Patients looking to straighten their smiles without undergoing years of treatment with metal brackets and wires may have a more cosmetic and convenient alternative – Invisalign. These clear braces are effective in correcting crooked teeth and misalignments like over, under, and crossbite, making them a viable alternative to traditional braces for many patients. If you’re looking to quickly and comfortably straighten your smile without hassle of bracket and wire orthodontics, Invisalign may be right for you. One of the other benefits associated with Invisalign orthodontic treatment is that your oral hygiene routine will not be impacted in the same way that brackets and wires change daily brushing and flossing habits. However, there are a few minor changes necessary to ensure your smile stays whole and healthy during Invisalign treatment.
Caring for Your Teeth
Patients with Invisalign should continue to brush their teeth for at least two minutes at a time at least twice a day and floss daily. However, additional oral hygiene sessions may be needed. During meals and while drinking anything other than water, patients should remove their alignment trays. Before replacing their aligners, the trays should be rinsed with cool water, and patients should brush their teeth, or at the very least, patients should use an antimicrobial mouth rinse to remove plaque. This is important as the alignment tray can trap bacteria and plaque against teeth, weakening enamel and increasing patients’ risk for decay. While Invisalign wearers don’t need to cut any specific foods out of their diets, they do need to be aware of whether or not there are food particles stuck between teeth after their meals. Foods like apples or popcorn frequently lead to foreign debris lodged between teeth. It’s a good idea to floss after eating these foods and before replacing aligners.
Caring for Your Alignment Trays
The alignment trays themselves should be rinsed out regularly. During morning and evening tooth brushing routines and following meals, patients should take time to thoroughly rinse their aligners. Additionally, brushing the alignment trays or using an antimicrobial mouthwash to rinse them will limit the amount of plaque-producing bacteria trapped against teeth during daily wear.
Meet Dr. Morgan
Dr. Morgan and all the team members at Hampton Roads Center for Cosmetic Dentistry are dedicated to educating patients. Our blog is a great educational resource. You can find out more about many of our popular dental treatments here. We also post information about our involvement with organizations and events in the Virginia Beach community here. We hope you found this information about caring for your smile during Invisalign treatment helpful. If you have more questions or would like to schedule an orthodontic consultation, contact our caring dentistry team today.