Are you currently undergoing an Invisalign dental treatment? If so, you already know how important it is to take care of your aligners and maintain healthy oral hygiene habits while the process unfolds. Today we’ll dive into a few key tips on your dental alignment treatment plan so you can have a straighter smile faster than ever!
Invisalign is a treatment option that can straighten crooked teeth without conventional braces. It is a system of removable, clear braces that gradually shift misaligned teeth into place. They are less evident than traditional braces because they are transparent and removable.
Most people are interested in straightening their teeth and improving their smile, but they are under the impression that conventional braces are their only choice. With Invisalign clear braces, your treatment time won’t be marred by unsightly metal wires. These aligners can straighten your teeth faster than they would take with traditional metal braces while providing the same comfort and cosmetic appeal. Regarding orthodontic treatment, Invisalign is not only for adult teeth. It is also a dental treatment for children with a severe overbite or misaligned teeth.
Contents Navigation
- Summary of the article:
- The Importance of Good Oral Habits During Invisalign Treatment
- Brushing Techniques
- Flossing Techniques
- Mouthwash and Rinsing Techniques
- Diet Restrictions
- Aligner Care
- Aligner Tray Replacement
- Dentist Visits
- Gum and Tongue Health
- Aligner Storage
- Oral Hygiene Products
- Bad Habits to Avoid
- Tips for Oral Health
- Common Problems During Treatment
- Is Invisalign Worth It?
- Final Thoughts
Summary of the article:
- Practising good oral habits such as brushing, regular flossing and rinsing with mouthwash can greatly influence the success of Invisalign dental treatment.
- Nail biting and smoking must be avoided because these habits will damage your aligners and increase the risk of gum problems.
- Performing the right brushing and flossing techniques can contribute greatly to preventing dental issues that make Invisalign treatment fail.
- Clear aligners must be kept in a dry container to keep them safe and prevent bacteria from thriving.
The Importance of Good Oral Habits During Invisalign Treatment
Achieving a beautiful, healthy smile with Invisalign treatment is an exciting prospect. But did you know your dental habits are just as crucial for successful Invisalign treatment? An experienced dentist may change the aligner trays to account for improper oral health habits. However, remember that taking good care of your teeth ensures Invisalign works efficiently.
Remember that brushing and flossing your teeth before wearing Invisalign aligners helps remove food particles and plaque buildup. Additionally, those who wear them should avoid drinking heavily stained liquids like coffee or tea while wearing Invisalign trays. Although it might not seem like much, paying attention to your Invisalign hygiene can help ensure a better result when taking out the Invisalign trays and showing off a new beautiful smile!
Brushing Techniques
To prevent further dental problems, brush your teeth after every meal and snack while wearing aligners. Additionally, you must clean your aligners regularly by brushing them and rinsing them in lukewarm water. Below are tips on how to properly brush and clean your aligners:
- Brushes with soft bristles or a bi-level design can do the job.
If you’re careful, an electric toothbrush can replace your manual one. Use caution when using an electric toothbrush; the vibrations can damage your braces if the power setting is too high. - You should use fluoride toothpaste and brush your teeth for at least two minutes twice a day.
It’s important to remember to brush your teeth thoroughly, including the chewing and biting surfaces of your teeth. - Always start at the outer surfaces of your teeth and work your way inward, using small, circular motions.
Keep up the circular motions but angle the brush towards the gum line to clean between the teeth and gums.
Flossing Techniques
Daily flossing with Invisalign is important because aligners cover your teeth for nearly the entire day. Most dentists recommend that the trays be worn for twenty-two hours each day. This creates an environment for bacteria to gather and grow. Below is a list of potential negative effects if you don’t floss every day:
- Plaque buildup:
Plaque is the biofilm of bacteria that forms on your teeth and causes bad breath. It can harden into tartar and lead to tooth decay if you don’t floss. - Gum disease:
Gum disease is associated with two painful side effects- inflammation and bleeding.
