Caring For Your Invisalign Smile: Tips For Oral Hygiene
No matter what kind of braces you choose to wear to align your teeth, you want to make sure you take care of your oral health and keep your mouth as germ-free as possible. With Invisalign or other clear aligner styles, you don't have to worry as much about food getting stuck in your braces since you don't have metal brackets placed over your teeth, but you still should take extra care of your oral health while you are undergoing a teeth-straightening regimen. Here are tips for caring for your aligners so you can maximize on your teeth-improvement procedure.
Remove them while eating
One of the best benefits of clear aligners for your teeth is that you can remove them whenever you wish. This means you can take them out when eating or drinking. Make it a habit to remove your dental straighteners during meals, placing them back in after thoroughly brushing and flossing your teeth. If you leave your aligners in while eating or drinking, you risk getting food and the bacteria that goes along with it under your braces, which can irritate your gums and affect your enamel since your saliva, which naturally cleanses your teeth, may not be able to flush everything out.
Change them as required
What makes dental aligners so efficient in straightening teeth is that they are custom-fitted to your smile as it changes. Make sure you change your Invisalign braces as prescribed by your dentist so you can continue your teeth-straightening experience successfully without stunting the process. This means you may be changing your braces out every few weeks, which can be done at home. Wear your braces all the time except for eating or as directed by your dentist.
Continue with regular checkups
Even as you address your crooked teeth or overbite issues with braces, you need to make sure you undergo your regular dental appointments and checkups as well. You will want to make sure your gums and teeth are healthy by having regular professional cleanings so you can appreciate your new, straight smile for a lifetime. Your dentist may want you to come in for more checkups than usual while you are wearing braces to make sure your oral health continues to thrive.
Getting braces can change your life in positive ways. While aligners can make wearing braces much more comfortable, you still want to make sure you practice good oral hygiene for maximum health.