Some may say that this is the most wonderful time of the year, but for others, it can be quite stressful. If you have Invisalign in Millersville, you may be wondering how this will affect your holiday season. While it may be easier to neglect your treatment during this festive season, with a few simple tips, you will be able to continue on a path towards a straighter smile while enjoying holiday celebrations. Here are some helpful pieces of advice from your dentist in Millersville.
Always Take Your Case
Even if you don’t plan on having anything to eat or taking your aligners out of any reason, it is worth it to take your aligners with you everywhere. If you do decide to take them out to drink a soda or have a snack, it is important that they are in a safe place. If you don’t have your case with you, you will be more likely to leave it on a napkin or table. This may not sound like a big deal, but this is how people end up accidently losing their aligners. This can delay your treatment. By keeping your aligners in their case when you aren’t wearing them, you are significantly reducing your chances of losing them.
Don’t Slack
You are probably well aware that you need to wear your aligners for the majority of the day in order to get the best possible results. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours each day. Without doing this, you could interfere with your treatment and may need to wear them even longer than initially planned.
Remove Your Aligners Before Eating or Drinking
The only thing that you can consume with your aligners still in your mouth is water. It may not seem like too much of an issue for you to have a sip of coffee with your aligners in, but hot beverages can actually damage their structure. Sugary beverages can get trapped between the teeth and trays, increasing your chances of tooth decay. Also, eating and drinking without removing your clear aligners will make them not so clear anymore.
Keep Your Trays Clean
Whenever you take out your aligners to eat, you should brush and floss before putting them back in. This helps to remove food particles that are stuck in your teeth. If you don’t clean these away, you could eventually end up with halitosis (bad breath), bacterial growth, and even tooth decay. Be sure to bring your toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss with you if you are traveling over the holidays, even if it’s only overnight.
When you’re having tons of fun during the holidays, don’t forget about your Invisalign treatment. This way, you can continue on your path towards a straighter, healthier smile!
About the Author
Dr. Charlie Ward earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Maryland Baltimore College of Dental Surgery and has taken courses at the Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education. He is also certified to provide Invisalign. For more information on Invisalign clear aligners or to schedule an appointment, visit his website or call (410) 729-9090.