To eliminate food debris, sugar, plaque, tartar, and bacteria, you only need dental floss and a few minutes of your time. Here are the procedures on how to properly floss your teeth:
- Pick a type of floss that easily slides between your teeth. Plain, waxed, and ribbon are just a few of the options. Mint-flavoured dental floss is also readily available.
- Take out a substantial length of dental floss. There should be extra space to hold the floss.
- Wrap the dental floss’s ends around your fingers, leaving a short length of floss to use between your teeth.
- Gently slide the floss under the gum line and between the teeth.
- Use a “C” shape and an up-and-down motion to work the floss between your teeth.
- When you’re done with a single tooth, slide it between your fingers to expose a fresh section of dental floss, and then continue flossing the next tooth.
Mouthwash and Rinsing Techniques
Regular rinsing and using mouthwash is an important part of Invisalign hygiene. Rinsing with water or an antibacterial rinse immediately after Invisalign wear will help flush away plaque before it can form. At the same time, mouthwash can reach bacteria in hard-to-reach areas like the back of your mouth.
Mouthwash ensures no bacteria accumulates around the Invisalign aligners, reducing your chances of developing Invisalign-related issues such as cavities and bad breath. It’s important to note that rinsing itself does not substitute for brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day.
Diet Restrictions
You shouldn’t do a few things while wearing Invisalign aligners, but otherwise, you can eat and drink most of your favourite foods. However, to get the most out of your Invisalign aligners, you should probably cut back on bad eating habits and pay closer attention to what you put in your mouth.
Here are some diet restrictions while wearing Invisalign so that your teeth stay in their proper places:
- Eat fewer snacks.
The pH of your mouth drops whenever you snack. More frequent snacking means longer exposure to acid. This increases your risk for cavities and gum diseases. So, limiting snacking and brushing your teeth after eating is best. - Reduce your coffee intake.
Multiple daily cups of coffee can quickly discolour your aligners, defeating their intended purpose. Hot beverages can also warp your plastic aligners. Patients who cannot abstain from drinking hot beverages may do so by using reusable metal straws for drinking warm or hot beverages while still wearing their aligners. - Don’t chew gum.
Gum will get stuck in your teeth, and the motion of chewing can be harmful. Once this happens, the alignment process will be hampered, and gum left on the teeth may cause cavities. - Avoid sticky foods.
Toffee and other sticky candies can leave teeth vulnerable to acid. An acidic environment makes your teeth vulnerable to infections. - Avoid alcohol.
Regular alcohol consumption can erode tooth enamel over time. A higher risk of developing cavities and discolouration is also a potential outcome.
Aligner Care
Proper maintenance of your Invisalign aligners is vital to your teeth’s health and treatment outcome. Listed below are the recommended cleaning routine for your aligners:
- Every night before bed, give your aligners a quick rinse in water.
- Make sure to clean your aligners every night by brushing them with a soft-bristled toothbrush and mild, clear liquid soap to eliminate any debris or food particles that may have accumulated throughout the day.
- After brushing, be sure to give your mouth a good rinse.
- Keep in a sturdy container when not in use.
If you don’t take good care of your aligners, they may become discoloured, and your breath may become unpleasant.
Aligner Tray Replacement
Replacing aligners as instructed by the dentist is important for improving Invisalign hygiene and maintaining dental health. When worn too long or not replaced frequently enough, aligners can accumulate bacteria in hard-to-clean areas, increasing the risk of tooth decay or gum disease.
Additionally, when aligners are not changed on time, it may cause your treatment to take longer. By following a prescribed aligner replacement schedule, Invisalign wearers can help reduce their risk of dental problems and ensure their treatment plan is completed promptly with minimal difficulty.
Dentist Visits
Regularly visiting your dentist during Invisalign treatment is crucial for reaching your desired outcomes. Your dentist will not only monitor your Invisalign progress but also be able to spot any possible issues, such as cavities or tooth decay, that can arise due to Invisalign hygiene.
