The holiday season is a very busy time of year for many families. As such, if you’re currently wearing Invisalign® to straighten your smile, you need to be careful; with all the hustle and bustle, making mistakes that negatively impact your treatment can be all too easy. Luckily, your dentist has four valuable tips to help ensure the Invisalign process stays on track during the holidays.
4 Tips for Wearing Invisalign during the Holidays
1. Always Make Sure You’re Wearing Your Aligners Enough
As part of the Invisalign process, you must wear your aligners for at least 20 to 22 hours daily. But if you’re in a hurry to get to your next holiday activity or errand, you may forget to put your aligners in before you rush off. It’s best to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure you remember to wear your aligners for the required time. One strategy might be to leave a reminder on your cellphone.
2. Always Brush and Floss after Eating
If you go to many holiday parties, you will probably take out your aligners regularly to indulge in some festive treats. Before you put your aligners back in, though, you should always take the time to brush and floss thoroughly first. This is necessary to avoid trapping food particles between your aligners and teeth, which could significantly increase your risk for cavities. Be sure to take a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss wherever you go so you’re always prepared to clean your smile after a meal or snack.
3. Always Carry the Storage Case for Your Aligners
You should always have a safe place to put your aligners while eating. As such, it’s best to get into the habit of always carrying your aligner storage case. Putting an aligner in a napkin during a meal could result in throwing it away by mistake; making good use of your storage case makes this type of accident less likely.
4. Don’t Drink Hot Beverages while Wearing Your Aligners
Drinking hot chocolate while wearing your Invisalign aligners may not seem like it could cause any serious problems, but it could result in more harm than you realize. The heat could change the shape of your aligners, which means your teeth won’t move as they should. Generally, it’s best to take your aligners out of your mouth when drinking anything besides water.
About the Author
Dr. Darren Koch earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University at Buffalo and completed a one-year advanced general dentistry residency at UNC-Chapel Hill. He has used Invisalign to help many patients straighten their smiles; in fact, one of his cases was selected as Case of the Month by the American Academy of Clear Aligners. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Koch at his office in Cary, visit his website or call (919) 636-4316.