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, it can be all too easy to make mistakes that negatively impact your treatment. Luckily, your dentist is here with 4 useful tips that can help you ensure that the Invisalign process stays on track during the holidays.
1. Always Make Sure That You’re Wearing Your Aligners Enough
As part of the Invisalign process, you will need to wear your aligners for at least 20 to 22 hours every day. But if you’re in a hurry to get to your next holiday activity or errand, you may end up forgetting to put your aligners in before you rush off. It’s best to take whatever steps are necessary to make sure you remember to wear your aligners for the required amount of time. One strategy might be to leave a reminder on your cellphone.
2. Always Brush and Floss After Eating
If you go to a lot of holiday parties, you will probably be taking out your aligners regularly in order 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 your teeth, which could significantly increase your risk for cavities. Be sure to take a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss wherever you go so that 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 you’re eating. As such, it’s best to get into the habit of carrying your aligner storage case at all times. 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 to occur.
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 potentially change the shape of your aligners, which means your teeth won’t move the way that they should. In general, 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) 859-6633.
