I need to majorly improve my dental health, help?

I have two problems as I see it. The first is that I have some problems with insomnia so I can't sleep, meaning I just charge out the door and only have enough time to get dressed. No breakfast, no grooming. The second is that on top of that I have braces.

I'm going to start remembering to brush my teeth twice a day, but I have a few problems.

1) How do I get rid of the hard plaque below the line of my braces bracket and wire? Will brushing with baking soda and a little water help? Would that hurt my braces somehow?

2) My braces have opened up this space between my two back molars. It's really tender and food keeps getting stuck in there, and is stuck all day until I can get it out with my toothbrush. What can I do to keep that clean during the day? Gargle with salt water? I can't just chew on the other side and that wouldn't make much difference.

I'm only 15, but could a few months of bad hygiene really messed up my teeth?

My gums bleed when I brush my teeth, but I think that's normal when you haven't maintained them well.

I'm not an expert but it also seems like the gumline around my bottom teeth has gotten a little lower, and/or the teeth seem to be set a little further back. It hasn't been sore at all and it's possible I'm just being paranoid, but could that be anything?

I don't know if the orthodontist would know much about this, the people who adjust my braces --it's really simple stuff and they have a supervisor-- are mostly interns so I don't know if they'd know what to look for.

I used to have braces too. Best is flossing once a day before brushign at night. Invest in a Waterpik, it is a lifesaver for ppl with braces. It squirts high power water to any area in the mouth. Use it after meals but don't use it to replace flossing. Your gums bleed because of gum infection (gingivitas) or you are brushing too hard. Your gums (bottom teeh) are receeding because you are probably brushing wayyy to hard. Switch to a electric toothbrush. It's more effective than manual and you don't have to brush as hard...let the brush do the work. Also, get a full checkup on the gums. Don't ignore them. Yes, bad hygiene can mess up your teeth at any age. You doc can remove the plaque with a good cleaning. Rinse your mouth after every meal if you cannot brush. But floss every day. Take care of them now so you won't be shocked when you take out your braces. Godo luck!

Dental professionals know more than you think. Point out your concerns and the technician will call the Dentist if he/she cannot help you.

Bleeding gums is NOT normal so you need to see the dentist ASAP. Also you need to keep seeing your dentist every six months just like normal even though you have braces. The orthodontist does not provide routine dental care. Where food is getting stuck go your store and get some little brushes that are disposable and tiny that are made for getting things out from between your teeth. Butler Gum makes them and they come in a little container so you can put them in your purse. My sons loves them for use with his braces. As for the insomnia............talk to your mom about seeing the doc and getting this checked out. For now though get a dentist appointment ASAP to get the bleeding gums checked out and taken care of.

go to a dentist to have your teeth cleaned -- then have them show you proper brushing and flossing-then go to bed earlier so you have time to brush-- if you can't remember- set the alarm on your phone or clock.

You need a Water Pik! That will clean all those hard to reach spaces and it helps your gums too so they won't bleed as much. It's crazy to go to the trouble and expense of braces if you don't take care of your teeth and gums.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search...

A few months of bad hygiene can really mess up your teeth. There is no way to remove hard plaque under your braces wires yourself. There are only two ways to remove hard plaque from teeth at all - ultrasonics and manual scraping. Both of these are the exclusive province of the dental hygienist. You must go to a dentist's office to have the hard plaque removed - period.

If you brush your teeth at least once very 24 hours, you will not form hard plaque (dental calculus.) That is the amount of time it takes plaque (the soft stuff) to turn into the hard stuff. Brushing after every meal is most effective - not in the morning when you rush out the door, but after you eat dinner. There is a special skinny brush you can get from your orthodontist that can reach around and under the wires and into the gaps between teeth - it looks like a tiny, bent, tapered bottle brush. The tips are removable and replaceable. After you eat, poke around with this special brush to get the stuff off the wires and out of the spaces.

Those electric toothbrushes do a really good job on the accessible surfaces, but they will not get under or around your braces.

Take care of your teeth and they will take care of you for the rest of your life.

You really should see a dentist if you need a good plan/ dentist tell your parent about this:

http://www.everyonebenefits.com/40495921

Take Care!