Never Do These 4 Things While Using Invisalign

Every dental treatment comes with some cautions. Here are some of the precaution measures to take while using Invisalign

A visit to a dentist near you reveals that Invisalign is the best option you have when it comes to orthodontics that helps align your teeth. Not only do they have an aesthetic appeal, but they are also a very effective treatment. However, for safety and good results, there are some things that you should avoid doing while using Invisalign. These include:

Eat or Drink in Them

The biggest advantage of Invisalign over traditional braces is that even after treatment, you can continue to eat whatever foods you like. You do not have to worry about certain food sticking in your braces, and this is because you do not eat while wearing the aligners. While this is great as it does not interfere with your food choices, to some extent, it is inconveniencing. However, there is a good reason for you going through the trouble of removing your braces every time you want to eat.

When chewing, your teeth and jaws do generate a lot of pressure that is designed to break down food. While wearing your aligners as you chew, this pressure can be too much for them, leading to cracks or other damages. Additionally, some foods like coffee are known to stain your aligners over time. So, to ensure that your aligners last long and are efficient in fixing your dental problem, always remove them before eating or drinking. The only thing you can take with the aligners on is water, even snacks like candy should not be eaten with Invisalign on.

Put Them on Before Cleaning Your Teeth

The normal teeth care and cleaning routine remains, even when you are on Invisalign treatment. Every time you eat, some food particles remain in your mouth that can create an acidic environment that puts you at risk of tooth decay. The saliva helps neutralize the acidity in the mouth and, at the same time, wash down any lingering food particles. If you wear your aligners without cleaning your teeth, the acidic fluid can settle between your teeth and slowly wear your tooth enamel away. Remember, the aligners completely cover your teeth, so even the saliva that usually buffers the acid cannot help.

To eliminate the risk of tooth decay or discoloration, our dentists in Mechanicsburg recommend that you properly brush, floss, and rinse your mouth before wearing your Invisalign aligners. The downside to this is that you may be required to clean teeth more often than a person without the aligners. Basically, after every snack, candy, or drink you have, you have to clean your teeth. When you are not in a position to brush your teeth, a mouth rinse could work, and as a last resort, you can chew sugar-free gum before you put on the aligners.

Clean Them with Toothpaste or Colored Soaps

You may assume that toothpaste is appropriate for cleaning Invisalign since they are used in the mouth. Surprisingly, instead of making your trays clean and fresh, toothpaste contains some ingredients that may be harsh on the Invisalign trays, which could lead to damage. Damaged trays then create room for the build-up of bacteria and bad odor, which negatively impacts your overall dental health. The best way to clean your trays is by using the cleaning kit provided by your dentist or using clear antibacterial soap. Colored soaps can stain your aligners. In case you have any further questions on how to clean Invisalign, our dentists at Mass Bay Dental will be happy to answer you.

Get the Aligners Dirty

We cannot emphasize enough on the need for dental hygiene to ensure good oral health. The same way you care for your teeth, you also need to ensure that your aligners don’t get dirty. Taking care of your teeth but forgetting to care for your aligners still puts you at risk of other dental issues. Whenever you take off your aligners, make sure you have them covered and protected from any contaminants in the environment. Also, make sure to rinse them in some lukewarm water before putting them back on.

• Many times, dentists focus on what you need to do to make your aligners effective but forget to warn you on what you shouldn’t do. However, if you get your treatment with our dentists here in Salem, MA, you will be well educated on all the dos and don’ts of Invisalign braces.