothpaste, which can be abrasive.
- Avoid heat: retainers are made out of plastic, so heat will distort them.
- Store Correctly: AAlways keep your retainer in a case when not in use. Do not wrap it in tissue paper, as it can easily be mistaken for garbage and thrown out. This is the number one reason why people need to replace their retainers.
- Keep away from pets: Especially dogs. Believe it or not, “my dog ate it” is the number two reason why patients have to replace their retainers.
- Wear as Instructed: Start with nightly use, then taper based on your orthodontist’s instructions. If your retainer ever feels tight or uncomfortable, book a visit to make sure your teeth haven’t shifted.
9 What Should I Know About Wisdom Teeth After My Braces Come Off?
Wisdom teeth most often appear between the ages of 17 and 25, long after most orthodontic treatment has ended. However, their arrival can still affect your alignment.
Things to Be Aware Of:
- Movement Risk: These late-blooming molars can push against your other teeth, potentially shifting them out of alignment.
- Common Issues: Impacted or partially erupted wisdom teeth can cause discomfort, swelling, and infections.
- Proactive Monitoring: Your orthodontist will typically assess your wisdom teeth via X-ray at the end of treatment.
Next Steps:
- Consult your general dentist to track wisdom tooth development.
- If problems are likely, early removal may prevent complications.
Long-Term Monitoring:
- Stay alert to signs of pain, swelling, or crowding.
- Continue regular checkups to make sure your teeth remain in great shape.
Where To Find Us?
Pacific West Dental’s Vancouver clinic is located at 182 E 15th Ave, in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood of Vancouver. The clinic is situated near Main Street and is easily accessible by car or public transit.
If you are taking public transit to the clinic, you can take the Canada Line SkyTrain towards King George and get off at Broadway-City Hall station. From there, take the 99 B-Line bus towards UBC and get off at Main Street and East 15th Avenue. The clinic will be a short walk away.
If you are driving to the clinic, you can take the Cambie Street Bridge and turn left onto Broadway. Continue on Broadway and turn right onto Main Street. Take a left onto East 15th Avenue and the clinic will be on your right-hand side.
Nearby landmarks to Pacific West Dental’s Vancouver location include Main Street, Mount Pleasant Community Centre, and Guelph Park.
PacificWest Dental Group Vancouver Orthodontist & Invsialgn
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604-501-0993 (Surrey), or by filling the contact form.
During your initial consultation, we will understand your situation, perform a visual examination of your bite, recommend a treatment plan and answer any questions or concerns you may have.