Your dentist also can answer any questions you have about Invisalign. Regular appointments with your dentist ensure that your dental needs are taken care of and offer peace of mind that everything is proceeding as planned with Invisalign treatment.
Gum and Tongue Health
Changing to a new set of aligners often results in a painful tongue. Rubbing your tongue on a sharp edge of a tray may lead to a tongue ulcer or a sore gum. This looks like a little spot or a rash on your tongue and gums. Meanwhile, here are some things that your dentist will do once you get these ulcerations:
- Initially, you should locate the rough spot and inform your dentist.
- Your dentist will lightly polish the sharp edge with a nail file or emery board.
- A saltwater mouth rinse can help prevent infection and alleviate any pain you’re experiencing.
Aligner Storage
Correct Invisalign storage when not in use is essential for Invisalign hygiene. Whenever your Invisalign aligners are not in use, they must be stored properly in their container. This helps keep them safe from external irritants such as:
- dirt
- dust
- bacteria
Once you’ve put your aligners back in their case, store them somewhere dry and cool. Putting your aligners somewhere damp is not a good idea because bacteria thrive in these conditions.
Oral Hygiene Products
Patients using Invisalign aligners are expected to wear them for at least 20–22 hours daily and maintain a spotless oral hygiene routine throughout treatment. Below is a list of essential oral care items that you must always have:
- toothpaste
- toothbrush
- dental floss
- mouthwash
Bad Habits to Avoid
Smoking and nail biting are two of the worst habits a person can have, especially when wearing Invisalign.
- Smoking will stain Invisalign trays and cause bad odours that threaten Invisalign treatment success.
- Nail biting exacerbates gum recession issues and causes tooth decay, making Invisalign less likely to succeed.
To ensure that Invisalign braces can be effective and successful, avoiding any poor habits or behaviours that can damage oral health is essential.
Tips for Oral Health
Keeping up with regular dental care is a must while wearing Invisalign aligners. Aside from using fluoride toothpaste, brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and avoiding foods that are too sticky or too sweet, drinking plenty of water and chewing sugar-free gums can be helpful.
- Hydrating your teeth and gums with water helps prevent cavities and gum disease and removes food debris from your teeth and gums.
- Gums can help by increasing saliva production and decreasing plaque and acidity.
Common Problems During Treatment
Invisalign treatment is a popular way to achieve straighter teeth, but as with all dental work, it’s important to focus on oral hygiene. The most common oral health problems during Invisalign treatment are cavities and gum disease.
These require frequent visits to your dentist to monitor the progress of your Invisalign treatment while keeping an eye on your dental health. It’s also important to properly take care of your Invisalign trays and avoid over-cleaning them as it can wear them faster.
To prevent cavities or gum disease, make sure to brush two times a day and floss every night, as well as make routine visits for dental cleanings. By maintaining proper Invisalign hygiene and consistently monitoring your oral health, you can complete Invisalign treatment without further issues!
Is Invisalign Worth It?
Investing in Invisalign treatment is worthwhile for anyone looking to improve their smile. Not only does Invisalign help people achieve a straighter and more aesthetically pleasing smile, but it also provides practical benefits such as improved hygiene over traditional braces.
People wearing Invisalign can remove aligners when brushing their teeth or eating, eliminating difficulty navigating brackets. In addition, Invisalign allows easier access to flossing, reducing potential problems caused by food getting stuck in hard-to-reach areas that are common with traditional braces.
Final Thoughts
You must take the time to brush and floss for two minutes twice a day, use an antiseptic mouthwash, limit sugar and starchy food intake, and change your trays every week.
By maintaining these habits and focusing on your oral health, you should be able to enjoy all the wonderful benefits of Invisalign! And if you’re ready to start your Invisalign journey, don’t hesitate to book or call Magical Smiles today! You deserve a confident smile, and we look forward to helping you make it happen.