Vancouver’s water and Orthodontic Treatments
Residents of Vancouver and the Lower Mainland enjoy some of the cleanest and safest tap water in the world. In 2010, the area completed a $600 million upgrade to the watershed and implemented a state-of-the-art water filtration system. These filters reduce the risk of gastrointestinal diseases and have also improved the taste.
Because of these upgrades and improved quality, combined with the fact that Vancouver water is considered ‘soft’, more and more residents are drinking less bottled water and more tap water.
However, both our tap water and bottled water are missing one ingredient that helps promote healthy teeth and can prevent cavities – fluoride. Fluoride is very important in the development of healthy teeth. Fluoride allows teeth to do two things: remineralizing, which reverses the effect of acid, and protecting against demineralization, which reinforces teeth and protects them from those acids.
So why is this important for your orthodontic treatments? With proper fluoridisation of the teeth, they become stronger and more resistant to the acids and plaque that develop in the mouth. When a patient is wearing braces, without proper bushing techniques, there is a greater chance of food and, eventually plaque, collecting in the braces and on the teeth. Since the braces are attached to the teeth, there is also a chance that daily brushing may not be enough to get fluoride onto all the surfaces of the teeth.
This is why any patient who is being treated with any orthodontic appliances will want to talk to their orthodontist about the need for fluoride and what is the proper dental care to keep their teeth healthy and strong. Any comprehensive orthodontic treatment will include a guide for the best way to ensure your teeth will be properly taken care of.
Come in and see the friendly professionals at Dr. Bryan Hicks Orthodontics and we can answer any questions you might have.
