As the holiday season gets underway, it’s normal to worry about how to care for your Invisalign aligners. While they are often preferred to wearing metal braces that stay on your teeth around the clock, some people have a hard time figuring out a plan for dealing with all of the holiday activities. This is especially true given the sheer amount of holiday treats that are around, both at home and in the office. Even during the holiday season, your braces should not be removed frequently or beyond the schedule recommended by your orthodontist. The tips below can help you develop a plan for wearing Invisalign aligners during the holidays.
Remove Aligners When Drinking Hot Beverages
The very idea of the holidays can conjure up thoughts of hot apple cider with cinnamon. If you’re not an apple cider drinker, perhaps you’ll consume a lot more coffee to keep up with the additional activities that take place during the holiday season. Either way, whenever you consume hot beverages, it’s imperative that you remove your aligners. This is the case during the holiday season and beyond. When you don’t remove your aligners, there’s a greater chance of them getting damaged or stained.
Brush and Floss Your Teeth Before Wearing Aligners
Before putting your Invisalign aligners back on, it’s important to brush and floss your teeth. It’s just as important as it was before you wore aligners, if not more important. Wearing aligners can sometimes result in people brushing and flossing a lot less than they would have in the past, which ends up causing cavities. This happens when there are food particles trapped that cause bacteria growth and subsequent tooth decay. Wearing Invisalign aligners should not result in plaque build-up or tooth decay, especially if you remain committed to taking care of your teeth.
Avoid Bacterial Build-up with Good Habits
It’s possible to have bacterial build-up when you wear Invisalign aligners, which is more common if your aligners are exposed to the air. Although it’s necessary to soak them daily, the process that’s used is important if you want to prevent contamination. When Invisalign aligners are exposed to bacteria and other contaminants in the air, there’s a greater chance that a problem will occur. A key aspect of avoiding bacterial build-up is keeping your container available and using it whenever your aligners are not in your mouth.
Clean Your Aligners Properly
You might be tempted to use hot water for the purpose of soaking your aligners because it seems like the right thing to do. Unfortunately, that’s a mistake that many people make. Hot water has a negative effect on Invisalign aligners and should never be used. It’s always best to use cold water instead for both cleaning and soaking your aligners. It’s also worth noting that your aligners should be cleaned every single day without fail if you want to keep them free of the bacteria that naturally forms on your teeth.
Enjoying the holiday season when you wear Invisalign aligners is something that will require planning and forethought. While it certainly isn’t difficult to maintain a regular routine for wearing Invisalign aligners, the holiday season can sometimes throw a wrench in your plan because it’s a time when your eating habits are not the same as they are during other times of the year. By following the tips provided above, you can stay on track and keep up with your teeth straightening program with ease.
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